Travel insurers are helping record number of people falling ill while abroad and spending £5.3 million a week to do so.

New figures released from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reveal the true cost of falling ill abroad after record numbers of holiday makers needed emergency medical treatment on holiday last year.

The startling figures show insurers dealt with 366,000 claims for overseas medical treatment and paid out an astonishing £5.3 million a week.

Other figures from the ABI reveal that travel insurers:

• Paid a total of £274 million towards the cost of medical treatment for UK travellers;
• Dealt with over 7,000 cases a week;
• Most common illnesses requiring treatment were stomach upsets, heart problems, allergies and ear infections.

The figures illustrate how important travel insurance is for holiday makers with the cost of medical expenses claims having leapt over 270% in the last five years and insurers dealing with three times the numbers of claims. This translates into 60% of the total cost of all claims dealt with by insurers compared to 33% five years ago.

The huge costs that can be incurred for medical treatment abroad means that travel insurance is vital. Examples of claims from last year include:

• £49,000 for the cost of a coronary artery bypass and an emergency flight home from the USA;
• £16,500 to treat a husband and wife who separately suffered back injuries while on the same holiday. The money going on additional hotel costs and ambulances;
• £9,000 to cover the treatment of a woman who suffered a severe allergic reaction on holiday.

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said: “The often high costs of overseas medical treatment make travel insurance essential for anyone travelling abroad. All travellers should ensure that they take details of emergency medical helpline telephone numbers included in their travel policy to call for advice and help should they fall ill. And travellers to Europe should not forget to have their European Health Insurance Card. While this is not a substitute for travel insurance, it will entitle you to basic state health care in Europe.”