It is not a legal requirement to take out medical insurance whilst traveling abroad. Millions of holiday makers and business travelers will take foreign trips each year and the chances of becoming ill or having to make a claim to your insurers is relatively small. However, there is always the exception to the rule. People do require hospital treatment and people do fall ill whilst abroad.
If you are uninsured and find yourself in hospital, you may be liable for thousands of pounds worth of care. You could be taken ill in one country and find that you have been shipped across a border for specialist treatment and no matter where you are in the world repatriation is never covered, even if the UK has a mutual health care agreement such as with EEA states.
If you are traveling abroad on a package holiday with your family, the health risks will be different to those traveling on a gap year trip that could take in several undeveloped locations. It is your responsibility to asses any potential risks and plan ahead the precautions you need to take. Your local travel clinic will vaccinate you and offer advice on health matters as well as issuing malaria tablets if needed.
Many insurance policies will offer a huge amount of cover, most people would need to be completely rebuilt by robots to ever use up the whole of the amount you are covered for but that is not the issue. The issue is that if you need medical care and you are traveling abroad you and your family will not need to worry about the cost of treatment.
Many policies include the cost of a family member remaining with you during the time you are unwell. This is very important if a child becomes ill and needs a parent or guardian to stay with them. The cost of extending your stay can be claimed back at least as far as accommodation, return flights and basic food costs are concerned.
Pre existing medical conditions must be mentioned at the time you buy the policy. There is a list of conditions that are included and even if the condition is not amongst them, the cost of the policy may not increase. |
