Tens of thousands of UK medical tourists are placing themselves at financial risk by failing to ensure their journeys abroad are adequately insured.
Most standard travel insurance policies do not include cover for pre-planned surgery, so if anything does go wrong it could be the individual left to pick up the bill. There has been a huge boom in so-called medical tourism by UK citizens. The Government estimate that last year as many as 70,000 people took advantage of cut-price cosmetic and elective medical surgery deals overseas.
A poll conducted by the Post Office showed that 36% of last year's UK medical tourists underwent surgery without having checked the details of their insurance policy beforehand. Such an oversight could have left them with large and unforeseen medical expenses.
Helen Warburton, head of Post Office Travel Services, warned: "We urge travellers planning to travel abroad for surgery to be honest with their insurance provider about their plans and ensure they are open about any pre-existing medical conditions.
"It's vital to read the small print of travel documents carefully before you travel to ensure you are covered if you need to make a claim."
Most standard travel insurance policies do not include cover for pre-planned surgery, so if anything does go wrong it could be the individual left to pick up the bill. There has been a huge boom in so-called medical tourism by UK citizens. The Government estimate that last year as many as 70,000 people took advantage of cut-price cosmetic and elective medical surgery deals overseas.
A poll conducted by the Post Office showed that 36% of last year's UK medical tourists underwent surgery without having checked the details of their insurance policy beforehand. Such an oversight could have left them with large and unforeseen medical expenses.
Helen Warburton, head of Post Office Travel Services, warned: "We urge travellers planning to travel abroad for surgery to be honest with their insurance provider about their plans and ensure they are open about any pre-existing medical conditions.
"It's vital to read the small print of travel documents carefully before you travel to ensure you are covered if you need to make a claim."
