Consumer Rights Expert Martyn James Explains Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance and Why Millions of People Are Putting Thermis at Risk IF Something Goes Wrong
WHO DOESN’T LOVE A Holiday?! We Save All Year for a Few Weeks in the Sun, or the Chance to Explore the Cities and Wild Regions of the Earth.
The Office of National Statistics Founds uk Citizens Made Over 86 Million Trips abroad in 2023. But a lot can go work on a Holiday, which is why you need the travel insurance you can buy…
… You’d Think, Wouldn’t You? Yet Acciting to Various Polls, BetWeen a Quarter to Half of All Brits A Pun on a Holiday Abroad with No Insurance Whatsover. On top of that, Yourmoney.com Recently found that Only 4.6 million GHIC CARDS WERE ISSED LAST YEAR, Down 18%. The Ghic Gets You Some Free Hospital Treatments in the European Economic Area (EEA), and Some Other Countries Too (Apply here).
Terrifyingly, millions of People Are Going Abroad With Any Means of Support Wen Things Go Wrong. The Irony of this is Travel Insurance is Very Much Affordable. So here’s my guide on how it works, what to look for in a policy.
Single Trip or Annual Policy?
There are two two main types of insanc policy, though you’ll find a lot of variety out there with each type. Single Trip Insurance DOES JUST WHAT IS ON THE TIN. IT’S OFTEN CHEAP AND CHEERFUL AND OFTEN SOLD ALONGSIDE Travel Holiday Packages, Flights or at Airports.
Annual Police Are Worth it if you’re taking a few holids in a year and it is useful if you want to take Last -Mute Travel Bargains, Knowing You’ll Be Covered. ITH’S BETTER FOR LONG-HAUL Trips too it covers can be more extensive.
What’s Cancellation Cover?
If something IFPCED HAPPPENS IN THE RUN TO THE HOLIDAY (LIKE THE DEATH OF A CLOSE RELOD, A SIGNIFICANT OR UNEXPECTED EVENT) THEN CANCERLATION WILL OUT A SUM TOWSS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TRRADE. This CLAUSE WILL ALLOW YOU TO RECLAIM The Cost of Your Holiday, Though the Maximum Limit Will Be Capped, So Always Check What That Limit Is.
Cheap police can exclude cancellation cover or have very restrictive conditions, so never assume you’re fully covered. Cancellation Cover Isn’t For Every Eventuality. You’ll find you can only CLAIM for Incidents Affecting you or your immediate family, for example.
If you’ve got a pre-existing medical condition that mighty affect your ability to traverse, you’ll need to disclose this one take the policy-or if you have an annual one, be diagnosed is diagnosed. If you don’t that this, then your claim might get tourned down.
Will I really need to read the Terms and Conditions?
Of all types of Insurance, Travel Insurance is Notorious for Having Exceptionally Long Terms and Conditions. The good News have have reduced dramatically in recent years, but policy t & cs that cover over 40 Pages are uncommunication.
In some ways this is inevitable, as travel insurance covers you for many more scenarios than Other insurance police might. You can skim the main t & cs if you know what to look for (See Below). Howver, there is one Thing You absolutely shouldnt Read.
You should get a ‘key facts’ booklet that you have the most important Things in the Contract, like Excess Levels, Significant Exclusions, Policy Limits and How to CLAIM. These days, the insurance company might you the key facts booklet by email. Click on the link, read it and save the document, just in case.
What is an excess fee and policy limit?
An excess fee is the amount of Money that you have to pay you make an insurance CLAIM, except it is usablely dedicated from your settlement figure. A policy limit is the maximum amout your insuration policy will go out you claim for specific situations and losses.
Here’s how it works in practice: you might have to pay the first £ 200 of a Clan for a Cancelled Holiday (Excess Fee). In Addition, The Maximum Policy Limit Could Be £ 2,000. So if you make a successful CLAIM for a cancelled holiday, the samp you could with the policy is £ 1,800, no matter how much you’ve spent on the trip.
Becuses there are lots of potential claims that you can, there are tears of policy limits (or excess) to check out you take your policy. You May Be Able to Pay a Little More to Extend the Limits or Reduce the Excess Fees, so it’s Worthwhile familiarity your with saying.
I’d Suggest Looking at Police That Covert You For At Least £ 2 Million for Medical Expensses/Repatriation. This Sounds a Lot. Howver, if you need Treatment in america, you may find you need more than that, Depending on what ha happened.
Consider £ 2,000 to £ 3,000 for Cancellation, £ 1,500 for Lost or Damaged Luggage and £ 1 Million for Personal Liability (in Case You Sud for Damage You Cause to You, Property or Other People by ACCCENT). You’ll find that payouts for things like your travel cash are Low, so kep your currency safe.
