Worldwide Insure

The term ‘staycation’ has become increasingly popular over the last few years, as more UK residents opt to pack up the car and head to the many wonderful tourist attractions that can be found in the United Kingdom. You may be one of them – but how often do you consider UK Travel Insurance for your trip?

You would be right in thinking that when holidaying in the UK, you are covered in the event of an accident, so won’t be stranded in Kingston-Upon-Thames with mounting medical bills should you encounter a mishap whilst on a weekend break. What you may not have considered however are the sort of things that can go wrong with a holiday no matter where you are.

Missed flights or ferries for example are just as likely with UK destinations as they are with overseas holidays. There is also the need to have cover in case you need to cancel your holiday and still need to pay for the hotel. Cover for stolen or lost luggage and personal possessions are also a common feature of UK travel insurance deals, but generally speaking the policies are more basic – and of course cheaper than travel insurance for trips abroad.

The simple answer is yes. Without travel insurance for EU countries, you could face medical bills even though you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Although UK residents with an EHIC can access healthcare in mainland Europe, this is to the same level as local resident of that country – not the same level as is provided by the NHS here. This means that there will usually be a fee to pay – and it certainly does not cover repatriation to the UK if needed.
To give you an idea of what these costs could involve, in September 2011 it was reported that the average cost for falling seriously ill abroad was in excess of £2,000 – but that depends on the country you are in and the nature of your illness. Whilst a heart attack in Greece could incur a medical bill in the region of £12,000, a simple visit to outpatients for a nasty looking insect bite in Spain could set you back £200; and for all you revellers heading to Ibiza – treating a head wound from a fall might see you nearly £500 out of pocket.
When you have the right travel insurance for visiting EU countries, these excess medical fees are waived, so you don’t need to worry about paying for treatment.