Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, is warning constituents about the dangers of travelling uninsured as this summer’s holiday season approaches.
She is supporting a campaign by the travel association ABTA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), urging holiday makers in Cardiff to ensure they are properly covered for travels abroad.
Research from ABTA and the FCO shows that travelling abroad uninsured can cost thousands if a trip goes wrong and in many cases family members are left to pick up the pieces. A recent survey revealed that one in five (20%) of people in Wales travel abroad uninsured, and a quarter (25%) of people in Wales think that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) acts as a full insurance policy when holidaying throughout Europe.
Over 1 in 10 (11%) of people surveyed wrongly presumed that all of their treatment costs would be covered by the UK Government if they had an accident or fell ill while overseas. In recent cases holidaymakers who were not covered paid £500 to treat a sprained ankle in Corfu, £15-20,000 for a scheduled flight, stretcher and medical escort from Australia and £40,000 to treat a broken leg in the USA.
Commenting, Jenny Willott MP said:
“We all look forward to a well-deserved summer holiday. However, medical costs from uninsured accidents abroad can be extortionate. In addition, the added worry over a sick or injured relative means that travelling uninsured is just not worth it. In a lot of cases people think getting ill or having an accident won’t happen to them, but it can so it’s best to be prepared for all eventualities. I urge all of my constituents to take out appropriate travel insurance this summer so they are not presented with large bills if things go wrong.”
