Top three reasons for claiming on travel insurance are: medical emergency, cancellation, loss, theft or damage to baggage
A quarter of holidaymakers travel without insurance, according to a new report by Norwich Union.
This is despite the fact Brits are now taking more holidays than ever thanks to low-cost airlines, foreign home ownership and the popularity of short breaks.
Half of those who have travelled uninsured said they chanced it because they were "only going on a short break" and a further 14% simply forgot to buy a policy.
Men are much more likely (31%) than women (20%) to travel uninsured, said the report.
Norwich Union revealed that the insurer paid over £43.5m on travel insurance claims last year.
The report also identifies a lack of knowledge among holidaymakers about why they need cover. Nearly half (42%) of Brits incorrectly believe they are most likely to claim for lost, stolen or damaged baggage.
Over a third (36%) of holidaymakers either didn't know whether they needed travel insurance if they had an European Health Insurance Card or wrongly believed they didn't need insurance at all if they had the card.
According to the research, the top three reasons for claiming on travel insurance are: medical emergency, cancellation, loss, theft or damage to baggage.
Luis Berraondo, travel underwriter at Norwich Union, commented: "Holidaymakers put a lot of time and effort into their holiday from which hotel or villa to stay in to which airline and what baggage to take with them, but our research shows that often they don't think about the consequences both financially and emotionally if things go wrong.
