With the holiday season fast approaching, Asda Money has found that parents' lack of awareness could mean a huge holiday bill if an accident were to happen.
UNITED KINGDOM – With the holiday season fast approaching, Asda Money has found that parents’ lack of awareness could mean a huge holiday bill if an accident were to happen, as families are travelling without an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or travel insurance. Asda Money has visualised its findings for holidaymakers in a colourful infographic.
Knowledge of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is sparse with a massive communication problem on what it is and who needs it amongst travellers. With half (48%) of parents expecting to jet off this summer with their kids, almost half (43%) again admit that none of their children have an EHIC, with 24% not realising that each child need’s their own card. What’s worse is that almost a quarter (22%) of parents don’t have an EHIC either.
Families are also unaware what an EHIC card actually covers. A third (34%) of parents think that it covers all insurance needs when in Europe however it only provides medical care at the same cost as a national of that country meaning they could still be left with a huge bill. What’s more, without travel insurance they won’t have any cover in place to fly home early if needed. Research also reveals that over a third (37%) of people say they cannot afford travel insurance, making travelling abroad much more of a risk, particularly if they don’t have an EHIC card.
- A third (29%) of parents believe EHIC means they are fully covered abroad
- Almost half (43%) of parents say none of their children have an EHIC
- Over a third (37%) of people say they can’t afford travel insurance
- Families in the dark about treatment costs they could be faced with if not insured abroad
- Asda Travel Insurance offers affordable travel cover for the whole family for a week – starting at £20.80
When it comes to how much treatment could cost abroad, people are unaware how much they’d have to fork out. For example when it comes to treating a straightforward condition such as appendicitis, this would set people back over £6000 in Europe and a huge £21,000 in the States but people estimated it would cost under £1000.
Cost of treatment without cover vs. what people think*
Issue – Appendicitis
Europe – £6823
USA – £21,400
What we think it costs – Under £1,000
Issue – Gastroenteritis
Europe – £2132
USA – £23,755
What we think it costs – Under £1,000
Issue – Broken leg
Europe – £5971
USA – £82,000
What we think it costs – £5,000
Issue – Broken wrist
Europe – £1706
USA – £12,620
What we think it costs – £5,000
Issue – Broken nose
Europe – £2132
USA – £21,383
What we think it costs – Under £1,000
Kirsty Ward, head of Asda Money says: “In all the excitement of getting away, it is easy to overlook the more practical elements. While mums and dads don’t want to think about their kids getting into an accident on holiday, they also need to be aware how much treatment potentially costs. Often treatment costs can just be the tip of the iceberg with flight and hotel costs on top of this. Many parents may feel they can’t afford travel insurance but the alternative is much worse, they need to make sure they’ve got an EHIC for each member of the family plus the relevant travel insurance to make sure they can have a stress free holiday.
“Asda Travel Insurance provides affordable travel insurance cover, with a single trip to Europe starting from as little as £20.80. Kids and Grandkids go free and it also covers babies from birth whereas most providers do not cover infants in their first 6 months. This offers a real helping hand to stretched families who can choose from three levels of cover that suits them and their budget.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
