| Sat 9 Jul 2011 |  Paul Lucas |
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Many of us spend hours shopping around for the best deals on flights, hotels and package holidays, making sure we cover all the fine detail including the car we hire; our shuttle from the airport; and much, more. However, many of us then throw that hard work away when it comes to taking out travel insurance.
| Travel insurance is important for any holiday because it can cover you if you get sick or have a serious accident while abroad. The most expensive claims are for hospitalisation or repatriation and if you are travelling to the US in particular it is vital to get cover as the country does not have a national health care system. However, before you decide on the right policy for you there are a few important things to consider, to ensure you’re getting a good deal. |
Shop around
Perhaps the most important step is to shop around for travel insurance rather than accepting it as an add-on to a flight or holiday package because there is fierce competition in the marketplace. Use comparison websites to compare not only prices but the level of cover you receive too. You may also be able to apply promo codes from websites such as 5hop5.co.uk which can further cut the cost of a policy.
Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that the European Health Insurance Card will cover you for everything too. While this covers most basic healthcare costs, if, for example, you had an accident while boating or skiing and needed to be repatriated you would not be covered. As such it’s vital to pay attention to medical expenses cover and not only the policy limits, but also the exclusions.
In addition, try to avoid double insurance. For example, you may already be covered by your health insurance for illnesses abroad, while home insurance may cover the theft of items while you are away. Many credit cards also come with travel insurance as a freebie or for a small annual fee although you should check the levels of cover in place particularly as it relates to cancellations and medical expenses.
Look for your specific needs
Remember to look for specialist policies that cover your specific needs while you’re on holiday abroad. For example, you may have pre-existing conditions that wouldn’t ordinarily be covered by a policy; you may be over the age of 65; or you may be planning to take part in activities that are not traditionally covered such as adventure sports or winter sports including skiing. For the latter, you’ll need equipment cover too, or cover for the cost of hiring equipment.
Just remember that travel insurance is used by many travel agents to make their money back on seemingly cheap holidays – so treat it like any other aspect of your holiday and shop around with care.
