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AllClear Travel News and Media Room
News from the travel insurance industry, written by us to keep you informed...
Medical travel insurance specialist, AllClear, is a Top 10 Award winner in the UK
Online Performance Awards 2010.
August 2010
Every year cancer sufferers are among the thousands of travellers who decline the opportunity
of specialist insurance for their trip on the basis of cost, many finding themselves faced with a medical expenses bill
which could run to tens of thousands of pounds when things go wrong.
August 2010
According to the Association of British Insurers, the cost of becoming ill
abroad is increasing. Travel Insurers paid out more than £275 million last year and more than 60% of that payout
was for emergency medical expenses.
August 2010
Imagine arriving at your destination and finding that your luggage has not arrived with you...
In 2009, over 25 million air passenger bags were mishandled globally.
June 2010
Medical travel insurance specialist AllClear is a Top 10 winner in the UK Online Performance Awards 2009,
according to Experian Hitwise, the leading global online competitive intelligence service.
May 2010
Medical Travel Insurance Specialist AllClear explains why many travel
underwriters have taken the decision to withdraw cover for Volcanic Ash
travel disruption. May 2010
As thousands of travellers remain bewildered by just what they should
do, AllClear Travel Insurance removes the cloud of uncertainty for its policy holders. April 2010
The AllClear Travel Group, based in Romford, is proud to be a green company.
We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint... April 2010
AllClear's experience has shown one of the biggest problems for older people, especially if they have
existing medical conditions, is finding travel insurance for their holiday abroad. January 2010
AllClear has warned those travellers intending to take the cheaper option and
buy less expensive cover that they may not be protected against all emergencies. November 2009
One of the biggest fears when travelling abroad is to arrive at the destination airport only to find your baggage
has not arrived with you.... October 2009
A third of all passengers do leave home without it!
With the cruise season in full swing, booking travel insurance cover for a cruise holiday should be one of the first things
on the checklist, but this is not always the case. Indeed more than a third travel without it... October 2009
Medical Travel Insurance Specialist AllClear has been shortlisted in the Intermediary
of the Year category at the International Travel Insurance Journal (ITIJ) Awards... October 2009
AllClear Travel has launched a new blog, called 'The Travelling Patient' ( Go to Blog ),
which is all about the issues and potential benefits of travelling abroad for medical treatment or surgery. October 2009
...50% of British travellers have become ill or injured on holiday, yet 17% of us holiday with no travel insurance...
June 2009
British holidaymakers are invalidating their travel insurance by not informing insurers of pre-existing
medical conditions, says medical travel insurance specialist AllClear. May 2009
Many travel policies do not provide any cover at all for pre-existing medical conditions and so if someone is diagnosed
with a condition they should check their policy... April 2009
According to specialist travel insurance provider AllClear, travel policy sales for trips within the UK are showing a
massive rise over the same period last year. April 2009
According to surveys carried out by AllClear Travel Insurance, the worrying trend of travellers relying entirely on EHIC
for holiday cover may, in some part be due to the new rules for connected travel insurance. March 2009
Whilst it's true that physical access to transport has improved over recent years with the advent of the disabilities discrimination
act, overseas travel can still be problematical for those with disabilities. March 2009
Major travel insurance provider AllClear, has announced the introduction of new cover to protect customers from financial loss in the
event of failed airlines... March 2009
The Equality Bill, announced in the Queens Speech on 3rd December last year, is currently attracting much speculation in the press
on how it will affect Insurance. March 2009
The average cost of claims for repatriating holidaymakers taken ill whilst overseas has exceeded £25,000, according to new research.
Those with inadequate insurance, however, are having to meet those costs themselves. March 2009
If someone gets injured or taken ill on the slopes, the first report of this will usually be to the
local emergency services by someone dialling 112... March 2009
August 2010
AllClear wins online performance award in 2010
Medical travel insurance specialist, AllClear, is a Top 10 Award winner in the UK Online
Performance Awards 2010.
Experian Hitwise, the leading global online competitive intelligence service, ranked
www.allcleartravel.co.uk the 6th most popular website among all UK websites in the
6th most popular website among all UK websites in the Health and
Medical - Health Insurance industry, for the period of January to June 2010.
This is building on AllClear's success from last year, when we were also a top
10 Hitwise winner for the health and medical - Health Insurance category.
We are very proud of this achievement again, which shows that more and more
and more people are discovering the benefits of using www.allcleartravel.co.uk
for their travel insurance. AllClear believes that everyone has the right to travel
and specialises in providing travel insurance for the elderly and travellers with
existing medical conditions.
Hitwise provides insights on how 8 million UK Internet users interact with more
than 1 million websites, across 165+ industries.
August 2010
Why do I need specialist cancer travel insurance?
Every year cancer sufferers are among the thousands of travellers who decline the
opportunity of specialist insurance for their trip on the basis of cost, many finding themselves
faced with a medical expenses bill which could run to tens of thousands of pounds when
things go wrong. So why is this? With something like cancer, why can't they just hop on a
plane and come home?
Chris Blackman, Head of Product development at AllClear Travel Insurance explains: "It's all
to do with homeostasis. This is the medical term used to describe the balance of all the
biological and physiological systems of the human body, all working in harmony together, to
keep our body functioning properly. It is the control of our body temperature, heart rate, blood
pressure, electrolyte balance and much more but small changes to the body, such as the
development of a new tumour can upset this balance. We might not be aware of the new
tumour, especially if it is very tiny, but its proximity to a vital organ may generate changes to
the way healthy cells interact, perhaps causing a fluid build up or a heart rate disturbance.
Cancer can follow an unpredictable course, where the symptoms experienced may not match
the expectation, and may require urgent medical intervention.
Add to this the fact that airlines generally refuse to take passengers who simply appear unwell
without a medical escort or at least a doctor's letter confirming their fitness for the journey and
it's easy to see why travellers who have cancer and become ill on holiday get caught out.
So if you can't come home, how do you pay the medical bills?
We have recently provided essential medical care for a lady in France who had previously
been diagnosed with bowel cancer. While on holiday, she suffered from a series of terrible
nosebleeds, a side effect of treatment she was having at home. She had originally not
planned on purchasing travel insurance as she thought if she felt unwell she would just get on
a plane and come back early. But as it turned out, she had to be hospitalised so doctors could
stabilise her before she could travel home.
