Reminder over need to take out travel insurance

Falling ill on holiday this year could cost you tens of thousands of pounds if you forget to take out insurance.

That’s the message from the Department of Health which is reminding people they must take out cover when they are travelling to the UK or further afield.

The Island has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK which means that residents are entitled to emergency treatment free of charge.

However it does not cover repatriation to the Island which means anyone who incurs costs getting home would have to fund it themselves if they don’t have insurance.

Each year the department says it receives a number of requests from people who have travelled overseas and are left facing huge bills for treatment and repatriation – which can cost up to £20,000 - which it says it is unable to help with.