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Which countries are most expensive to fall ill in?
Even a minor trip to the doctor could cost many times what you'd pay for travel
insurance
Getting medical treatment abroad could cost tens or hundreds of times more than the price of travel insurance.
A fall in Spain, which ends up with you getting stitches, would cost £500 on average, according to insurer Admiral.
In comparison, the average paid by travel insurance customers we surveyed in March was £40 for a single-trip policy, or £96 for an annual policy (for those without pre-existing medical conditions).
Once you go outside Europe, the costs get much higher, particularly for more serious injuries.
Stitches in the USA will set you back £1,800 – and an ambulance call-out is £2,500.
In this article we compare insurance and medical prices to reveal the potential cost of not getting covered.
Which countries charge you the most if you fall ill?
Where you choose to go will have a huge impact on the size of any potential medical bills.
While holding an Ehic and Ghic can reduce costs in Europe, as you'll pay the same as locals pay, treatment won't necessarily be free. Nor do the Ehic or Ghic cover certain scenarios, including rescue from cruise ships or ski slopes, or repatriation to the UK.
Average costs across popular destinations
| Country | X-Ray | Food poisoning | Stitches | Ambulance call-out | Painkiller prescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | £150 | £5,000 | £1,800 | £2,500 | £750 |
| Mexico | £100 | £3,500 | £700 | £2,500 | £500 |
| Jamaica | £150 | £3,500 | £1,200 | £2,500 | £750 |
| India | £70 | £2,000 | £500 | £200 | £350 |
| Thailand | £80 | £2,000 | £700 | £350 | £350 |
| Spain | £100 | £2,000 | £500 | £300 | £150 |
| France | £40 | £250 | £100 | Not enough data | £20 |
Source: Admiral.com
Admiral's research also found that it could cost up to £1,000 for treatment if you break your arm skiing in France, up to £230,000 for suffering a heart attack in the USA, and up to £12,000 if you're stung by a jellyfish in Australia.
If you take out a travel insurance policy, these costs could be covered by your insurer.
- Find out more: How to find cheap travel insurance
How travel insurance covers medical conditions
Cover for medical treatment abroad should be your number one priority when buying travel insurance.
In terms of how much cover you need, we recommend at least £5m cover for medical costs and repatriation.
You could go higher: £10m was the average medical cover included in the policies analysed by our experts back in May. And some policies offered unlimited medical cover.
Anyone planning to do winter sports or extreme sports should check these are covered by your insurer.
If you need medical treatment abroad, call your insurer on its emergency phone number. Ideally you'd do this before getting treatment, as insurers may insist on certain conditions, but don't delay emergency treatment.
You may have to pay an excess, depending on the policy you took out. This is sometimes waived if you hold an Ehic or Ghic and are claiming in Europe.
What else does your travel insurance cover?
Medical cover isn't the only reason to take out insurance. Depending on your policy, it could include:
- Cancellation or missed departure
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Lost or damaged items, including your passport
- Personal injury and cover for accidents or damage caused by you.
To help you make the right choice for you, we've rated hundreds of policies, scrutinising more than 60 areas of cover in each one.
- Find out more: best travel insurance revealed
Travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a pre-existing medical condition (PEMC) it can make it tougher to find an affordable insurance policy.
Of the customers we surveyed, those with a PEMC paid more for single-trip policies (£75 vs £40) and annual policies (£150 vs £96).
But it's crucial you declare any medical conditions to your insurer before you pay for your policy. Failure to do so could result in your policy becoming null and void, and your name could be marked, meaning you might struggle to get any type of insurance in the future.
If you can't find reasonable quotes from regular travel insurers, get quotes from specialists.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has created a directory of insurance companies that have a proven specialism in covering people with medical conditions.
And BIBA has its own directory endorsed by the FCA. These can specialise by condition, such as cancer, heart problems and respiratory conditions.
When we surveyed 2,458 policyholders with a medical condition or a history of one in March 2023, 36% reported problems buying cover because of the condition(s) – most commonly around expensive premiums.
- Find out more: best travel insurance if you have a medical condition.
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