Fortunately, after proper consideration she decided to declare her cancer condition and take
out travel insurance, so our underwriters will be picking up the expensive medical bill. Those
travelling without insurance, or not declaring their medical condition, would not have been
covered!
August 2010
5 reasons for travellers to declare their medical history before leaving the UK
According to the Association of British Insurers, the cost of becoming ill
abroad is increasing. Travel Insurers paid out more than £275 million last year
and more than 60% of that payout was for emergency medical expenses. At
the same time, the Foreign Office reported that an estimated 20% of Brits do
not take out travel insurance at all. And then there are those who take out a
policy but fail to disclose details about their medical conditions. It may be
simply an oversight or it may be deliberate, just to save a few pounds. Either
way, in the event of an emergency, the insurer may decline the claim leaving
the holidaymaker to pick up the bill
Leading specialist travel insurance provider, AllClear travel, details 5 good
reasons why you do need to declare your medical history.
Q. "I don't have high blood pressure any more because I take a couple of
pills to control it, so surely I don't need to tell the travel insurance company?"
A. Well yes you do. Although the medication is controlling the symptoms
at home, the underlying medical condition is still there. Travelling
usually means a change of routine and tablets may be delayed or
missed altogether. Heat, physical exertion, increased alcohol intake or
even just a tummy upset, can change the amount of the drug absorbed
and distributed within the body. So what was a stable medical condition
at home could potentially be a problem abroad and that's why insurers
see a higher incidence of claims. If it's not declared, they have the right
to turn down cover, just when you need it.
Q. "I'm only travelling to Europe and I've got one of those EHIC cards so I
don't need travel insurance do I?"
A. If you're lucky, then you may be covered for a proportion of the medical
treatment costs but if you need an air ambulance home or you can't
travel home on your booked ticket, you could still face a bill of
thousands. Just a simple broken ankle, for example, will often mean a
medical escort home (usually required by the airline in case of
complications in flight) and a first class seat for extra leg room.
covered!
Q. I've got a touch of Asthma but otherwise I'm fit for my age, surely I can
take a chance and save the expense of travel insurance, I'm just going
to Cyprus?
A. Did you know that the cabin of an aircraft is not only pressurised but
there's 10% less oxygen. People with respiratory conditions or
circulation problems should ensure that they have any medication with
them on the flight just in case. They may also be more susceptible to
respiratory infection. Combine that with the high pollen count often
found in Cyprus, which can act as an irritant, and you may be glad you
have full cover. If you need medical help and the asthma was not
declared, you may face the bill yourself.
Q. I've got a heart condition and I suppose I could have a problem whilst away
but surely a hospital in USA can't make you pay if you just haven't got it?
A. If medical expenses cannot be guaranteed by a travel or medical
insurance company, treatment may be delayed, or even limited to life
support only, until payment can be confirmed. Often the Foreign &
Commonwealth office is called on to find a relative or friend in the UK
to act as guarantor or make a bank arrangement and on return to the
UK it may mean re-mortgaging your house to pay the bill. Buying
insurance and declaring any medical problems will ensure you are
covered for such costs.
Q. I've had some bowel surgery following cancer but it's all sorted now
and my doctor said I should have a holiday. I'm going on a cruise and
there's a full medical team on board so I won't need insurance will I?
A. Most ships medical facilities charge for treatment these days so you'll
need insurance even for minor treatment. Anything more serious would
need to be dealt with onshore and it may therefore be necessary for an
air ambulance transfer to a suitably equipped hospital.
May 2010
AllClear wins online performance award for 2009
Medical travel insurance specialist AllClear is a Top 10 winner in the UK Online Performance Awards 2009,
according to Experian Hitwise, the leading global online competitive intelligence service.
During 2009, www.allcleartravel.co.uk ranked Number 6 overall for market share of visits among all
United Kingdom websites in the Hitwise Health and Medical - Health Insurance industry.
The fact that AllClear Travel is one of the Top 10 most popular websites for 2009 in the health
insurance industry shows that more and more people are discovering the benefits of using
www.allCleartravel.co.uk. AllClear specialises in providing travel insurance for the elderly and
travellers with existing medical conditions.
In 2009 AllClear Travel provided cover for more than 70,000 people for trips to destinations
around the world, covering all kinds of medical conditions from asthma to diabetes, to cancer
and heart conditions.
Experian Hitwise reports on the anonymous online usage and search behaviour of more than
8 million UK Internet users and is the largest online sample of its kind.
June 2010
AllClear Provides FREE Traceable Luggage Tags to every customer
Romford, June 2010: So you have planned your holiday, and saved for it all year. You are so
excited to enjoy some sunshine, maybe sample some nice restaurants and bars, or swim in
a gorgeous blue sea. It might be that you have planned your holiday to do something more
active - some mountain walking, or skiing for example. One thing that all of these activities
have in common is that they all require specific clothing or equipment. So imagine arriving at
your destination and finding that your luggage has not arrived with you.
This is not as uncommon as you might think. In 2009, over 25 million air passenger bags
were mishandled globally. And losing your luggage really can spoil your relaxing holiday. Mr
and Mrs Smith from Essex lost their luggage recently: "We arrived in Portugal only to find our
luggage was not on the plane with us. It really made for a stressful and expensive first few
days, as we had to buy lots of new clothes, as well as staples like toothpaste and shampoo.
We finally relocated our luggage halfway through our holiday, but it really put us off travelling
for a while, and meant that we had purchased many items which we no longer needed. To
make it worse, our luggage did not even arrive all together but spread over a number of
days."
AllClear Travel, the specialist travel insurance experts for people with medical conditions,
understand the trauma of losing luggage on your holiday. That is why AllClear is providing
FREE traceable luggage tags with every personal travel insurance policy sold, to give
customers that much needed peace of mind, and ensure that if your luggage does go missing
you can locate it easily. With traceable luggage tags, the baggage handler knows how to
contact you and where you are, so that the bag can be with you as soon as possible, and you
can get on with enjoying your holiday.
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear explains more: "Often arranging a
holiday can be a daunting prospect - sorting out your passport or currency, and packing
everything you need. Then actually travelling to your destination can also be very stressful.
We are offering these free traceable luggage tags to ease customer's worries about lost
luggage, and help them have a more relaxing and enjoyable time away."
The free luggage tags offer is part of a package called AllClear Extras. Every AllClear policy
holder is given access online to huge discounts and special offers on travel, shopping and
leisure activities.
May 2010
Volcanic Ash Disruptions - What happens next?
