An increasing number of UK residents are travelling overseas to receive medical treatment . In countries like India, Spain and Hungary cosmetic and elective procedures can cost up to 50 per cent less than in local private practices.
However many travellers are not aware that conventional travel insurance may not cover health tourists and they could find that insurers turn down their treatment claims. Also, flight-related claims such as lost baggage, accident, and missed flights may be turned down as well. This is because many insurance policies are invalidated when travellers don’t reveal the true nature of their journey.
Cover specifically for health tourists is provided by some travel insurance companies, but their policy will only extend to the non-medical aspects of the journey. Health tourists should check with their providers before travelling for medical reasons, advises Helen Warburton of Post Office Travel Services . She also noted that it was essential for such travellers to try and find specialist insurance cover. For the health tourist, the alternative to specialist travel insurance is UK health insurance coverage.