Don’t risk it! FCDO warns of potential sky-high bills for travellers.
Added 08/03/2024
Planning a holiday or short break? Heed Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warnings against travelling abroad uninsured.
Ever heard of a £100k bill for a stomach bug? It's not just a scary story – it's a financial possibility for those travelling abroad without insurance according to the FCDO.
The FCDO have advised: If you do not have appropriate insurance before you travel, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds.
For example:
| Situation | Cost |
|---|---|
| If you fall in Spain and break your leg, you will need hospital treatment and flights | £15, 000 |
| If you have a quad bike accident in Greece, and you need surgery and flights back to the UK | £30, 000 |
| If you fall in Spain and break your leg, you will need hospital treatment and flights | £15, 000 |
| If you have a stomach bug or infection treated in a hospital in the USA and need new return flights | £100, 000 |
In Summer 2023 the FCDO launched the ‘Travel Aware’ campaign which sets out simple steps travellers can take to avoid invalidating insurance cover:
- declare all pre-existing medical conditions ahead of their trip
- check their insurance covers planned holiday activities such as water sports
- check that the length of their trip does not exceed any time limit in their insurance policy
- check their travel insurance includes medical evacuation cover
- take a printed copy of their insurance policy away with them and save the insurance company’s 24/7 emergency contact number and their policy number on their phone
- share their travel insurance policy details with travel companions and/or family in the UK
Good To Go Travel Insurance are experts in providing travel insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions and have no upper age limit.
Chris Payne, Chief Operating Officer at Good to Go insurance said:
“Goodtogoinsurance.com was launched in 2010, with the specific aim of providing travel insurance to those who find difficulty getting cover from standard providers, either due to their age or medical history.
We are dedicated to helping those with medical conditions and older travellers get the travel insurance they need to enjoy a holiday abroad. Our travel insurance can cover all types of medical conditions, up to a high level of severity, including most heart conditions, mental health conditions, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, COPD and dementia, and we have no upper age limit!
We are here to help and are proud to be rated 'excellent' on Trustpilot.”
