Throughout 2024, Seesam received a total of 3055 travel claims, with total reimbursements reaching 1.4 million euros. Half of it was granted to cover medical costs.

‘Even though claims for travel disruptions are the most numerous, making up half of all travel insurance claims, the biggest costs incur when travellers experience health issues,’ said Seesam’s Head of Claims Handling Department Rasmus Parve. ‘Compared to 2023, last year’s reimbursements grew by 16% due to the increased costs of medical care.’

It is not difficult to incur a high medical bill

According to the insurance group, prices have risen across the world, which means that solving health issues while travelling has also become more expensive. While claims relating to travel disruptions and damaged luggage remained around 500 euros on average in 2024, claims relating to medical care could reach 1000 euros. Last year, the most expensive claim was caused by a fall while travelling in a foreign country, rather than the usual sudden health issues or sports injuries. After the fall, the victim needed help with covering their medical expenses, which included expensive emergency transport. The total cost of their treatment reached over 70,000 euros.

Another expensive claim relating to medical care was caused by a scooter accident in Asia, where the victim suffered head trauma and had to be reimbursed for over 55,000 euros for their medical expenses.

‘While cases relating to travel disruptions can cause discomfort, medical treatment often involves a situation between life and death,’ added Parve. ‘In such cases, the patients and doctors cannot be concerned about the costs, and treatment is always expensive.’

According to the insurance group, it is not difficult to incur an expensive medical bill, as even simple cuts may require stiches, or, in extreme cases, even surgery. Unfortunately, it is also often impossible to plan in advance for needing medical treatment. Recently, news broke about a woman who had breakfast at an airport in Finland, boarded her flight, and, instead of getting to enjoy paradise in Thailand, ended up hospitalised and receiving IV therapy due to an infection. For most people, paying such costs without help from insurance would cause great financial distress.

‘When overviewing last year’s claims, we also noticed cases where the victim’s health was already compromised before they remembered to conclude an insurance agreement,’ explained a representative of Seesam. ‘Unfortunately, it is not possible to sign an insurance while already in the emergency medicine department, just as it is impossible to insure an already burning building. For travel disruption claims to be valid, the insurance should be signed right after booking the trip. Even though travel insurance takes effect immediately after signing, concluding an agreement in time can help avoid extra costs. If signing is left until the last moment, the event that causes the disruption, such as an unexpected health issue or even a long-predicted volcano eruption, may have already happened. No insurance will cover costs that are caused by events that happened before signing. You also need to make sure that your insurance is valid for the entire duration of your trip, from the day you leave Estonia until the day you return home.’