Medical Travel Insurance Specialist AllClear explains why many travel
underwriters have taken the decision to withdraw cover for Volcanic Ash
travel disruption.
AllClear's Head of Product Development Chris Blackman explained, "Unlike many others, we
were pleased to be able to cover travellers caught up in the initial incident when all UK air
space was closed due to the ash, but the situation has now changed by virtue of the passing
of time. We all now know about this volcano and that it's still causing real problems to air
travel. Therefore it is no longer an "unforeseen event" which the travel policy is designed and
priced to cover. Travel disruption due to the ash, can now be reasonably "anticipated" which
means the risk has changed. Travellers booking now do have the choice about how they wish
to travel or indeed whether they travel or not." Airlines and tour operators also know that their
schedules are likely to be affected and should adapt accordingly.
Clearly a world changing event like this, which may be with us for just a few more days or it
could be with us for several hundred years, does change the whole game and could not be
anticipated by insurers and built into the pricing prior to the incident occurring for the first time.
Travel insurance policies are a keenly priced commodity with comparatively low margins, so
to have £millions wiped off the balance sheet for an unknown period would simply not be
viable, which may then deny the travelling public from the kind of cover they really need, such
as for emergency medical expenses. AllClear are urgently looking at what may be made
available to customers going forward once the nature and extent of this new risk is evaluated
but this will take time.
In the meantime perhaps the aviation and tour industry should be looking at the product they
are selling and make modifications. After all, when Toyota were finally convinced that there
was a defect with the product they were selling, they made modifications to the product,
rather than expecting their customers and the motor insurance companies to put up with the
inconvenience, cost, and safety issues caused. Airline tickets are no longer consistently
taking travellers when and where they want to go, so perhaps it's the aviation and tour
industry that has a responsibility to re-write 'what it says on the tin'."
AllClear Insurance specialises in providing cover for the elderly and people with medical
conditions and in the past two years they have introduced:
AllClear Cruise - offering all the features of our Personal medical policy with added features
including up to £25K cancellation, Missed port, cancelled shore excursion, Cabin
Confinement benefit, plus more.
AllClear Treatment Abroad - catering specifically for the medical tourist travelling for
medical treatment or surgery in other countries. Almost all other policies exclude travelling for
treatment.
AllClear Extras - providing loyalty incentives with real savings to our customers
As part of Extras - Free Traceable Luggage Tags, offering customers peace of mind and
the safe return of mislaid baggage.
Dynamic Packaging Insurance - This provides cover for failed airlines, ferry operators, car
hire companies, indeed any supplier of services which forms part of the travel itinerary which
suffers financial failure.
AllClear4you - A free infomediary website providing masses of information much of it
specifically for travellers with medical conditions
AllClearlife - Providing the opportunity of purchasing Life Insurance for those with medical
conditions who cannot usually obtain a fast indicative quotation.
AllClearHome - A specialist home and contents policy designed for people with medical
conditions and mobility problems, covering stair lifts, drugs in the fridge and much more.
With yet another specialist offering - AllClear Lifestyle Protector Plan about to be launched,
it's clear that AllClear has an impressive record of innovative development, responding
quickly to the changing nature of the travellers needs and will therefore be addressing the
volcanic ash issue in depth and with imagination over the coming weeks.
Visit AllClear at www.allcleartravel.co.uk or call one of our agents on 0845 250 5 250.
April 2010
Travel Insurance Cover for Volcanic Ash Groundings
As thousands of travellers remain bewildered by just what they should
do, AllClear Travel Insurance removes the cloud of uncertainty for its
policy holders.
With the Association of British Insurers warning that many policies will not
offer cover to those affected by the UK and European airspace closure due to
the volcanic dust cloud, Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at
AllClear has confirmed that those claiming under the travel delay and trip
abandonment sections of the AllClear Personal travel policy, WILL be eligible
to make a claim.
Chris explained: "Where a traveller has booked a holiday package through a
tour operator, there is an obligation for the tour operator to provide an
acceptable alternative or a refund but where someone has simply booked a flight and made their own arrangements for accommodation and
perhaps car hire - an increasingly popular trend nowadays with the ease of internet
bookings - the airline will only compensate for the airline ticket. This leaves
the traveller picking up the bill for a hotel room or villa which he can't get to,
though no fault of his own! This is where a reputable travel policy is important
for those wishing to limit their losses. Disappointment on losing the holiday is
bad enough without having to payout for accommodation not used. "
Chris continued: "Clearly, this incident is costing the airlines and tour
operators millions of pounds and it's probable that not all will survive, so the
next issue could easily be a spate of financial failures. Thankfully, there are
some Travel Insurance companies who have followed AllClear's lead in
providing cover for this eventuality too but not all, so travellers are urged to
choose their travel insurance wisely if they are planning to book a trip over the
next few months".
Choosing the right Travel Insurance is personal because everyone is
individual. However the following questions may help short list the one for
you:
- Is Medical Expenses cover adequate? £5 Million should be plenty,
even for USA. Any more than this and you may be paying for
something you'll never need.
- Does the policy have Dynamic Packaging Insurance? Package tours
booked through a travel agent are usually protected by bonding such
as ABTA or ATOL. But if you tend to book your travel on the internet in
separate transactions - Accommodation, Flight, Car Hire, Excursions, etc., if
one of the companies suffered financial failure, you may lose without this
cover.
- If you have any medical history, does it provide cover in the event of a
medical emergency whilst away? Many policies exclude cover for most
medical conditions. Some specialise in providing cover, even for
severe medical conditions.
- If you have just reached the age where many companies class you into the next age band and your quote for a policy
has risen sharply, shop around. There are companies such as AllClear who price age, year by year with gradual
changes in premiums rather than huge steps. Savings could be significant.
- Are there options to add or remove cover for Cancellation, Baggage,
Winter Sports, Golf, etc? Only pay for what you want or need. Flexible options
are useful in reducing unnecessary cost if you already have cover elsewhere
such as on your home contents insurance.
Top of page
April 2010
AllClear Travel launches our Green Promise
The AllClear Travel Group, based in Romford, is proud to be a green company.
We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint through focusing on our
efficiency with the resources we use, our management of waste and the products we
purchase. Bringing this commitment to life is a team effort for the entire company which
is why we have today launched our Green Promise - our promise to be green as a company,
and to help our customers to be green in any way we can too.
