According a study by Age Concern Insurance Services, Mexico has the highest average claim cost for Brits who fall ill on holiday without medical insurance to cover them. The figures revealed that the average claim in the country reached £3,028.
In second place with medical claims hitting £2,854 was the USA and in the third place was the Caribbean beauty Barbados.
European hotspots Malta and Cyprus were also expensive destinations for the British tourist who required medical attention abroad. Claims here averaged £1,261 and £1,135 respectively.
In comparison, the least expensive travel claims can be found in Egypt with travel claims costing on average £160, £176 in Yugoslavia and £185 in Norway.
“Our claims data highlights just how expensive falling ill abroad can be,” says Jeff Morris from Age Concern Insurance Services.
“We’d like to remind people that they can protect themselves from these potential costs by taking out comprehensive travel cover,” adds Morris.
For added protection against unforeseen medical circumstances, the study has released a number of tips to prevent the cost of medical attention abroad.
Holiday Medical Tips: Stay Healthy on Holiday
· Before going away, research your destination for any pre-departure vaccinations you may need
· Remember to pack any medication for pre-existing conditions in your hand luggage
· To avoid getting deep vein thrombosis, wear DVT socks during long flights, move your feet around, take walks if possible and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic drinks
· Make sure any meat and seafood you eat has been properly cooked and avoid food from stalls where the dishes may have been in the sun all day
· Don’t drink the tap water without checking first that it is safe. Ice is often made from tap water too, so ask for your cold drinks without ice
· Avoid extended periods of sunbathing especially during the hottest hours of the day. Always use a high factor sun block and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
· Always take a small but comprehensive first aid kit on holiday in case of minor emergencies
· Take details of your travel insurance policy including the emergency helpline number in case you need to claim
