Why 42% of Spanish tourists refuse travel insurance and Britain isn’t far behind

Large numbers of Spanish and British tourists continue to travel abroad without insurance, despite rising medical costs and increasing disruption linked to delays, cancellations and lost baggage. A recent study by insurance broker Heymondo and research firm YouGov found that 42% of Spanish travellers who do not buy travel insurance believe it is simply “not necessary”, while separate figures from the United Kingdom show that many British holidaymakers are also willing to travel uninsured.

Researchers highlighted a gap between travellers’ perception of risk and the reality of travelling overseas without cover.

Medical emergencies remain the main concern

According to the study, medical emergencies account for 61% of all travel insurance claims abroad. Researchers warned that uninsured travellers can face significant financial costs if they require hospital treatment, emergency transport or repatriation while outside Spain.

The report suggests that many Spanish tourists continue to see travel insurance as optional, particularly for short-haul European holidays. This remains common despite repeated warnings from insurers and consumer groups about the rising cost of healthcare in destinations such as the United States, parts of Asia and some private healthcare systems in Europe.

However, attitudes in Spain appear to be changing gradually. Separate data from Heymondo published earlier this year found that 78% of Spanish travellers have purchased travel insurance at least once and intend to continue doing so in future. The same research showed that concerns over the cost of private healthcare abroad were one of the main reasons people chose to buy cover.

British travellers show slightly higher insurance uptake

The Spanish figures broadly reflect trends seen in the United Kingdom, where many travellers also continue to go abroad uninsured. Research published by travel association ABTA found that one in four British holidaymakers travelled overseas without insurance during the previous year. Among travellers aged between 25 and 34, the proportion rose to 41%.

British travellers nevertheless appear slightly more likely than Spanish tourists to regularly purchase insurance before a trip. Data compiled by Forbes Advisor UK found that 77% of Britons have bought travel insurance before, while nearly half said they ensure they are covered every time they travel abroad.

Industry groups in Britain have repeatedly warned that travelling uninsured can leave holidaymakers exposed to substantial costs. ABTA said medical treatment and emergency repatriation abroad can amount to tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds in severe cases.

Younger travellers remain the least likely to buy cover

Travel insurance providers in both countries say younger travellers are among the least likely to take out policies, often because they believe they are unlikely to require medical treatment or assistance while abroad. Cost is also cited as a reason, particularly among travellers taking short city breaks or budget airline trips.

Online discussions among travellers show similarly mixed attitudes towards insurance. Some travellers described insurance as essential after experiencing illness or hospital visits overseas, while others argued it was unnecessary for travel within Europe if they already held a European Health Insurance Card.

Travel industry experts argue that this assumption can be misleading, as many policies cover far more than emergency healthcare alone. Insurance can also include cancellation protection, lost baggage cover, legal assistance and compensation linked to delays or missed departures.

Independent travel bookings may be changing habits

The continued growth of low-cost travel and independent booking platforms may also be influencing behaviour. More travellers are now arranging flights and accommodation separately rather than through package holidays, meaning insurance is often no longer automatically included in bookings.

Despite this, insurers say demand for travel cover continues to increase after the disruption caused by the pandemic and recent airline delays across Europe. British and Spanish travellers alike are increasingly purchasing policies online rather than through travel agencies.

While many holidaymakers still consider travel insurance an avoidable expense, the latest research suggests that a significant proportion of travellers in both Spain and the UK remain willing to take financial risks when going abroad.