Media Release

The destinations where one night in hospital costs more than a luxury hotel

  • Revealed: the most expensive countries to be hospitalised in overseas
  • Monaco tops the list, costing an average of $3,400 a day
  • Tip: Unlimited medical cover the key to avoid being caught out

28 May 2018, Sydney, Australia – A night in hospital can cost an Aussie traveller almost $3,500 in some countries, more than three times the cost of a night at a luxury hotel, according to new research from finder.com.au, the site that compares virtually everything.

The findings, which came from a finder.com.au analysis of World Health Organisation data, reveal that Monaco is the most expensive destination in the world to be hospitalised, at AUD $3,444 per day.

For comparison, a one night stay in a five-star hotel in Monaco only costs $1,060.

In second place was Luxembourg, with $1,813 per day, followed by Norway at $1,343. In contrast five star hotels in these destinations can cost just $273 and $240 per night respectively.

However the cost of travel insurance for these destinations is significantly less than the cost of a hospital stay.

In fact, an average of all policies compared on finder.com.au shows that travel insurance with medical cover for a one-week holiday to Monaco (the most expensive destination) will only cost a policyholder $47.

That’s 73 times cheaper than the cost of a night in hospital.

Bessie Hassan, Travel Insurance Expert at finder.com.au, says a medical emergency on holidays can be a huge financial burden.

“Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario, but the reality is that the cost of receiving medical attention in many countries is extremely expensive.

“It’s important to remember that these figures only represent the cost of the hospital bed. They don’t take into account emergency transportation, medicine or surgery costs that can drastically hike up the price.

“Some medical practitioners may even ask for a sizeable deposit before they even begin a procedure,” Ms Hassan says.

The most expensive destinations to be hospitalised in:

CountryAverage cost of a hospital bedCost of travel insurance
Monaco$3,444$47
Luxembourg$1,813$52
Norway$1,343$51
Qatar$1,308$53
Switzerland$882$51
San Marino$845$52
Denmark$808$51
Ireland$804$49
United Arab Emirates$727$51
Netherlands$711$50

“In most cases travel insurance with medical cover is far cheaper than what you’d have to fork out for a hospital stay overseas,” says Ms Hassan.

“Compare travel insurance online to ensure you get the right policy for your needs.

“And bear in mind that any medical costs that result from intoxication or recklessness likely won’t be covered by your insurer.”

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Disclaimer

The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.

About Finder

Every month 2.6 million unique visitors turn to Finder to save money and time, and to make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.

Our free service is 100% independently-owned by three Australians: Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral. Since launching in 2006, Finder has helped Aussies find what they need from 1,800+ brands across 100+ categories.

We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now have offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.

12.6 million average unique monthly audience (June- September 2019), Nielsen Digital Panel

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