American Express offers travel advice

AMERICAN EXPRESS OFFERS TRAVEL ADVICE

One third of all travel insurance claims are made for medical expenses with bad sunburn a major culprit, according to American Express.

The credit card provider has warned travellers of the risks that lie in wait for them on holiday.

According to the company's research the average medical claim made by holiday makers is £291, a spokesperson for American Express was quick to point out that this figure is four times the cost of the company's Classic Cover travel insurance.

Jo Field of American Express also pointed out that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that has replaced the old E111 form would not pay the costs of repatriation to Britain in most cases.

"It is a great shame that the word insurance has been included in the name of the EHIC," commented Ms Field.

"Anyone having a serious incident abroad would discover at the worst time possible that the 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 would pay out on."

Related Articles

• Stormy season for travel insurers - 20th July, 2005
  

  British holiday makers heading for the east coast of America are being advised to ensure that their travel insurance offers them adequate cover as the storm season begins.
  Hurricane Dennis has already hit Florida, and weather experts are warning that the coming months could see more storms than ever in the region...

  ---

• Travel insurance not a top priority for parents - 2nd August, 2005
  

  Nearly ninety per cent of parents fail to arrange travel insurance ahead of family holidays, according to the Post Office.
  A recent study has suggested that while 70 per cent of parents worry about an accident abroad, only 13 per cent actually take out travel insurance.
  One in ten parents see travel insurance as so unimportant that it ranks alongside cleaning the house in the list of things to do before taking a trip...

  ---

• HSBC could save Brits £50m - 6th July, 2005
  

  Holidaymakers could save up to £50 million on their holiday costs with the help of HSBC.
  The bank claims that its offer of travel insurance from under £10, and commission free foreign money with free delivery on internet orders over £250 will help cut the cost of holidays...

  ---

• Travel insurer offers free security perk - 30th September, 2005
  

  Customers who buy travel insurance from American Express, from tomorrow until the end of the year, will be given the latest in label technology for free.
  Anyone who purchases an annual travel policy will receive a set of i-Trak labels and will be signed up to use the system free for a year...

  ---

• Travellers must pay more attention to their policies - 15th August, 2005
  

  Some worrying travel habits have been revealed by a new survey from American Express travel insurance.
  According to the survey a third of people do not read the terms and conditions of their travel insurance policies before going away...

  ---

• Insurance industry puts forward plans to enhance customer service - 27th September, 2005
  

  New developments to improve how insurers deal with customers are currently being formed by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
  The ABI is set to take further steps forward after a review of the Raising Standards Quality Mark Scheme found that more work needed to be done in the customer service area...

  ---

• Travel insurance importance highlighted - 20th September, 2005
  

  Holiday mishaps cost British holidaymakers £361 million this summer, according to figures from Churchill.
  The firm's Holiday Hell list highlights the need for comprehensive travel insurance, and features mishaps such as the loss or theft of personal items and cash; injury or illness; airline delays and holiday cancellations...

  ---

• Direct Line reveals cost of dissatisfaction - 16th August, 2005
  

  Around £200 million has been paid out by British holidaymakers over the last two years to rectify holiday problems when abroad, according to new research from Direct Line Travel Insurance.
  The company has also pointed out that many of these costs could be recouped for free using a travel insurance policy, which includes cover for legal proceedings...

  ---

• Summer holiday stress - 19th July, 2005
  

  Nearly half of British men spend the run up to a trip abroad worrying about how they are going to pay for their holiday, according to research from Halifax Travel Insurance.
  On top of financial worries 35 per cent of men were also concerned over clearing their desks and completing work before taking a trip.
  Meanwhile 48 per cent of women become anxious over the completion of pre-holiday chores...

  ---

• Barclaycard offers free worldwide travel insurance - 30th August, 2005
  

  Barclaycard has announced plans to provide worldwide travel insurance for UK customers.
  The UK's largest credit card provider is introducing cover for parties of up to six people, including winter sports cover...

  ---

• Brits "wasting" on travel insurance, plastic - 25th July, 2005
  

  If Britons put more planning into the financial side of their summer holidays, they could save as much as £750 million, Nationwide Building Society suggests.
  The Society estimates that by shopping around for the best deals on debit and credit cards and travel insurance, British holidaymakers will save money...

  ---

• Under 30s need travel cover - 2nd August, 2005
  

  Young people have been urged to take out travel insurance before jetting off, following a survey from Sainsbury's bank.
  According to the study almost 1.5 million people aged 30 and under will travel without cover this year...

  ---

• SAGA to cover aging adventurers - 20th July, 2005
  

  SAGA personal finance services has increased the value of its standard travel insurance for the over 50s by adding automatic cover for a range of leisure activities.
  According to research carried out for SAGA over 50s are increasingly taking part in higher risk activities and sports when on holiday.
  To reflect this, SAGA’s new policies offer cover for canoeing, surfing and jet-skiing, as well as options for winter sports and scuba diving...

  ---

• NatWest offers motoring cash back - 3rd August, 2005
  

  Any new NatWest car insurance customers who purchase their policy before September 30th will enjoy £30 cash back.
  To claim the reward customers who apply for a new policy over the telephone must quote "summer cash" and will be paid by cheque shortly after the start of the policy...

  ---

• Money for nothing and a tenner for free - 10th August, 2005
  

  This weekend HSBC will make life even sweeter for travellers buying foreign currency or travellers' cheques online.
  Holidaymakers placing an order of more than £250 will not only get free home delivery, they will also get £10 cashback...

  ---