What if something goes badly wrong while you’re abroad? What if you’re the victim of a crime, or fall ill? What if someone close to you dies abroad, or suffers other serious misfortune? In this section we explain how we can help. Call Consular Assistance if you need assistance abroad: The Consular Assistance team in London can be reached on: 020 7008 1500 (+44 020 7008 1500 from abroad) This number operates 24 hours a day ‘Exceptional Assistance Measures for Victims of Terrorist Incidents Overseas’ A ministerial statement (Word doc) on... 

Many people deeply regret not taking out travel insurance. They think their credit card accident cover, home insurance, or private health cover is sufficient. The real cost when things go wrong An emergency abroad can be extremely expensive. If you need to be returned to the UK it could cost you thousands of pounds, unless you are adequately insured: £35-45,000 - air ambulance from USA’s East coast £12-16,000 - air ambulance from the Canary Islands £15-20,000 - scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort from Australia Figures supplied by FirstAssist...