8.6 million Brits will travel without insurance this summer
New research has found that 8.6 million British holidaymakers don’t have travel insurance for their holiday this summer.
That represents 38% of Brits who are going abroad.
Just over one in five (21%) holidaymakers said they travelled without insurance in the last year, according to ABTA.
Of these, 37% said they didn’t think they needed travel insurance and 28% said it was a risk they were willing to take.
Through a campaign with the Foreign Office, ABTA is encouraging holidaymakers to take out travel insurance as soon as they book their holiday and to make sure that the insurance covers any medical conditions or activities they plan to do.
ABTA is also advising travellers to keep a copy of the policy number and insurer’s contact details with them at all times while they are away.
ABTA’s research also finds that only a third of people who have bought travel insurance in the past 12 months kept their insurance policy details on them at all times when away.
Only 13% have left the information with family or friends and only 9% to a travel companion, both of which ABTA advises.
ABTA is also reminding people to make sure they take out a travel insurance policy as soon as they book their holiday to help protect them should they need to cancel due to an unexpected event or illness.
Julia Longbottom, director of consular of services at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said: "Most people enjoy trouble-free holidays overseas. However, I am concerned by these new figures showing that many British holidaymakers continue to travel without insurance.~The risks are very clear.
"You could find yourself paying out thousands of pounds in medical bills if you don’t have insurance. It’s important to know the FCO cannot help fund medical bills if you or a family member are taken ill or hospitalised when abroad."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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