Emergency Medical Expenses

Whilst you are away on holiday what would happen if you needed emergency medical treatment? This section of a travel insurance policy is most heavily relied on whilst you are away in foreign countries where medical treatment has to be paid for. Without travel insurance it can be extremely expensive to treat even the simplest of ailments. Outpatient treatment for an accident or injury in the USA can cost £1,000 to £1500 and increases to £8,000 to £10,000 if you need to have surgery or stay in hospital for even a short period of time. It’s not uncommon therefore for the emergency medical expenses section of a travel insurance policy to cover you up to £3m, £5 or £10m.

The emergency medical expenses section of a travel insurance policy will also cover the costs involved in flying you home to the UK after an accident abroad. Travel insurance companies more often favour repatriation if you have had a serious accident necessitating a long stay in hospital or specialist treatment/surgery that may not be possible in more remote corners of the world.

Other eventualities covered by the emergency medical section of a travel insurance policy can include emergency dental treatment, returning bodies if somebody passes away whilst on holiday and the cost of a nurse to accompany you home together with additional flights and transport home if you are ill or injured.

Travel insurance emergency medical expenses will not however cover the cost of cosmetic surgery and any treatment that is not essential. Neither will it cover the cost of a private room or illness resulting from tropical diseases unless you have taken the recommended inoculations before leaving home.

Last but by no means least, the general exclusions will stipulate that you are not covered due to any claims arising from drink or drugs (unless prescribed) and pre-existing medical conditions not declared to the travel insurance company and accepted in writing before the holiday commences.