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Travel Medical Claims Reach Almost £5,000 in the US

A new study has found that medical claims made by British tourists who fall ill or have an accident in a foreign country now stand at an average of £1,333.41. The US is the most expensive country where the average claim comes in at £4,725.

Falling ill or having an accident abroad can end up resulting in a very expensive holiday, according to an analysis of 2010 claims data from a leading travel Insurer.

Among other data, the study revealed that the most expensive country for medical attention in 2010 was the US, with the average hospital visit costing its policy holders £4,725. In contrast, the cheapest country for hospital treatment was Greece, where the average cost of a hospital visit was still £422.

Countries and illnesses

As the report shows, in 2010 the top 10 most countries where a medical claim was most likely to be made and its subsequent average medical cost were as follows:

United States with £4,725.75, Thailand with £1,937.82, Dominican Republic (£1,178.41), Cyprus (£1,102.59), Spain (£1,100.07), Egypt (£1,067.93), Australia (£989.26), France (£869.67), Turkey (£850.63) and finally Greece with £422.36.

Despite this ranking, statistics revealed that Spain - followed by Turkey and Greece - was the country where more holidaymakers had to seek medical help. This is probably down to the sheer volume of British visitors they get each year though.

Regarding the most type of health problems that British tourists suffer when they are on holiday, ear infection was the most common, with the average bill coming in at £320. 

As for the other illnesses, their frequency and cost, the list includes: wound (£767.79), fractured or broken bone (£4,238.87), respiratory problem (£2,193.79), sprained arm/ limb (£1,137.01), skin infections/inflammation (£905.76), insect bite (£376.68), cardiac (£8,147.72), minor infections ear/nose/throat (£489.89) and back pain (£1,216.19).

The more you know about your resources when travelling abroad, the safer and more relaxed your holiday will be. There are numerous travel money cards available. Whether it be for a family holiday or a business trip, a travel prepaid card can save you money and help you budget more effectively.

Tags: holiday abroad, travel finance, travel medical claims, TRAVEL MONEY CARDS