The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued advice on what travellers should do if they fall ill out of the UK.
Last year some 3,689 holidaymakers had to go to hospital abroad and the ABI said vacationers should make sure they have adequate insurance.
For example, staying overnight at a hospital in Spain to treat an allergic reaction can cost as much as £3,000 and breaking a leg in the US can set travellers back around £40,000.
If vacationing in Europe – Britons should make sure they take a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which allows the carrier to access public health services in the same way as the local population and could save time and money.
However, even if you don’t have insurance or an EHIC, it’s still important to seek medical help if there is a problem as ignoring it could make the problem worse or result in death.
Nick Starling, ABI’s director of general insurance, said: “Every traveller’s worst nightmare must be to fall ill or get injured abroad. Not being able to speak the language and not knowing how or where to get the right treatment adds to the trauma.”