American Express urges travel insurance investment

American Express is urging holidaymakers to invest in travel insurance, highlighting the high proportion of medical-related claims.

The average medical claims abroad totals £291 and accounts for more than a third of all insurance claims in August, according to new research.

Nearly two thirds of all holiday claims in countries such as the US and Switzerland are to cover medical expenses, and nearly a third in European claims.

Therefore American Express is reminding people not to just rely on the new European Health Insurance Card, which offers protection in the form of free or reduced healthcare costs, but is not a substitute for travel insurance

"This card should not be carried as a substitute for travel insurance," Jo Field from the company explained.

"It is a great shame that the word insurance has been included in the name of this new card.

"Anyone having a serious accident abroad would discover at the worst time possible that this EHIC card would not pay for repatriation to Britain, or for the cost of a relative to join and remain with the injured party abroad - costs that good travel insurance will pay out on."

A separate study by the World Health Organisation and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office discovered roads, beaches and hotels are the top three locations where injuries are most likely to occur on holiday.