Travel Insurance Tips
Holiday season is here and many of us will be going away soon, abroad or staying in the UK. Before you go, it’s important to get yourself a solid holiday insurance policy. You also need to make sure that you know what you’re getting for your money and what you aren’t going to be able to claim for in the event of an accident, illness, and theft or flight cancellation. Finding a cheap policy is ideal, but it’s also important to shop for quality. First and foremost, you should remember that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) replaced the E111 card a while ago. The EHIC card allows you to access state healthcare at a reduced cost, or even for free in some cases! This card is invaluable because it will allow you to cover medical treatment costs while you are on holiday in order for you to stay there until you plan to return home. This card will also cover any costs related to any pre-existing medical conditions you may have. As long as you aren’t going to give birth abroad, you’re covered. The EHIC card is valid in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and it is free to apply for. Be sure not to use any un-official sites because these may be a scam and are likely to charge you.
Your travel insurance should cover a number of eventualities. The most important part of this cover is the emergency medical and repatriation costs part. If something unfortunate happens to you on holiday, you want to have peace of mind, knowing that any medical bills will be met. This is especially important for people who are travelling to the US due to their hefty medical bills. A good policy will offer around £2 million European cover and £5 million for worldwide cover. Another important area to cover is your technology. We live in a society where most of us will be carrying around an expensive smart phone at all times, and this includes taking it on holiday. One option is to have your home insurance cover reach to your gadgets that you take on holiday. Alternatively, you can ask if your holiday insurer will add cover for your gadgets at an extra premium.
Cancellation is also probably covered in your travel insurance policy, but it is a good idea to have a look and check to see what you will actually get in the event of a cancellation. It is important for you to mention any pre-existing medical conditions when choosing an insurance plan. If one of these conditions prevents you from travelling and you didn’t mention it beforehand, it is unlikely that you will be able to claim anything back. The problem with this is that getting an affordable policy can be tough if you have to admit a pre-existing condition. Mainstream insurers may turn you away but there are other companies who are more likely to take on clients with medical conditions. You must declare all conditions, even if you aren’t receiving treatment for them anymore.
James Savery, 09 August 2013