One travel insurance claim made every minute by British holidaymakers

The cost of medical treatment for a British couple hit by a drunk driver in the US was £587,000

Take care: the average medical claim last year was £1,368 (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

British holidaymakers made travel insurance claims at an average rate of almost one a minute in 2018, according to the latest industry figures.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that 498,000 claims were made on travel insurance policies in 2018.

The average cost of a claim was £800, but many were much higher – especially in North America. Two travellers insured by Direct Line Group were struck by a drunk driver in the US, with the subsequent medical treatment costing £587,000.

Aviva dealt with a claim involving a customer on a cruise ship who suffered a stroke and was flown to the US in an air ambulance for treatment, at a cost of £118,000.

In the last decade, the average medical claim has risen by 78 per cent to £1,368.

Many travellers, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions, rely on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers travel to the EU for as long as the UK remains a member. It provides care in public hospitals on the same basis as local people.

But the ABI says one Axa customer was flown back from Spain for a heart transplant, which would not be covered by the EHIC scheme, at a cost of £76,528 in total.

The ABI’s senior travel policy adviser, Charlie Campbell, said: “The fact that a quarter of Brits travel abroad without the right travel insurance is incredibly worrying.

“Few people have the luxury of being able to afford a surprise £800 bill, let alone one that runs into the tens or hundreds of thousands if they fall ill abroad.

“Anyone travelling this summer should avoid unnecessary financial and emotional stress by ensuring they have the right cover in place.

“As not all policies are the same, people should look for cover that meets their needs, rather than the cheapest option.”

One-third of travel insurance claims in 2018 were for cancellation, with an average payout of £869.

One in six claims was for loss of baggage or money, averaging £214.

Despite the increasing cost of claims, the ABI says travel insurance premiums are down, especially for older travellers. The average policy now costs £38.