Holidaying without insurance 'puts health and finances at risk'

People who are taking cheap package holidays to Egypt or other countries must not scrimp on their travel insurance cover, because if they have an accident or are taken ill, they could be hit with large bills.

Research from ABTA - The Travel Association found one-fifth of holidaymakers are going abroad without insurance, with 21 per cent incorrectly believing that the UK government will bail them out if they get into difficulties.

While British embassies or consulates can get in touch with a tourist's family back home and will give them information on transferring money, they cannot pay hospital bills or fork out for flights home if people have spent all their holiday money.

The survey also found 17 per cent of travellers think insurance is unnecessary when they are going to the EU as long as they have a European Health Insurance Card, but this only gives access to basic state medical care.

ABTA head of financial protection John de Vial commented: "In the current economic climate customers should be careful to purchase insurance at the time of booking their holiday to obtain cancellation cover for redundancy as well as any potential illness prior to travelling."

Posted by Emily Sanders