Should Halifax travel insurance and other travel insurance companies benefit from a new law which would make travel with insurance compulsory in the same way that we must obtain insurance to drive a car? One minister is calling for such a law.

Written by Fred Spencer

The plight of a British family struggling to pay medical expenses for a relative who is in hospital in Singapore has caused a government minister to call for compulsory travel insurance. North West Leicestershire Conservative MP, Andrew Bridgen, says the case of 30-year-old Matthew Taylor highlights the need for all those travelling abroad to take out adequate medical cover.

Mr Taylor has been recovering in a hospital in Singapore since he was involved in a motorcycle accident in July. He was a teacher in Bali at the time without any insurance which has left his family with a bill of £172,000. He remains in a serious condition which means he cannot fly home and therefore his family will be forced to continue paying for his treatment. Costs are currently around £2,000 per day.

According to Darrell Taylor, Matthew’s father, his son had decided against taking out cover because it would cost more than half his monthly wage. Mr Bridgen said it was essential that travellers realised the financial risk of travelling without proper insurance.

He highlighted the fact by saying that a car cannot go abroad without cover, so why should people be allowed to do so. He has suggested that checks be carried out at airports to flag up holidaymakers who do not have insurance.

Matthew’s father said he was sure his son would make a full recovery in time, adding that he did not know what the family was going to do if they ran out of cash.

Original Source

Comment

We could make it compulsory but it smacks again of another "Big Brother" tactic. Shouldn't the responsibility be on the individual to take out travel insurance cover rather than being forced to? If the Government keeps on trying to nanny us then we will surely expect them to sort us out for every financial mishap and problem that we have in the future.....which is basically where we are in 2011. We feel that travel insurance should be recommended but not compulsory. When it all goes wrong then we have to take responsibility for it and not blame others. It is awful when you hear of the stories above and we hope that Matthew makes a full recovery as soon as possible. But unlike car insurance which should an accident occur can cause injury to others and therefore the insurance is to protect others as well as yourself, illness on holiday only affects us and our immediate family. Therefore the responsibility for taking it out should rest with the individual and not any Government imposed legislation.