New research has revealed that among 1,000 Irish adults who travel abroad at least once a year and the people who travelled with them 78pc had faced at least one out of a list of common problems. Some 33pc needed medical assistance such as consulting a doctor or hospital care while 33pc had a flight or transport cancelled or delayed. Some 22pc had luggage or belongings lost or damaged while 14pc suffered theft of money passport or personal belongings. Some 14pc have had to cancel a holiday before travelling while 11pc had to cut a holiday short due to illness a family emergency or other reason.
The research commissioned by travel insurance provider Multitrip.com and carried out by Opinium shows how often people in Ireland face a range of mishaps that can cause headaches when taking a trip abroad. Travel insurance policies often include benefits that help take the sting out of unexpected expenses that can add up like emergency medical costs. Typically the highest value claims are for medical emergencies. For example smaller accidents like a broken wrist can be as high as €20,000 in Europe or even €45,000 in the US while serious medical issues run into hundreds of thousands.
Jason Whelan, MD of Multitrip.com, shared: “No one wants to think about their holiday going wrong; most trips go smoothly and that’s how it should be. But when something does happen, the impact can be serious, especially when it comes to medical bills overseas, which our data shows can escalate quickly. That’s why travel insurance is such an important part of planning a trip. It’s not just about financial protection if you need medical care; it’s also there if things go wrong before or during your holiday, such as cancellations, lost luggage or needing emergency support abroad. And it’s about making the experience easier too.”
