Make sure you are properly insured. Check to see exactly what your insurance policy does and does not cover you for. If in doubt ask your insurance company for an explanation of the small print. Only travel with full medical and repatriation insurance for the whole family, photocopy and add to our Emergency checklist Health & safety - EMERGENCIES

TIME TO TOP UP MORE THAN JUST YOUR TAN

With your family holiday in mind the vision of those lazy, hazy turquoise-water days of bliss is slowly becoming a reality. Nowhere in this peaceful mindscape is there any hint of sickness or ill-health, but the reality is that several million of us are treated abroad every year for illness or accident occurring whilst on holiday. Taking out travel insurance, although a vital part of planning any holiday is often left to the last minute. Any loopholes or shortcomings in your policy may only become evident when it's too late.

Robert Ince, Managing Director of The Medical Screening Company, has some good advice for travelers. 'Do your homework and make sure that you understand exactly what's covered by your policy. I have spent more than 20 years in the travel insurance industry and have witnessed both the good and the bad. When you are abroad and are taken ill or have an accident, it is important that your cover is adequate for your needs. That is not the time to discover a loophole or exclusions.'

Ince goes on to explain that, in many European counties, State hospitals offer far superior care to private facilities. 'Many private hospitals abroad don't, for example, have a specialist paediatric unit. As a parent, this is not something I want to discover when my child is ill and I am in a foreign country. We recommend that all UK citizens traveling to Europe apply for an EHIC card prior to travel.'

An EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) is the replacement to the E111 form and entitles UK citizens to free or reduced cost emergency care in a State hospital in any of the EU member countries. In order to be treated you need to present your EHIC card on admission. State Healthcare services offer a wide network throughout the EU, from remote villages to the most popular tourist resorts. There are many advantages to having treatment using the EHIC
on holiday.

Taking out travel insurance, although a vital part of planning any holiday is often left to the last minute. Any loopholes or shortcomings in your policy may only become evident when it's too late.

Ince's co-director Dr Samy Massoud, an NHS Consultant adds, 'Whilst some private hospitals have ICUs, these are mainly for postoperative supervision, unlike State hospitals which provide both facilities and expertise for serious ICU cases. The emphasis in many private 'tourist' hospitals is on customer relations and home comforts like satellite television. Often this means a compromise on medical expertise. Serious medical cases almost always end up being transferred to State medical facilities.'

The downside of the EHIC is that not all costs are covered, only the hospital care itself. The Medical Screening Company has just launched a new product which neatly fills this gap. Insured by the Watkins Syndicate at Lloyd's, EHICPlus Travel Insurance is effectively a 'top-up' to the EHIC card and covers rescue services to take you to hospital; the cost of getting you home to the UK if you are unable to use your return ticket; emergency medical treatment in a state hospital and hospital benefit towards incidental expenses for each day you spend in hospital.

Importantly, EHICPlus

Provides cover for all ages including the over 65s (there is, in fact, no age limit)
Can cover you for up to 4 months (useful for those with holiday homes in Europe)
Has a far higher tolerance level than most policies for those with pre-existing medical conditions
Is a cost-effective option
Is ideal for school groups
Is insured by the Watkins Syndicate at Lloyd's

As Ince says 'Why pay for Private medical insurance cover at a premium when you can get medical treatment with an EHIC Card and get travel insurance cover for everything else such as cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, baggage and so much more? EHICPlus is a comprehensive policy backed by a respected insurer. Lloyd's is a name that people can trust.'

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Alarmingly, figures released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office show that up to 65% of people in the over-55 age bracket travel without travel insurance protection, despite needing to make three times as many claims on their travel insurance as younger travelers. (Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office). This is often because they either cannot afford insurance, or are unable to find an insurer willing to offer cover to older people. EHICPlus now offers a workable solution.

Footnote:
Europe remains the most popular destination for UK residents, accounting for 80 per cent of visits abroad. Spain continues to be the most popular country to visit, with France in second place. In the 12-month period to April 2008, the number of visits abroad by UK residents remained in the region of 70.3 million