Travel insurance: Holidaymakers warned over steep cost of medical bills abroad

Add to My Stories Share Travellers are being warned about the high cost of falling ill or having accidents abroad after it was revealed that medical claims by British holidaymakers now average as much as 1,333.

The United States is the country where hospital treatment is the most expensive, with medical bills averaging 4,726, the survey found.

Hefty payout: Medical bills average 4,726 in the United States Of the 10 countries surveyed, Greece had the least expensive bills, averaging just 422, according to research by Sainsbury's Travel Insurance.

Based on claims made in 2010, the figures showed that Spain was the country where more British tourists had to seek medical help than any other, followed by Turkey and Greece.

The most common complaint was ear infection, with the cost for treatment averaging 320.

Heart problems were the most expensive of the common ailments to deal with abroad, with treatment averaging 8,148.

Sainsbury's Travel Insurance manager Scott Gorman said: 'It has been widely reported that healthcare costs are rising far faster than the rate of inflation, not just in the UK but in other countries as well, so ensuring you have adequate cover and peace of mind while you travel abroad is more important than ever.'

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Nick Starling, of the Association of British Insurers said: 'Medical costs if you are hurt or taken ill on holiday can run into tens of thousands of pounds. Travel Insurance is an absolute essential for every holidaymaker. 'Although people like to enjoy themselves on holiday, if you hurt yourself when drunk your policy is unlikely to cover you. While delayed flights, stolen cameras or lost passports can be inconvenient, having! to pay a huge medical bill after illness or injury can be devastating.'Travel Insurance is there to cover your medical care and help get you home so it should be at the top of everyones holiday checklist.'It follows the news that the family of a British man who had a motorbike accident in Bali is struggling to raise 80,000 to pay for his medical bills and flight back to England.

Richard Plummer, 32, has been in a coma since the crash on 1 July and was flown back to the UK in an air ambulance last week. He is currently being treated at Maidstone Hospital.

Mr Plummer had been living on the Indonesian island since 2009 but had allowed his travel insurance to expire.

A benefactor has agreed to lend Mr Plummers parents 80,000 to cover the cost of the air ambulance but their home is at risk if they cannot repay it. They have also had to use their 20,000 life savings to pay for their son's care.

Richards father Eric Plummer, from Maidstone in Kent, said: I would say to anyone going abroad to get travel insurance whatever the cost. This situation is the worst nightmare scenario I can possibly think of.