To read our promise, please click here
Top of page
January 2010
AllClear Travel welcomes the ban on age discrimination for travellers
Essex, UK, 17th February 2010: AllClear Travel, the specialist travel insurance provider for
people with medical conditions, has welcomed the Equality Office's policy Statement about
the Equality Bill, which will ban age discrimination within the financial services in 2012.
AllClear's experience has shown one of the biggest problems for older people, especially if
they have existing medical conditions, is finding travel insurance for their holiday abroad.
Travel insurance is vital to provide protection for the traveller in case they require expensive
medical treatment abroad.
This new Equality Bill should help ensure that people can obtain the insurance they require
and which is right for them. Under the terms of the proposed new laws, it will become
compulsory for insurers who decline to provide cover (based on age or infirmity) to refer
customers to a more specialised insurance provider, like AllClear, who can then provide
cover.
Currently, when these customers are refused cover by an insurer, they are left to continue
their search alone, without knowledge that other insurance is available or where to obtain it.
Some companies refuse to offer insurance or the premium can exceed the entire cost of the
holiday. In these instances, AllClear can then provide a specialist quote for people of any
age.
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear Travel said: "AllClear Travel has
always been committed to providing competitive travel insurance for people of all ages.
Going on holiday is something we all look forward to, so nothing should stop us from
enjoying every second of it. The proposed new laws should make it easier for older people to
find the specialist travel insurance that they need with one simple phone call or online quote."
For example, AllClear Travel provided travel insurance for a couple Bev and Alan, aged
almost 50 and over 65 respectively, who are spending the year travelling around Asia and
the rest of the world. In the planning stage, they struggled to find travel insurance that
covered Alan's medical conditions, and for the length of the trip. They used AllClear to
provide the travel insurance that they needed.
Top of page
November 2009
AllClear warns of dangers of opting for travel insurance 'on the cheap'
Medical insurance specialist AllClear has warned those travellers intending to take the cheaper option and
buy less expensive cover that they may not be protected against all emergencies.
The move comes after Manchester great-grandmother Jean Edwards was left stranded in Turkey after
falling seriously ill while on holiday with her daughter and son-in-law.
She urgently needed life saving surgery, but her insurance company refused to foot the bill and fly her
home, claiming she had failed to declare pre-existing medical conditions.
She spent two months in Turkey while the argument continued, and only flew home after her MP became
involved and the insurer gave the family a £30,000 'humanitarian' payment. Jean Edwards was taken to
Wythenshawe hospital but died only ten hours after landing.
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear explains the pitfalls of not buying comprehensive
cover: "Cheaper products often mean less cover, and policyholders only discover they are not covered at the
point that a claim is made," he continues "Budget policies which rely heavily on the use of EHIC reciprocal
health agreements can prove to be false economy because, when people fall ill abroad the decision about
their care and treatment is often taken out of their hands in the heat of the emergency and this can mean
medical costs not covered by the insurance or EHIC are left to the patient to settle."
MP Jim Dobbin, who intends to raise a question in the House of Commons, was quoted as recently saying:
"We will never know if she had been flown home sooner whether she would have survived. When somebody
is as ill as she was, time is of the essence."
Mrs Edwards bought her holiday insurance online from EHIC Plus and the directors claim the £38 policy was
not valid because although she declared her heart and breathing conditions, she did not properly indicate all
her illnesses.
Mr Dobbin continued: "We want to make sure there is complete disclosure going back on the insurers,
making sure the clients understand the deal and the form is completed properly. Sometimes not all the
information about policies is easily accessible."
Chris Blackman concludes: "As Mr Dobbin says, complete disclosure to the insurer is a must. The problem
is often that customers fail to see the relevance or connection between medical conditions or simply forget
some altogether. This can unwittingly leave them without proper cover. This is why, if you have a medical
condition of any kind, it is important to go to a Specialist Medical Travel Insurance Provider such as AllClear.
They have the knowledge and expertise to ask the right questions to obtain the relevant information from a
customer, ensuring complete disclosure and avoiding the kind of problems experienced by Mrs Edwards and
her family. "
For further information visit: www.allcleartravel.co.uk
Top of page
21st October 2009
Specialist Travel Insurance Provider Launches Traceable Luggage Tags with Customer Loyalty Scheme
One of the biggest fears when travelling abroad is to arrive at the destination airport only to find your baggage has not arrived with you. This fear is well
founded as more than 42 million bags were mishandled by airlines in 2007 according to the Air Transport Users Council in their March 2009 report.
Whilst many travel policies will cover claims for lost baggage, most people would rather get their bags back quickly so that they can enjoy their holiday,
rather than deal with the inconvenience of having to buy new and claim when they return home.
According to Aviance, Europe's largest airport baggage handler, the problem of mishandled luggage is not that the bag is actually lost, more that it's been
misrouted. Unfortunately, the average cardboard luggage label, if attached in the first place, is not designed to withstand modern baggage handling
methods or machinery and rarely includes owner contact detail abroad. Without this vital information, there is no quick way of re-uniting the baggage
with its owner. Hence, bags which are found having been mishandled, often long before the traveller is aware, will at best be significantly delayed and may
never be returned to their owner at all.
"The solution therefore would be to provide a clearly understood, robust luggage label giving a 24/7 telephone hotline to gain owner contact details
whist abroad. This would enable baggage handlers to re-unite owner and baggage with a minimum of delay and this is exactly what we have done here
with our Traceable Luggage Tag Service, as part of the AllClear Extras loyalty incentive package launched this month." so says Chris Blackman, Head of
Product Development at AllClear Travel Insurance.
"With every AllClear Personal policy sold AllClear are including 1 year's free membership to the AllClearExtras benefits package which not only includes
the free traceable luggage tags but many exciting special offers, usually only available through paid subscription or employee benefits schemes. These
include: Offers on airport parking, hotels and short breaks. Huge savings on high street and airport shopping and terrific offers on health and travel related
products such as blood glucose travel monitors, DVT Socks, Travel 1st Aid kits, all individually sourced by AllClear and offered at significant savings over
high street prices."
As Specialist Travel Insurance providers for people with medical conditions and the elderly, AllClear understands the fears many people face when
travelling and they also believe they know the kind of products and services which can help and save money too. "That is why we've introduced AllClear
Extras" says Chris. "We believe this is a first in the Travel Insurance industry and will be welcomed by our customers as a real benefit, not only in reducing
the anxiety of lost luggage but by providing real cost savings on lifestyle products and services related to health and travel."
