People 'are ignoring travel insurance for Europe'
Published On 11 September 2007
Many people in the UK are heading to Europe on holiday without adequate insurance because they mistakenly believe that their E111 card will completely cover any treatment they might need.Research from moneysupermarket.com found that 59 per cent of Brits still think the E111 form is in use, despite the fact that it was replaced with the European Health Insurance Card in January 2006.
A worrying 42 per cent of British travellers also thought that their NHS patient card could be used in Europe.
In fact the free EHIC is the only recognised document for medical treatment abroad.
Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, commented: "It is astonishing that nearly two years after the card has been phased in, awareness has stayed alarmingly low.
"Medical treatment in mainland Europe doesn't come cheap and holidaymakers stand to lose out and suffer unexpected financial pain.
"As well as offering much more comprehensive medical treatment cover, travel insurance protects you for lost or stolen possessions, holiday cancellation, personal liability and a range of other costly possibilities."
Recently, Direct Line suggested that one in ten Brits lied about the value of lost or stolen good when making a claim on their holiday insurance.
