“In Norway app 17% of those who travel abroad, are traveling without travel insurance. 9% travel without travel insurance in Denmark and Foreign Ministry in Sweden handles every year around 2,000 cases in which the Swedes are in trouble abroad.

The most common problem applies to passports, then illness and death.

But the biggest problem for travelers in Scandinavia is young people who travel without travel insurance. There are no accurate figures on how many young people in Scandinavia traveling without travel insurance, but a British study made of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) shows that there is a big rise in young holidaymakers travelling uninsured.

A third (33%) of 16-24 year olds is travelling uninsured, up from 22% in 2014.

A third (32%) of 25-34 year olds are also travelling uninsured, making these two age groups the most at risk should something go wrong.

“There is an overrepresentation in Denmark of the 18 – 25 year olds in the group of those traveling without travel insurance, ”says Mark Bartram Nordic Head of Marketing and Communications,Europæiske ERV, Denmark.

“If you are without insurance, so what?”

“If you are traveling within the EU borders, so you can recoup some of your expenses, but it is worth to note that there is no longer any kind of help to get home. So there is no longer an emergency call center you can call and are you in a hospital for example in southern Italy and cannot speak Italian you stand in a very uncomfortable situation where you have no understanding of what is going on around you.”

“Why do you think people traveling without travel insurance?”

“There may be several reasons. 1. People think that they have travel insurance. 2. They think they have a right to treatment abroad because we Danes expect too much. 3. They make a conscious decision that they do not want to spend money on insurance, as they are willing to take the chance that nothing happens to them.”

“Do people have a perception that the Yellow or Blue card is still valid?”

“The vast majority are aware that blue cards now covers but trust mistakenly, that you are covered under the same conditions as previously. Surprisingly, we also hear about Danish travelers who mistakenly believe that the blue card covers them throughout the world! If you must travel outside the EU, you should NEVER do this without having bought private travel insurance. There is NO help available as a Dane. Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not rescue, “says Mark Bartram.

2, 5 million

“Are young travelers the worst to travel without travel insurance?”

“Yes, most young people15-24 (27% in this group). Probably mainly because young people are less aware of the need for insurance, ” says Øystein Thoresen, Information Director, Gjensidige, Norway.

“What can happen if you are traveling without travel insurance? How much can Damage amount to?”

“Certain claims can amount up to NOK 100 000 or more. We also have examples up to NOK 2, 5 million.”

“Why do you think people traveling without travel insurance?”

“There are of course people who think that they do not need it, because they are not aware of the consequences,“ says Øystein Thoresen.

Bad track

Many Swedes have bad track of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden can do to help those who are traveling.

A Sifo survey shows that 50 percent of Swedes believe that the government stands for repatriation of coffins or urns on death abroad, where the deceased has no insurance.

“But it is not and there are many who get a rude awakening, says Patric Nilsson, First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden.

Worst track has young travelers – and especially young men, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Usually it is also young people who end up in trouble during the trip.

“Our experience is that this group often ends up in this kind of situations. It might depend on that people often choose to travel in a different way, he says to DN.

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