Avoid a €35,000 heart attack

INSURANCE:THE COST of going on holiday without adequate cover can run to hundreds of thousands of euro, a leading provider of travel insurance has warned.

According to Multitrip.com, which has released details of claims it paid out on last year, the most expensive country in which to fall ill or have an accident is the US, followed by Spain and Canada. A person unfortunate enough to be hit with acute appendicitis in the US will be out of pocket more than €27,000, while even a minor heart attack in the US will cost at least €35,000, according to the report.

“Those who travel without adequate insurance are taking a huge financial gamble,” said the company’s Ciaran Mulligan. “Whether it is lost luggage, cancelled flights or a medical emergency, an unexpected mishap can turn a relaxing holiday into a taxing experience. But, by opting for a good travel insurance policy, you can safeguard your journey.”

According to Mulligan, breaking a leg while on a skiing trip in Switzerland will cost about €10,000, while a fractured hip in Spain will cost more than €23,000.

He also cited some unusual claims, including a 22-year-old who developed water on the brain in Canada – a very unusual condition for a young person – which incurred medical charges of nearly €50,000. Another young person severed a finger in the US while preparing dinner, at a cost of €20,000. In other cases, a 40-year-old tourist who suffered a brain aneurysm in the US incurred costs of more than €89,000, while a 28-year-old who was hit by a car in Brazil and suffered spinal injuries had medical costs of €509,000.

According to the VHI, which also offers travel insurance, the top-five reasons for treatment abroad last year were trauma resulting from an accident or fall, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, diseases of the digestive system and respiratory diseases. It reported that the top-five countries where customers made claims were Spain, the US, Holland, France and Italy.