Travel insurance warning issued

AHEAD of the summer holidays, Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan is backing ABTA’s call to holidaymakers to ensure they have the necessary travel insurance.

They are urging people to take out travel insurance which covers their circumstances and the activities they are planning to do. This will avoid potentially costly medical bills should something go wrong.

The most common reason for not buying travel insurance was that people felt it wasn’t needed – including believing that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would provide sufficient cover. While it is important to have an EHIC card when travelling in Europe, the EHIC only provides access to state medical care and does not include repatriation to the UK if you are seriously ill.

ABTA is also encouraging people who have travel insurance with their bank to check that it covers their requirements as there may be restrictions around age, health, destination and activities.

Nicky said: “It is simply not worth the risk to travel abroad without the right travel insurance. Going without any travel insurance, or having insurance which doesn’t cover your circumstances, could prove very costly if you were to fall ill or have an accident while on holiday.

“I’m encouraging Loughborough residents to buy travel insurance now if they don’t already have it, and, if you do have insurance, to check before you travel that it covers your circumstances and the activities you plan to do when you are away.”