Travellers feel the heat as medical bills cost over £7,500 for a fever

With millions of Brits set to travel abroad this summer, Aviva claims data reveals the costly medical bills that travellers could face when jetting away.

The analysis, which looked at medical assistance claims over the last five years during the summer holidays, reveals that infections and fevers - such as chicken pox or infected insect bites - are the most common medical claims, costing on average £1,929³ across all destination countries.

Though slightly less common, respiratory claims – which include claims for bronchitis and COVID-19 – rank top as the most expensive, costing £2,261 on average.

According to the data, the most popular holiday destinations over the last five years include the United States, Spain, Greece, Turkey and France. When looking at the most common claims broken down by these countries, the figures show that medical bills in the United States are often substantially higher, compared to other destinations.

Despite the high costs, over a fifth (22%) of Brits aren’t sure whether to take out travel insurance, with a further 14% admitting to never purchasing cover.

Kelly Whittington, Travel Claims Director at Aviva, commented: “With medical bills running into the thousands – if not tens of thousands of pounds in more serious scenarios – it’s worrying to learn that millions of Brits are potentially travelling abroad unprotected.

“Although cancellation is the most common travel claim, it’s just as important to remember that travel insurance is designed to help you in the case of an unforeseen events – which includes medical emergencies. From ear infections which prevent you from travelling home on time, to more serious instances like cardiac treatment or a serious head injury, travel cover is there to protect travellers while they’re away from home, making sure they aren’t out of pocket as a result.

“Taking out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip will give you peace of mind knowing that you are protected, both in the lead up to your trip and while you’re away - hopefully - soaking up the sun.”

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References:

^{1. Aviva claims data where medical assistance has been provided from July-September 2019-2023.}

^{2. The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,002 national rep general consumers (18+) between 06.03.24 - 12.03.24.}

^{3. Aviva claims data where medical assistance has been provided from July-September 2019-2023.}

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