Paying for medical care abroad is becoming more expensive, warns Direct Line Travel Insurance, and so cutting back on insurance cover could turn out to be a false economy.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC is a must-have when travelling in Europe as it allows access to healthcare abroad. However, it will not cover all that could be required, such as long-term treatment. Even less severe cases, such as having a broken leg may result in medical repatriation becoming necessary, as airlines may not be able fully accommodate you with the extra room and expense required.
The EHIC only provides a minimal amount of local medical care, while a good travel insurance policy will cover many other costs including medical repatriation, which can easily run into tens of thousands of pounds or more.
Travel insurance: News update: 19 August 2010
