Increase in hospitalisations in popular holiday resorts highlights importance of travel insurance.

An FCO report has revealed an increase in hospitalisations of British travellers in popular holiday resorts, whilst a worrying 48% of Brits surveyed wrongly believed someone else would pick up the bill for medical treatment if did not have travel insurance.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is using the publication of its latest British Behaviour Abroad report to highlight the importance of buying travel insurance every time you travel and also reminding travellers to declare any pre-existing medical conditions when they purchase travel insurance.

The FCO's annual British Behaviour Abroad report, which has been published today, shows that Foreign Office staff handled 19,874 assistance cases from April 2011 to March 2012; this is up 3% from the previous 12 months, whilst number of Brits travelling abroad has remained relatively static.

10 Brits hospitalised abroad every day

This year's report has highlighted a significant rise in the number of hospitalisations of British travellers in popular holiday hotspots including Spain, Greece and Egypt. During the year from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2012 approximately 70 British travellers per week were hospitalised abroad - that's 10 people every day!

Without valid travel insurance you could face large medical bills

Travellers who have appropriate travel insurance with cover for any pre-existing medical conditions can expect the cost of emergency medical treatment in hospitals abroad to picked up by their travel insurance provider.

However those who have travelled without travel insurance or have invalidated their travel insurance by not declaring a pre-existing medical condition, or taking part in a sport or activity which was not covered by their policy, will find themselves or their families facing large medical bills.

Although Foreign Office staff are there to offer assistance if you become ill or have an accident which leads to you being hospitalised abroad, they cannot cover the cost. If you don't have travel insurance or are not properly covered by your travel insurance you will have to cover the cost of medical treatment yourself.

Minister for Consular Services Jeremy Browne said:

"Whilst the prospect of ending up in a foreign hospital may be the last thing on your mind as you head overseas for a summer break, sometimes things do go wrong on holiday and many people deeply regret not taking out comprehensive travel insurance.

We witness many cases where people have invalidated their policy - perhaps by not declaring a pre-existing medical condition or not checking their policy covers a particular activity, such as hiring a moped. Unfortunately they are then surprised that the Foreign Office cannot pay for their bills and flight home"

48% of Brits do not realise that without travel insurance they risk facing large medical bills

A recent survey of 2000 Brits, conducted on behalf of the FCO, showed that almost half (48%) did not realise that without travel insurance they would be liable to pay for their own medical bills if injured or taken ill abroad.

78% of people surveyed also admitted that they would not have the money to hand to pay £10,000 to cover hospital bills of an uninsured loved one abroad.

A medical emergency abroad can be extremely expensive with bills quickly mounting up to thousands. Very sadly Foreign Office staff witness a number of distressing cases every year involving families having to raise vast sums of money to pay hospital and repatriation bills for their loved ones.

4 important things to remember before you go away on holiday:

• Buy travel insurance every time you travel abroad.
• Make sure that any pre-existing medical conditions are covered by your travel insurance policy.
• Check that any activities or sports which you intend to take part in are covered
• Check the latest travel advice from the FCO before you travel