Top of page
21st October 2009
PASSENGERS IGNORING NEED FOR SPECIALIST CRUISE COVER
A third of all passengers do leave home without it!
With the cruise season in full swing, booking travel insurance cover for a cruise holiday should be one of the first things on the checklist,
but this is not always the case. Indeed more than a third travel without it.
Many travellers do not understand the importance of taking out the right insurance policy when going on a cruise, according to insurance
specialist AllClear, and The Association of British Insurers (ABI) recommends all cruise passengers check that their policy covers all eventualities:
"Insurance is as important on a cruise as on any other holiday," says the ABI, "especially as you're likely to be visiting several different countries,
all of which may have slightly different approaches to healthcare and how it's paid for."
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear agrees: "A surprising number of people seem to rely on the basic medical provision
on board cruise ships. However, in all but the fairly minor emergencies, this may not be sufficient. Insurance, gives you the peace of mind that
if you are ill or injured onboard, or on a shore visit, you'll have no problems; anything that needs hospital treatment will be covered."
As many as 34% of British holidaymakers do not take out cruise specific insurance before setting sail, Mr Blackman says: "Most cruise policies
do not cover those with pre-existing medical conditions, whereas AllClear Cruise does. If you're taken ill on board, and need to be airlifted to shore,
without insurance you could end up paying for it!"
And it's not all about illness. Standard travel insurance policies will not cover the cancellation of a shore excursion due to ill health or missed ports
due to weather or changed itinerary.
As many passengers on the Thomson Spirit cruise in May discovered, it also fails to cover them if confined to their cabins through no fault of their own:
"There have been a few cases recently where a number of passengers have fallen ill while on a cruise, and have had to be quarantined in their room for
days on end," Mr Blackman adds. "But without a policy that is tailored specifically to a cruise, you may never be compensated. As is the case with the
passengers on the Thomson Spirit, they are now facing a potentially lengthy court case."
While cruise ships have their own medical staff and equipped facility to deal with some basic medical conditions, not all can be treated on board as
Chris Blackman concludes: "If you require more serious attention, they can either take a detour for you or they can have you airlifted to the nearest
on shore hospital. When you get home, it could be that you have to think about selling the family home to pay for the air ambulance".
"AllClear Cruise single trip policies cover all these possible emergencies, with no age limits and virtually every pre-existing medical condition, even the
more severe conditions other policies won't cover."
Top of page
20th October 2009
ALLCLEAR SHORLISTED FOR ITIJ AWARD
Medical Travel Insurance Specialist AllClear has been shortlisted in the Intermediary of the Year category at the
International Travel Insurance Journal (ITIJ) Awards.
The panel of judges will represent a variety of backgrounds within the travel industry. Each of the finalists has to create
a presentation that will be considered by the judging panel, with the winners being announced at the gala presentation night
Every subscriber to ITIJ magazine had the opportunity to vote for their top rated company in each of the nominations categories.
AllClear Insurance Services not only provides travel insurance direct to the public for the elderly and people with existing medical conditions,
it also provides intermediary insurance services to many 'high street brand' insurance and financial service companies, for services such as
medical screening and extended cover endorsements. It is for these market leading services that AllClear is being considered for the ITIJ award
This year, through its own brand product alone, AllClear has provided cover for more than 70,000 people for trips to destinations around the world,
covering all kinds of medical conditions from mild asthma, through to more severe conditions such as terminal cancer. When including all the people
AllClear help through its intermediary business this figure rises to cover hundreds and thousands of travellers.
Following the success of last year's awards in Budapest, the 2009 ceremony moves to Athens on Thursday November 5th.
Contact: chris.blackman@allclearinsurance.com
Find AllClear at www.allcleartravel.co.uk
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1st October 2009
The Travelling Patient!
AllClear Travel has launched a new blog, called 'The Travelling Patient' ( Go to Blog ),
which is all about the issues and potential benefits of travelling abroad for medical treatment or surgery.
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear explained: "We want this blog to
be a really valuable source of information for anyone considering medical treatment abroad, whether
for dental treatment, cosmetic surgery, infertility treatment or any other treatment abroad. That is why
we are asking anyone who has experiences of medical treatment abroad to get involved and contribute
to the blog. The blog will also include expert comment from clinics and surgeries around the world that
offer medical treatment for UK patients"
Topics covered in "The Travelling Patient" will include a focus on different treatments and different countries,
as well as special travel preparation tips for those considering treatment abroad.
The blog is written by the AllClear Treatment Abroad team, which provides specialist travel insurance if you are
travelling to have medical treatment abroad. The AllClear Treatment Abroad policy includes cover for additional
accommodation or travel expenses in the event that recovery from treatment extends past the anticipated date.
Travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment or surgery abroad is normally a general exclusion in
all standard travel policies so it is crucial that anyone considering this option checks the wording of their policy
or, purchases a specialist policy such as AllClear Treatment Abroad.
Visit http://thetravellingpatient.wordpress.com/
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4th June 2009
Travelling with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) could reduce your travel insurance excess to £0.00
According to a survey published by the Department of Health almost 50% of British
travellers have become ill or injured on holiday, yet 17% of us holiday with no travel
insurance and 14% have neither insurance or an EHIC. The survey also revealed that many
travellers have admitted to buying treatment over the counter that they do not
understand due to language barriers and unfamiliar terms. Others (35%) delay
treatment until they return home, which would potentially allow any medical
condition to get worse.
"Of course these are the lucky ones" says Chris Blackman head of Product
Development at AllClear Travel Insurance. "Anyone falling seriously ill with say, a
heart condition or becoming badly injured, would need emergency treatment from a
hospital and that could set them back tens of thousands of pounds in medical expenses
if they don't carry travel insurance or an EHIC and if they've only got an EHIC, then
there is still the expense of medical repatriation."
Dr Hilary Jones, GMTV's resident GP says, "If you're travelling in Europe, it is vital
that you carry a valid EHIC, as well as comprehensive travel insurance." But to many
this may seem like doubling up, so why do we need both? Chris Blackman from
AllClear explains, "Although it may seem like doubling up, the EHIC will only
cover medical expenses to the same level as nationals of that country would be
entitled to and of course it would not cover the costs of getting home. Additionally,
there are travel insurance companies like ours, who will waive the policy excess if the
traveller is carrying a valid EHIC and that could mean the first £100 of a medical
expenses claim being covered rather than excluded. There are other advantages too.