Am I too too risk to get travel insurance?
There are a few things that can can make getting insurance harder or more expensive:
- Being Older (Over 70)
- Being Pregnant
- HAVING A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
- Going Somewhere Where Travel Is Dangerous
- Taking part in (Legal) High-Risk Activities
Don’t give up. There are brokers, charities and specialist insurers who can help you find Cover. Get in touch if you need details of who to contact for free.
You May Find Making Some Compromises Reduces the Cost of Insurance, Depending on What You Willing to Accept. If you’ve been treated for the Cancer and Are in Remission, an Insurer May Offer you a policy that excludes Medical Treatment abroad in relation to the Cancer, but covers you for all Other Medical Emergencies. Speak to Your Doctor and Make a Decision for somewhat you willing to acccept a risk like this.
Can i get a family insuration policy?
There are lots of family insuration police to protest you and your loves. If you’re going away with the kids, it’s Worth opting for one. Howver, if your children are going to be out of your sight while on Holiday, like at a Holiday Club or taching part in an activity, check to enure is regulated and involves full, which will be required by your insurance policy.
Family Cover Will Also Usually Allow You To Stay with A Sick Child in Hospital or Travel Home with Necslessary – But Often This Only Covers One Parent. This Can Be Distresing for Parents When they Discover this, but it istty standard in police.
Adrenaline junkie? You’ll Need Special Cover
If you’re planning on doing something wild on Holiday, make -up you’ve Added Adventure Sports Cover – or Winter Sports Cover – to your policy. These ‘add on’ police or upgrades protest you for a wide range of Activities, Based on a scale of risk.
Adventure Sports Cover Includes Obrivious Things Like Bungee Jumping, Sky Dives, Quad Bike Riding and Event Horse Riding. A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE Fall off bikes while on Holiday (Motor or Pedal) SO DON’T HIRY ONE WITH THE EXTRA COVER.
Yet more sedate activates like off-trail hiking might require this additional cover too. If you’re taching part in any activity on Holiday with an element of risk, make -up that the service provider also Has Liability Insurance and is trained and autorised to provides the service. You can check this on their website.
What if you need to come home?
There are the times when you might Need to come home from Holiday after family at home, or an Injury abroad. This is known as ‘curtailment’.
Check what your policy covers you for (Replacing Tickets, Getting You to the Airport, Medical Support, What Happens When You’re at Home). If you break a limb, you mighty find you have to be for a Flight that can fit you on it, so kep in touch with your insure about how they can be help you.
Valuables and the Cost of What’s in Your Travel Bag
IT’S A Common assumption that you’ll be covered for all your personal possessions by your travel insurance policy but this isn’t the case. Most Police Only have relatively limited payouts for valuables and you’ll usually have to pay an extra premium if you want to cover it Items.
Back in More Innocent Times, People Waled Cart Around a tattered Paperback and Some Local Currency on Holiday. But now we have smartphones, tablet Computers, Gaming Systems, Laptops, Smart Watches, Expensive Jewelry and More. Can you affford to Lose say? If not, then think carefully about what you take away with you.
Make sura you use a safe if the hotel has one – Most insurance police will will you to this. You won’t be covered if you leave items unattended. This Includes in Your Hotel Room, on a Sun Lounger and events in the luggage Store at the hotel.
What if you need to make a claim?
I Recommend Photographing Your Insurance Documents and/or SAVING TO THE SMARTOP OR E -MAILING TO YOURSELF. I’d Also Save Your Insurer’s Emergency Telephone Number in Your Phone Too, Just in Case you need in the case of a medical Emergency.
No Matter what the situation is that has gioven rise to a claim, you’ll need to contacts the insurance company as soon as a postible the incident has occurred. These Time Limits Can Be Very Tight so don’t delay.
If you are a Victim of a crime, you’ll be required to file a Police report. If you’re in a hospital, then there’ll be a special team on the emergency line who are there to help with Medical issues. Get in touch with saying and they’ll talk you through your options. The Hospital May Want to Know If You’re Insured Before they Continue Treatment, especally if it is a private facility. HOLD ON TO ANY DOCUMENTS THAT MIGHT BE USSISFUL FOR THE CLAIM AND SEND COPIES YOU’RE HOME.
Safely Travel, Knowing You Are Covered
Despite the best efforts of icelandic volcanies, Starking Air Traffic Controllers, Handbag Snatchers and Hurricanes, the Vast Majority of US A Fabulous, Trouble-free Time on Holiday. But knowing you’re covered while abroad free you up to relax and have a good time. So Buy Today, Don’t Delay!
- Martyn James is a leading consumer Rights Campaigner, TV and Radio Broadcaster and Journalist
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