About
Travel Insurance
What is Travel Insurance?
Travel
insurance is normally purchased as a combined package of insurance
covers which is designed to protect you and/or your family
from a variety of events that could occur while you are on
holiday.
These
events normally include:
- Financial
compensation if your holiday trip is cancelled or curtailed
due to circumstances beyond your immediate control
- A
medical emergency and/or repatriation expenses if you are
injured or sick
- Damage
or loss to your possessions
- Theft
or loss of money
- Expenses
that are incurred due to a delay in departure
- Expenses
that are incurred by having to replace a lost passport
- Legal
expenses and personal liability insurance cover in the case
of an accident where you cause injury or damage to a third
party or their property
- Some
compensation if you suffer permanent disability or death
while you are on holiday
These
areas of insurance cover are subject to special limits and
excesses, you will need to read your insurance policy document
very carefully to check how much you are covered for and for
what. Also you need to find out if any excess would have to
be paid in the event of an insurance claim. Some travel insurance
policies may be purchased for individual trips or as an annual
policy for all trips taken in that particular year of insurance.
Travel
insurance can be purchased from insurance brokers, tour operators,
banks, building societies, the post office, travel agents,
retailers, supermarkets, credit card providers or direct from
insurers. Insurance suppliers offer a variety of methods of
payment: over the counter, by telephone, post and on the internet.
Exclusions
Insurance claims that arise from ongoing medical conditions
that you suffer from before you take out the insurance and
insurance claims arising from your participation in hazardous
sports or adventure activities such as scuba diving, horse
riding, skiing, or cycle touring. You must tell your insurance
company if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or
if you are planning to participate in any hazardous activities.
You must tell them before you travel to confirm whether they
will cover you for claims arising from these causes.
Things to Look out for When Buying Travel Insurance?
Do
shop around
There is a huge range of insurance products available
so it pays to shop around for the best cover and value for
money to suit your insurance needs.
What
are you going to do?
There has been a steep rise in adventure travel
and it is increasingly important to ensure you will be insured
for any activities you may participate in during your holiday.
Where
are you going to go
It may not be considered safe to travel to certain
countries and if you are unsure, check the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office website for advice about your destination. If you are
travelling to remote areas of under developed countries where
medical treatment may not be available, does your travel insurance
cover repatriation costs if you are taken ill or seriously
injured?
What
insurance cover do you have?
Some House Contents insurance policies can provide
insurance cover for personal possessions that are taken abroad.
If you already have cover for taking personal possessions
abroad as part of your contents insurance, you may be able
to leave this type of cover from your travel insurance package.
Credit card providers may offer some parts of travel insurance,
but this type of cover may be limited. You might have to buy
some additional cover to provide the equivalent protection
as stand-alone travel insurance.
If
I need help while on holiday, what happens?
Usually, travel insurance policies include a
24-hour emergency service and a telephone advice line. Take
these details with you and a copy of your insurance policy
and a note of the telephone number.
Take
care
Insurance policies say that you must take care
of your possessions at all times. If you do not do this the
insurance policy may not pay out. It is best to look after
your possessions as though they were not insured.
More Travel Information
Stay
Healthy
You will probably need vaccinations to avoid contracting diseases
in certain countries. Your doctor or nurse will be able to
advise you on what is required. Vaccinations are sometimes
given in multiple doses over a period of up to six weeks,
it is therefore necessary to arrange this as early as possible
to ensure you are adequately protected before your holiday.
The
New European Health Insurance Card and the E111 Form
United Kingdom residents are entitled to free, or reduced
cost, state provided healthcare when visiting an EU country.
But in order to be covered you will need to take a new completed
E111 form with you, which you can get from Post Offices free
of charge. it is still best to get travel insurance even when
travelling to EU countries. Very few countries pay the full
cost of medical treatment even under reciprocal health service
arrangements. Extra travel and accommodation expenses and
repatriation costs are not covered by these reciprocal arrangements
and standards of healthcare can also vary considerably between
countries. There are still many advantages in the reciprocal
agreements and you should travel with an E111. Some insurance
companies may waive a medical excess under their policies
if you use the Form E111.
Changes to Your Rights to Healthcare in Europe
Recent
changes to European law have meant that a new E111 form has
been brought in to replace the old one. The difference between
these forms is that the new form is now issued on an individual
basis. But you will only need to complete one application
form in order to receive E111s for you, your spouse/partner
and children.
The
next major change is that the UK have adopted the European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This will be issued to
those who apply for the new E111 form and tick the box
to receive the new card. The new form and the booklet
'Health Advice for Travellers' can be picked up from
the Post Office. Forms and more information on the E111
and EHIC are available to download from the Department
of Health.
Driving
on holiday
If you hire a car or drive your own car when you are on holiday
you will need to make sure you have insurance cover.
Foreign
& Commonwealth Office
Get proper travel insurance and check out the Foreign
& Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel
to find out how best to avoid trouble. This website
is packed with useful travel advice and tips and also
offers up-to-date country information.
Travel Insurance Deals - click here!
Ski
and Adventure Insurance Deals - click here!
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