With travel insurance you normally get a UK based emergency assistance service with
foreign language speakers and this means that you get to communicate in your home
tongue and they cross the language barrier for you, speaking to local doctors or nurses
as necessary, which is particularly reassuring when you are feeling unwell in a foreign
place".
The department of health press release reported that just 57% of those surveyed
claimed to hold an EHIC but the majority did not know when it expired.
With more than 3.3 million EHICs expiring between September last year and the end
of March 2009, there is a clear message to all who plan to travel abroad this summer:
Check that you have a valid EHIC and take out a good quality travel insurance policy.
You could be one of the 1 in 2 people, who become ill or injured on holiday and
without these two vital items, your holiday could cost considerably more than you
planned.
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6th May 2009
Be honest, be covered - three out of five travellers withhold crucial information
British holidaymakers are invalidating their travel insurance by not informing insurers of pre-existing medical conditions,
says medical travel insurance specialist AllClear.
Three out of five (60%) holidaymakers admit to either holding back crucial details about their medical
history, or not being aware of its importance unless/until prompted.
The rising cost of premiums, or the risk of being refused cover altogether, are thought to be to blame.
Lack of awareness of whether such 'minor' conditions as asthma or high blood pressure need to be
declared is also an issue.
AllClear's findings follow alarming figures from Sainsbury's Finance that showed that 500,000 people
travelled abroad last year without adequate insurance. For those that did take out cover, the Association
of British Insurers (ABI) warned that some are withholding information that might invalidate their policy
should a claim need to be made.
"Some travellers do not understand the potential consequences of their pre-existing medical conditions,"
says Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear. "And yet if they fall ill abroad, and need
to be repatriated, they could find themselves facing an enormous bill."
AllClear's research shows that cost is the major driver in choosing an insurance product: 57% said that
they sought out the cheapest insurance, while only 22% said that they were looking for value for money.
"Travel insurers share common issues with motor insurers," Chris says. "Cheaper products often mean
less cover, and policyholders only discover they are not covered at the point that a claim is made."
Chris believes it does not mean they are necessarily being dishonest, however. "We suspect that
someone who previously suffered from a heart problem or cancer, for example, may say, 'well if it
comes back whilst I'm away, I'll just get on a plane and come home'. So they don't want to pay for it.
"Unfortunately this can often end in disaster. Failing to disclose such vital information means your
insurer will be within their rights not to honour your claim, and you could be left stranded."
AllClear recently reported that the average cost of claims for repatriating holidaymakers taken ill whilst
overseas is in excess of £25,000. An analysis of claims handled by the medical travel insurance
specialist, showed that insurers are increasingly having to fork out huge sums to get travellers home,
even for apparently minor injuries or ailments. One case, for a broken ankle, led to an 11-day stay in a
hospital in Menorca and a claim of £28,000 on return to the UK.
AllClear analysed the payouts from thousands of claims. Whereas small claims for £5,000 were
commonplace, claims in excess of half a million have also been recorded. "The cost of repatriation
varies enormously depending on the country you visit, and of course the condition you suffer," continues
Chris. "The problem is, if you're not insured, then you will be liable for the cost."
One of the most unusual cases recently involved a man with a history of heart problems who felt unwell
and ran up bills of £13,000 just having tests to find out what was wrong. In the end there was nothing
wrong with him, but the case demonstrates how doctors will always err on the side of caution for those
with a medical history:
"Just by having a history of illness can cause treating physicians to be more cautious about discharging
a patient without thorough tests and a period of observation, all of which cost money. So those travellers
without insurance who think their condition can be controlled with medication could still find themselves
facing a massive bill," Chris concludes.
For further information visit: www.allcleartravel.co.uk
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8th April 2009
New Government Health checks could mean thousands of UK Holidaymakers will unknowingly travel uninsured this Summer
According to the Department of Health, new health checks for the over- 40s are due to
begin from the beginning of April. Under the NHS scheme, everyone aged between
40 and 74 in England will be invited for tests every five years to identify their risk of
coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
More than two million people will be assessed each year and ministers believe the
checks have the potential to prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes each year.
The outcome of these tests for many will mean the diagnosis of an underlying medical
condition which they didn't know they had and whilst this will be a welcome wake-up
call for a change of lifestyle or diet, for many it will mean the beginning of an
ongoing course of corrective medication and an entry on their medical notes recording
the diagnosis of the medical condition.
What many will not realize is that at least annually, virtually all travel insurance
providers require policy holders to notify them if they develop any kind of medical
condition prior to traveling abroad. Failing to make this important declaration could
invalidate the policy and leave them vulnerable to massive medical bills if the worst
should happen whilst abroad.
As Chris Blackman Head of Product Development at AllClear Travel Insurance
pointed out, "Many travel policies do not provide any cover at all for pre-existing
medical conditions and so if someone is diagnosed with a condition they should check their policy wording and if necessary, move to one that does.
From the Health Department's briefing, it seems that people up to age 74 will be screened and whilst
there are some companies who specialize in covering the over 65s and others who will
cover some medical conditions, few specialize in covering both which may mean
moving to a provider such as AllClear who specialize in providing cover for people of
any age and virtually any medical conditions."
Potentially, travel insurance companies will need to gear themselves up for the extra
volume of worried callers anxious to check if their travel policy will cover them.
Under the Disabilities Discrimination Act, insurance providers are not permitted to
discriminate against those with disabilities by declining cover, so where they can't
provide their own cover, they will need to be ready to refer customers across to specialist providers such as AllClear.
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8th April 2009
More signs that Britain is staying at home this summer.
According to specialist travel insurance provider AllClear, travel policy sales for trips
within the UK are showing a massive rise over the same period last year. Head of
Product Development for AllClear, Chris Blackman said "Just comparing March '08
with March '09, bookings for region 1, UK, have risen by 173%".
Chris continued, "Usually, the main reason people buy travel insurance is for
emergency medical cover abroad. As we specialize in covering people with medical conditions for such trips,
it is surprizing to see this rise in UK to UK policy sales.
Perhaps people are now looking deeper and starting to see that even for trips within the UK, there is value in
other aspects of a travel policy such as cancellation cover,
personal belongings cover and some cover for losses arising from insolvency of holiday service providers such
as hotels, campsites, ferries, car rental, etc".
Holiday bookings made for UK destinations are often seen to be easier to deal with
than foreign travel with fewer people using the services of a travel agent. This means
that financial bonding is unlikely to be in place for such bookings and holiday makers
should be warned that if they dynamically package their own holiday arrrangements,
they should ensure that they buy a travel policy which covers insolvency for dynamic
packaging.
