One in four Brits claim not to be taking out any travel insurance for this year’s summer holiday, according to Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance.

The worst age group for neglecting to buy cover for their summer holiday is those aged 55-64, with 32% of respondents in this age bracket saying they are not taking out cover for this year’s summer holiday.

The increasing cost of living seems to explain why some people are skipping taking out insurance this year, with 18% of holidaymakers saying they can’t afford travel cover. This was the second most common excuse cited by this year’s summer holidaymakers and was topped only by the 31% who claim they do not need it.

Steve Johnson, head of insurance at Sainsbury’s Finance, said: “It’s extremely concerning to see how many people are neglecting to take out insurance when going away on holiday. It’s a false economy to do without it and should be regarded as a holiday essential, just as important as packing your passport. Although in the current climate people are understandably looking at ways to reduce their outgoings, insurance is one thing that should not be omitted.

“If something happens to you or your family while you’re abroad, you need to know that you have adequate cover in place to take care of things, whether it’s to reimburse you for lost or stolen belongings, to pay for any medical treatment you may need or even to cover the cost of flying home early as a result of an emergency.”