Top 5 ways to deal with illness when travelling

One in four of us have been unfortunate enough to have fallen ill abroad at one point or another so you need to be prepared in case you fall sick.

15:03 25 September 2017

After extensive planning and putting money by, your summer holiday should be the best time of the year, but it also could be the worst if you fall ill while overseas. One in four of us have been unfortunate enough to have fallen ill abroad at one point or another so you need to be prepared in case you fall sick. From carrying an ehic card to taking out additional travel insurance, find out the top 5 ways to deal with illness when travelling abroad below: 

 

Get vaccinated

 

When planning a trip abroad, you need to plan ahead. Be sure to seek advice from your GP or practice nurse about possible vaccinations are least eight week prior to when you’re due to travel so that if you do need a vaccination they have change to work properly. You will also need to ensure that your current vaccinations for the UK are up to date, including polio and tetanus, before you jet off. 

 

Declare it

 

If you are travelling with an existing medical condition, make sure you declare it when taking out a policy – 1.8 million of us done! This means that if you suffer a heart attack abroad but failed to declare an existing condition or illness that requires medication, you may have to pay for your medical bills yourself. You can still get cover but you should know that you are expected to pay more if you fail to declare your medical condition. 

 

Get covered

 

Despite a number of us doing the sensible thing protect ourselves, half a million of us won’t bat an eyelid. Before you embark on your journey abroad, be sure invest in insurance that covers you for the trip you’re about to go on. Last year, insurers alone paid out almost £1million a day to over 500,000 Britons who required help overseas. Around 166,000 of these needed emergency medical treatment that costs £1,200 on average per patients. When it comes to arranging a travel policy, it costs just £33 to get insured which can save up to £1,150.

 

Carry your EHIC

 

Don’t be fooled. Although a number of people believe carrying an EHIC card will cover all of your medical treatment costs abroad, it doesn’t. You may still be required to pay a small fee based upon the treatment you received which is usually estimated on the severity of your medical emergency. You should also know that the EHIC doesn’t cover you in every place in Europe, including the likes of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. If you’re planning on travelling to any of these places this summer it’s seriously worth considering travel insurance.

 

Contact your insurance company ASAP

 

If you fall ill overseas, you need to contact your insurance company as soon as it is possible to do so. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget and only a small percent of customers end up contacting their medical insurance company before seeking medical attention abroad themselves. If you phone your insurance company, they will direct you to the most suitable doctor or hospital and guide you through the process unlike local citizens who may direct you to other expensive facilities.