With UK insolvencies for the last quarter of the financial year up by more than 51%
on the previous year according to The Insolvency Service, it may be that more and
more people will look for policies which cover such risks.
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March 2009
Rising Trend of Travelling Without Insurance Maybe Worsened by New Regulation
According to surveys carried out by AllClear Travel Insurance, the worrying trend of travellers relying entirely on EHIC for
holiday cover may, in some part be due to the new rules for connected travel insurance.
Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at AllClear said, "The unwelcome fact is that the EHIC system only provides for
medical treatment itself and in some countries only reduced cost at that. This means travellers who do not take out separate insurance
may be landed with huge bills for drugs, contributions to the treatment costs and perhaps medical repatriation to the UK. If it's a winter sports
holiday and a rescue helicopter is required from the slopes, then we are talking of around £3,000 per hour and that's not covered
by EHIC either. At best, EHIC only covers holders up to the level of care provided to nationals of country visited and in Greece for
example, hospitals deal with the medical care but relatives are expected to look after the washing and feeding of a patient. With
an insured patient, the UK based emergency assistance agent of the insurer will take care of that side but someone relying on
EHIC alone may go very hungry indeed!"
AllClear conducted informal surveys at two recent travel shows and found that some ABTA travel agents had ceased selling
connected travel insurance of any kind. Chris told me that it seemed to be the increased burden of bureaucracy associated
with becoming FSA authorised, or a representative of a travel insurer which has simply put many travel agents off. "Without
the prompt from the travel agent", continued Chris, "it seems customers are simply not bothering to search out and buy a
travel policy from alternative sources and this means that they travel without cover. Whilst many of the larger travel agents go
down this authorised route for selling travel policies, at AllClear we have found that the Passive Introducer (PI) route is by far the
most popular but so many small independent agents don't seem to
know enough about it."
If the industry is to avoid horror stories of holiday makers racking up huge medical bills, with the consequential bad press for travelling
outside the UK, travel agents will need to at least passively introduce customers to a travel policy, to increase the number of travellers
adequately covered.
AllClear travel insurance can be contacted on 0845 250 5255 or visit www.allclearretail.co.uk
Top of page
March 2009
Why should people with disabilities not have
the same access to travel as the rest?
Whilst it's true that physical access to transport has improved over recent years with
the advent of the disabilities discrimination act, overseas travel can still be
problematical for those with disabilities. Most cruise companies positively welcome
those with disabilities and indeed make special provisions for mobility aids, electric
wheelchairs etc. But many people experience difficulties long before they set foot on
the plane or cruise liner, in that they cannot find travel insurance to cover them.
"The disabilities discrimination act outlaws any insurance company who attempts to
treat people with disabilities less favourably and that includes refusing to offer cover
or charging additional premiums. However, where the insurer can demonstrate that a
particular disability or medical condition results in higher claims costs, they are
permitted to exclude cover or charge additional premiums commensurate with the risk
involved." Chris Blackman head of product development at AllClear explains, "The
main difficulty facing people with medical conditions is that few travel insurance
companies offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions except for the very mild
low risk conditions, such as high blood pressure, mild asthma or arthritis. This often
leaves those with the more serious debilitating diseases such as Stroke, Parkinson's,
Multiple Sclerosis, etc. struggling to find an insurer." Chris continued, "There are
specialist travel insurance providers out there who are prepared to offer such cover
but as with anything you buy, you really do need to check the detail and with
insurance, that means checking what is covered and what's excluded. For example,
very few provide cover for mobility aids and wheelchairs and this could be crucial to
those who rely on such equipment but it is possible to get this kind of cover."
The key therefore seems to be in finding specialist travel insurance providers and then
checking out the small print to find exactly what you are getting for your money. With
Emergency Medical claims often running into tens of thousands of pounds, one really
does need to do the homework to get true peace of mind for that well deserved break.
AllClear can be found at www.allcleartravel.co.uk or call the UK
call centre on 0845 250 5200
Top of page
March 2009
Worsening economic climate prompts AllClear to protect all travellers' bookings.
Major travel insurance provider AllClear, has announced the introduction of new
cover to protect customers from financial loss in the event of failed airlines but
importantly has added to this, protection from the failure of other holiday service providers too.
This cover has been added at no additional fee, into their flagship travel
policies, AllClear Medical, AllClear Cruise and AllClear Treatment Abroad.
Chris Blackman, head of Product Development at AllClear told me: "After the
collapse of XL airways last year, we recognised that times were only going to get
more risky for the general travelling public. So we decided to incorporate cover for
scheduled airline failure into our policies but we didn't stop there. Even where a
customer enjoys the ABTA bonding protection by booking through a travel agent,
many people still book at least some part of their holiday independently. That could
be an excursion, car hire, a ferry crossing or even a camp site or villa. Any of these
service providers could go bust which could leave a customer high and dry with little
realistic chance of getting all their money back. So we decided to add cover for those
other elements as well. It's called Dynamic Packaging Insurance and covers the insured against financial loss arising from insolvency of any component part of the
itinerary of a trip."
The AllClear brand is already well known for covering the more senior travellers and
those with pre-existing medical conditions, where other insurers say no. This new
move will certainly be popular with everyone who still wants to enjoy their holiday
despite the downturn and it remains to be seen if other travel insurance providers
decide to follow suit.
AllClear can be found at www.allcleartravel.co.uk or call the UK
call centre on 0845 250 5200
Top of page
March 2009
Equality Bill could mean many will travel with no cover at all
The Equality Bill, announced in the Queens Speech on 3rd December last year, is
currently attracting much speculation in the press on how it will impact on Insurance.
If, as many fear, using age for rating the premium will be outlawed, travel insurance is
set to double in price overnight. Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development at
AllClear Travel Insurance, believes that if this were to happen it will exacerbate the
current trend for people travelling without adequate travel insurance, preferring
instead to rely on the EHIC reciprocal health agreement. Chris said, "According to
our analysis, overall cost is the biggest single factor influencing customers when
deciding whether to take a travel policy or not. With the recession biting, many people
will have a limited budget for their holiday and a hike in the price of insurance could
mean they decide to 'take a flyer' and go without any cover at all."
