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Uninsured parents face hefty bills if kids get sick on holiday

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
29/05/2018

Nearly half of parents risk being hit with expensive medical bills if their kids get ill or injured on holiday because they do not buy travel insurance.

Research from Co-op Insurance found that two-fifths of parents have experienced a child fall ill or suffering an injury while on holiday but 48% don’t take out travel cover for family holidays.

Over a quarter of parents have had to cancel or consider cancelling a holiday because their child was unwell.

The average travel insurance claim stands at £606, with some claims reaching into the thousands of pounds.

Of those parents who have been caught short on holiday, a third had to pay for their child’s treatment on a credit card, and a further third had to dip into their savings.

Stomach bugs, flu and chickenpox top the list of most common illnesses while abroad. Cuts, insect bites and bruises are the most common injuries.

Colin Butler, head of travel insurance at the Co-op, said: “It’s alarming that so many families are going on holiday without having travel insurance in place. Illnesses and injuries particularly for children can be unpredictable and as a result, unexpected medical bills can be very expensive.”