Holiday from hell or the trip of a lifetime? Why travel insurance can make the world of difference.

If you want to get away this year; perhaps swim in the sea, discover history, or simply just… ‘be’, travel insurance might be the last thing on your mind as you’re browsing through brochures and flight offers. But effective travel insurance can cover you and your family for issues that may arise around cancellations and delays, theft, damage, and most importantly, your health.

If you are making more than one trip in a year (for business or leisure), it could be more cost effective for you to choose an annual policy.

We offer travel insurance which can provide these levels of cover:

• Annual or Single trip policy.
• Emergency Medical expenses: choose from £5 million, up to £15 million per person.
• Personal belongings: choose from £750 up to £3,000 per person.
• Cancellation or curtailment: choose from £1,500 up to £7,500 per person.
• Missed or delayed departure.
• Optional cover available for sports, activities, and cruises.
• Medical expenses and repatriation.

We consider all circumstances, including pre-existing medical conditions, so if insurers have refused you in the past, we’re here to help.

European healthcare

If you are a UK resident you can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but the British GHIC is not accepted in the EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), the Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican. These cards allow you access to free of charge or reduced-cost public healthcare services in EU countries¹.

We would still recommend taking out travel insurance for medical cover, even if you are staying within Europe and have a GHIC card, as this only covers the use of state hospitals. Travel insurers are not necessarily going to pay for private medical treatment if a state hospital is available, however, should you have no choice in an emergency but to use a private hospital as the nearest state hospital is either too far away or inaccessible, your travel insurance will usually cover you. The GHIC card only gives you access to reduced cost healthcare in some medical centres, and the EHIC card provides cover for the medical facilities that residents use, making effective and appropriate travel insurance usually the most reliable option.

The cost of medical treatment in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean – if you don’t have travel insurance

If you are planning on venturing further afield this year, to the U.S., Canada or the Caribbean, travel insurance can make the difference between receiving urgent medical care and missing out on life saving treatment. The average cost of a doctor’s visit in the US is $200 – $300; that is before any medications or treatment². If you need to go to the Emergency Room (our equivalent of A&E), it will cost about $2,168. Ambulance costs start at $400 and can be more than $1,200, and the cost of an air ambulance starts at $2,000 and can reach over $200,000³.

As a visitor to Canada you would have to pay for medical treatment. To give an idea of how much medical treatment and health-related services cost, here is a short overview:

• Daytime doctor’s visit: $100 – $600 (visits exclude treatment and medications).
• An overnight stay in a hospital for overseas visitors can cost around $3,000 – $4,000.
• Intensive care can cost up to $8,500 a day⁴.

The Caribbean, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands provide good healthcare with high-tech facilities in the English-speaking areas where many of the expatriates live. However, this is usually private medical care and you may have to pay for suitable medical treatment.

Have the holiday you deserve, have the appropriate level of cover. It’s worth it, and so are you.

Alternatively, email us at:

info@lloydwhyte.com

What matters to you, matters to us

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-residents-visiting-the-eueea-and-switzerland-healthcare

2-3. https://visaguide.world/international-health-insurance/us/healthcare-costs-visitors-expats/

4. https://www.tourguidecanada.com/travel-medical-insurance-canada.html#:~:text=As%20a%20visitor%20to%20Canada,night%2C%20the%20costs%20might%20double.

Lloyd & Whyte Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 03686765.  Registered Office: Affinity House, Bindon Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6AA.  Calls may be recorded for use in quality management, training and customer support.