The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is warning travellers that medical costs, particularly repatriation by air ambulance, have more than doubled in the last four years in some cases. As the costs were very high as it was, the organisation says that it makes taking travel insurance even more essential.
"People requiring an air ambulance will now find that the cost of being flown safely home on a long haul flight will now cost more than twice the amounts charged in 2019," an ABTA spokesperson said, explaining that in instances where travellers have had a major accident and need to be flown home in an air ambulance, with the necessary high quality medical assistance, in 2019 an air ambulance from the European Union back to the United Kingdom cost between €15,000-20,000 but this rose in 2023 to between €25,000-30,000.
Worldwide costs are even higher rising from €35,000-40,000 in 2019 to €75,000-85,000, last year, more than doubling.
The General Health Insurance Card (GHIC), allows UK citizens access to state medical care in the EU and a handful of other destinations but not all of these services are provided free of charge and air ambulance costs are not covered by GHIC, nor is the UK government under any obligation to cover any medical costs. This means that if you don't have travel insurance, then you are liable to pay the full costs yourself, along with any other medical treatment.
ABTA note it is also important to check that any activities you plan to do are covered by the policy and specialist insurance for activities such as winter sports is purchased.
"Every year we see very sad stories of uninsured people who have fallen ill or had an accident whilst overseas and are running up large medical bills," said Graeme Buck, ABTA's Director of Communications, who added, "They often resort to setting up a Go Fund Me page or similar, but they will now find they need to raise substantially more money, with air ambulance and other medical costs having gone through the roof. It is simply not worth the risk of financial ruin, simply to save a few pounds, so always take out travel insurance at the time of booking your holiday or other travel arrangements."