A recent news item coming out of Bulgaria highlights the issue that I have mentioned before about the importance of:
- taking out travel insurance before you leave home
- ensuring that you have a copy of your policy in your possession while you are away form home
Adam Prosser, a Welsh holiday maker was holidaying at a holiday resort at Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.
Unfortunately for Adam, he was set upon and attacked by a number of men while on his way back to his apartment following a meal.
Whilst such events are unfortunately far from rare in many parts of the world, the important part of this event was what happened after Adam arrived at a local hospital in Bulgaria.
You can read more about this news story by visiting the travel mole site at:
http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?m_id=s~~AvY!m_r&news_id=2011760
Unfortunately for Adam, he wasn’t able to show the Bulgarian hospital administrators a current travel insurance policy or card.
As a result, the Bulgarian doctors refused to treat him.
The BBC reports that Adam therefore had to fly home for treatment.
A check up at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital revealed the serious head injury and he has been referred to specialists in Cardiff.
Adam’s girlfriend, Kayley Harrison stated that Mr Prosser was now in a stable condition but the attack had put the couple off going abroad “for life”.
This story emphasises the importance of ensuring that when you do travel abroad, you ensure that you carry a copy of your travel insurance policy.
Whilst Adam’s case seems to have resulted in a “happy ending”, the situation may well have been much worse had the injuries been a little more severe.
The incidence of many defaults being experienced by doctors, medical clinics and hospitals around the world when uninsured travellers fail to cove the cost of their treatment is escalating, and as a result situations such as Adam’s are becoming more, rather than less, common.
We therefore can’t overemphasise the need for you to travel with a copy of this insurance document in your possession.
