The latest figures from the British Behaviour Abroad Report 2013, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today, show that a total of 3599 British nationals were hospitalised abroad last year — that’s the equivalent of 10 per day!

The highest number of hospitalisations were in Spain, with 899 Brits being admitted for treatment from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

British nationals were most likely to be hospitalised in Thailand, which has seen a 31% increase in hospitalisations in the last year. Many of these cases involved tourists with pre-existing medical conditions.

With medical bills quickly amounting to thousands of pounds it’s important to know who’s going to foot the bill if you do require emergency medical treatment on holiday.

This is what travel insurance was designed for.

Cover for your personal possessions, missed departure or travel delay are all worthwhile, but the most important part of your travel insurance policy is the cover it provides for emergency medical expenses and repatriation.

Without travel insurance you would be liable for your own medical bills if you need medical treatment or are hospitalised on holiday.

The Foreign Office can provide support and assistance if you are hospitalised abroad, but they won’t cover the cost.

Pre-existing medical conditions

The Foreign Office have also stated in their report that a large number of Brits who were hospitalised abroad had pre-existing medical conditions.

Remember, in order for your travel insurance to provide appropriate cover you must declare all of your existing medical conditions to your insurer, this includes anything that you have seen a doctor about, taken medication for, or received treatment for in the last 2 years.

Declaring your medical conditions when you buy travel insurance is not difficult; just take your time to make sure that you answer the questions fully accurately.

Goodtogoinsurance.com is proud to provide travel insurance cover for all types of medical conditions, you can declare your medical conditions online or by phone and in most cases we can issue immediate travel insurance cover.

If you don’t have travel insurance with cover for your existing medical conditions included you could find yourself facing large medical bills.

Get a quote for travel insurance with medical conditions covered >>