Travellers 'should take out overseas medical insurance'

Expatriate health insurance policyholders who take a year out to travel are most at risk of encountering problems while overseas, ABTA - The Travel Association has stated.

Spokesman for the organisation Sean Tipton suggested that this is because they are likely to take part in more risky activities, such as adventure sports, which could see them having to make a claim on their overseas medical insurance should they sustain an injury and require healthcare.

He pointed out that some travellers might leave themselves at risk because they will not take out international medical insurance or other forms of travel insurance.

"Many are travelling on a budget and they regard it as an unnecessary expenditure" he explained.

Mr Tipton's comments come after research by Protect Your Bubble revealed that one in four holidaymakers from the UK go abroad without adequate protection.

This is despite a number of reported mishaps which could have been covered by overseas health insurance, such as cases of severe sunburn, food poisoning and other injuries requiring medical intervention.

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