Travel insurance can help bereaved

← Back

Wed, 10 May 2006

Dealing with any bereavement is difficult but can be worse if it occurs whilst on holiday and without Travel Insurance cover.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and Holiday Which? have raised concerns that many holidaymakers are neglecting to purchase adequate Travel Insurance because they are opting for DIY, rather than package deals. This means that families are often forced to deal with the traumatic and expensive cost of returning a loved one's body back to the UK.

British nationals make around 60 million foreign trips each year and an average of 2,000 deaths are reported due to natural causes, accidents and criminal activity.

A Which? spokesman, speaking to Reuters, confirmed cases of family members being forced to pay extended accommodation costs or waiting for months for the deceased's belongings to be returned.

Holidaymakers are being advised to make sure their purchase Travel Insurance that could help deal with the practicalities surrounding a death. They should ensure their policy includes adequate repatriation as well as covering the cost of emergency medical cover up to at least £1 million if travelling in Europe and £2 million for the rest of the world.


© 1998-2005 DeHavilland Information Services plc. All rights reserved.

Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This can be checked on the FSA Register by visiting its web site at www.fsa.gov.uk/register.
Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No: 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.