Experts: 25% of holidaymakers go without travel cover

New figures have revealed that a quarter of Britons travel abroad without travel insurance.

Travel Insurance News - 18/04/2013

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New figures have revealed that a quarter of Britons travel abroad without travel insurance.

The news comes via new report issued by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which said that whilst many holidaymakers leave the UK without coverage of any kind about 16 per cent believe that their overseas medical bills will be paid by the government.

Among other figures published in the report, ABI officials said that every week travel insurance firms now process nearly 5,000 claims submitted by policyholders that have become injured or ill abroad.

In addition, the organization reiterated that Britons’ very commonly fail to understand the importance not only in taking out cover but also in carrying a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on regional breaks. According to ABI research, more than half of holidaymakers do not know that they must review their EHIC every five years whilst around 46 per cent are unaware that the card will provide them with basic state healthcare services when traveling in Europe.

ABI spokesman Malcolm Tarling said in a statement that too many holidaymakers are “playing Russian roulette” when heading abroad despite the fact that falling ill overseas is one of the biggest fears among travellers.

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