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ACCIDENTS ABROAD: Thailand has the highest rate of insurance claims

Thailand has been considering making travel insurance compulsory for all tourists, and perhaps that's not a bad idea with fresh data revealing the Asian nation has the most travel insurance claims per total number of visitors from Britain.

Thailand has been considering making travel insurance compulsory for all tourists, and perhaps that’s not a bad idea with fresh data revealing the Asian nation has the most travel insurance claims per total number of visitors from Britain.

The Post Office Index study showed that those holidaying in Thailand not only had a higher rate of accidents and emergencies but also a higher incidence of cancellations and the second highest cost of cancellations.

The index examined 17,295 claims from Post Office Travel Insurance customers and Consular Assistance requests to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2018 in 49 of the most visited destinations by UK travellers.

Travel Insurance

A total of six categories were considered: baggage, cancellations, travel documents, victim of crime assistance and emergency assistance.

Thailand topped the index, followed by New Zealand and Sweden.

Overall, the index found that accidents (claims for medical costs or repatriation) topped the list of travel insurance claims overseas, making up 60% of claims.

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Cancellations accounted for 21% and baggage claims accounted for 19%.

The report revealed that 37% of holidaymakers travel without insurance, with one in four blaming the cost of insurance for stopping them.

But as Emma Springham, spokesperson for Post Office Travel Insurance notes…“Spending a little now can avoid a large financial shock later down the line.”

 

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