Some believe that the government will see sense and allow age as a rating factor to
determine the premium to be paid. However, if the Bill is to be seen as effective in its
aim of "Banning age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services", it
seems likely that the practice of companies declining to offer cover on the basis of age
alone will be outlawed. Chris concluded: "Many travel insurance providers currently
refer their more senior customers on to us at AllClear as we are able to cover
travellers up to age 99 whereas, their own policies have limits, sometimes as low as
65. Continuing to refer on to specialists such as AllClear, may well be acceptable, as
long as, from the customer journey view point, cover is offered and not declined".
Clearly, Government and the insurance industry alike, will want to see an overall
positive improvement when it comes to age discrimination. From the insurer's point
of view, to decline cover is to lose a sale. As for the Government, they wish to see fair
play for the elderly, so there seems to be common ground but it's the detail which will
determine the final winners and losers. The bill is set to become law in this session
of parliament, so we will no doubt read more about this over the next few months.
Top of page
March 2009
Cost of repatriating travellers taken ill abroad reaches new high
The average cost of claims for repatriating holidaymakers taken ill whilst overseas has exceeded £25,000, according to new research.
Those without adequate insurance, however, are having to meet those costs themselves.
An analysis of claims handled by medical travel insurance specialist AllClear showed that insurers are
increasingly having to fork out huge sums to get travellers home, even for apparently minor injuries or
ailments. One case, for a broken ankle, led to an 11-day stay in a hospital in Menorca and a claim of
£28,000 on return to the UK.
"For travellers that are adequately insured, falling ill abroad - whilst unwelcome - does not have to end in
disaster," says Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development.
"The trouble is that many holidaymakers either don't take out medical insurance, or don't read the small-
print, and as such can find themselves literally stranded without the means or the finance to get home."
AllClear analysed the payouts from thousands of claims. Whereas small claims for c£5,000 were
commonplace, claims in excess of half a million have also been recorded. "The cost of repatriation varies
enormously depending on the country you visit, and of course the condition you suffer," continues Mr
Blackman. "The problem is, if you're not insured, then you will be liable for the cost."
Mr Blackman warns that even non-life-threatening accidents can leave tourists in a parlous state when it
comes to getting home:
"The average cost of repatriation from the USA/Canada/Caribbean, for example would be between £25-30,000,
even for something simple such as a broken leg, can be more than £10K" he says.
"You don't realise it unless you have been in that position before or work in the industry that a serious
broken leg or injured back may require a first class seat, possibly two, just to accommodate the immobility
and extra room required. Additional to this would be the pay and expenses for a qualified medical
practitioner to provide the medical escort and their seat there and back.
"When you look at the cost of short notice scheduled airline bookings, you begin to appreciate that £25,000 is
quite conservative even for a straightforward case like this."
Where a customer needs more intensive medical supervision for the journey, where for example they have
suffered a heart, breathing or circulatory problem or even a head injury, there may well be special medical
equipment required for the trip such as monitors, intravenous equipment, breathing assistance such as
oxygen, nebulisers, etc. and the medical escort could be a doctor or consultant rather than a nurse.
"To accommodate this type of medical kit, the airline will normally be required to replace some seats with a
medical module so this kind of repatriation will be significantly more costly," Mr Blackman adds.
A medical repatriation for Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa tend to be less expensive, partly
because they are within the range of UK-based air ambulances which would fly out with UK paid medical
personnel.
"These aircraft are either purpose built for the task or business style jets such as the Learjet 45 with medical
equipment modules." Mr Blackman adds. "Typically, this kind of repatriation will cost around £15,000 but if
the patient has spinal or brain injuries, they may have to fly at sea level cabin pressure and that can double
the cost due to the high fuel consumption at lower altitudes and the frequent refuelling stops."
Medical repatriations from other parts of the world including Australia and New Zealand are typically more in
line with the USA costs.
Mr Blackman also highlighted the need for those with existing medical conditions to declare those conditions
in advance of their holiday: "Some travellers do not understand the potential consequences of their pre-
existing medical conditions," he adds. "For example someone who previously suffered some from a heart
problem or cancer may say, 'well if it comes back whilst I'm away, I'll just get on a plane and come home'.
"This can often end in disaster. If you don't read the small print you might not be covered and your insurer
will be within their rights not to honour the claim because you have not made a full declaration."
One of the most unusual cases recently involved a man with a history of heart problems who felt unwell and
ran up bills of £13,000 just having tests to find out what was wrong. In the end there was nothing wrong with
him, but the case demonstrates how doctors will always err on the side of caution for those with a medical
record:
"Just by having a history of illness can cause treating physicians to be more cautious about discharging a
patient without thorough tests and a period of observation, all of which cost money," Chris concludes.
"So those travellers without insurance who think their condition can be controlled with medication could still
find themselves facing a massive bill."
Top of page
March 2009
Even the most experienced of skiers sometimes return home on crutches
If someone gets injured or taken ill on the slopes, the first report of this will usually be to the local
emergency services by someone dialling 112. The nature of the incident will dictate what kind of
rescue service/method is used and where necessary mountain helicopter rescue services will be
deployed. An AllClear policy will cover the costs of whatever method is deemed to be necessary
and it will be left to the local emergency rescue authority to choose which service they use.
Typically, helicopter rescue costs around £3,000 per hour and that will be directly invoiced to the
emergency assistance agency and ultimately passed on to the underwriter. Depending on the
nature of the injury/illness, the patient may be flown directly to an emergency treatment facility or,
to an airport for "tarmac transfer" to an air ambulance for the final leg home. The total cost of
repatriation can be considerable, especially if you add in the road ambulance transfer at both
ends and the medical escort, be it a Doctor or Nurse. With severe injuries with limited mobility,
there will probably need to be more than one medical escort simply for the physical portering
work needed to move the person around. Add in food and accommodation expenses for these
escorts and the overall cost could easily be £15,000 - £20,000 or more.
Of course not all accidents require repatriation. Broken arms and ankles case are often treated at
the resort, with the traveller continuing their holiday and claiming for the medical expenses when
they got home. In terms of the cost of a policy, a 'typical' quote for an individual between 18-55yrs
with no medical conditions, for one week would cost £18.68 (on AllClear's European Winter Sports policy).
An Annual or Multi-trip policy including Winter Sports for the same person would
be £45.99. Remembering that AllClear is a specialist in insurance for those with pre-existing
medical conditions, and a policy for a 55-year old with diabetes, high blood pressure and
cholesterol, on a 10 day European trip with winter sports would cost from £30.49.
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