Holiday insurance can save hundreds

New research from travel authorities shows that the average bill for medical costs while on holiday amounts to a stagger

Travel Insurance News - 08/07/2005

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New research from travel authorities shows that the average bill for medical costs while on holiday amounts to a staggering £291.

Plus for more serious injuries, claims can often run into thousands of pounds.

Over a third of holiday insurance claims are medical-related, with roads, the beach and hotels cited as the top three locations where injuries are most likely to occur, the report states.

The beach was shown to hold hidden dangers, with people injuring themselves in paragliding and skiing accidents, as well as reporting cases of extreme sunburn and dehydration.

Common injuries sustained at the hotel were reported to be slipping by the pool and even falling off balconies.

The report cautioned European holidaymakers not to confuse "cover" from the new European Health Insurance Card (previously the E111 form) with the far wider protection offered by good travel insurance policies.

It suggested that travellers could be fooled by the mention of "insurance" in the name, because it would not cover expenses such as repatriation costs, or the expenses incurred by relatives staying in the country while the claimant is recuperating.

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