Travel Plans? Don’t Forget Holiday Insurance

With winter behind us now (in theory, though still snowing in the north here in the UK!) Easter is a popular time for a family getaway. 

After such a long and harsh winter many people are opting for a getaway somewhere with guaranteed sun.  With the disappointment of the UK weather last summer, the popularity of the ‘staycation’ may have been short-lived. 

A holiday in the UK is not cheap either, so many people may opt not to spend their precious time and money shivering in the UK, draped in foul-weather gear and trudging through puddles in their wellies.  

The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued a renewed warning to travellers to not risk going away without travel insurance, which includes some of the following points:

£- Don’t rely on your home insurance, private health insurance, credit card insurance, or the EHIC, as they are unlikely to provide the levels of cover that come with a comprehensive travel insurance policy

£- If a medical emergency occurs, the costs can be financially devastating, especially if repatriation is required (costs to bring you home).  Consider these (approx.) figures:  

• Up to £40,000 for air ambulance from the USA (East Coast)
• Up to £16,000 for air ambulance from the Canary Islands
• Up to £20,000 for a scheduled flight from Australia with a stretcher and medical escort

The cost of insurance is insignificant in comparison, so it is crazy to travel without it!

Some of the advantages of travel insurance include:

• Cover for medical emergencies or illness while abroad and repatriation
• Personal liability in case you are sued or involved in an incident involving injury or damage to property
• Cover for lost or stolen luggage/possessions
• Cancellation and curtailment
• Scheduled airline failure

Check that your travel insurance covers all your planned activities (i.e. bungee jumps, jet-skiing, etc.).  Most policies include popular activities on an incidental (casual) basis, but if unsure call and ask or check the policy wording.

It is not always a good idea to go with cheapest travel insurance you find on a comparison website – delve a little deeper to check the levels of cover provided (i.e. how  much it pays for major expenses, such as emergency medical treatment, personal liability, etc.)   If a policy seems very cheap it may be because the levels of cover have been cut.  

If travelling light, consider saving money with a backpacker policy which provides less cover for your personal property, but still includes the important aspects, such as medical cover, personal liability, etc.  An annual multi-trip policy works out cheaper than taking out single trip insurance each time, and budget-strapped families can save money by purchasing travel insurance which allows children to travel free.

Note that our travel insurance includes 24-hour emergency assistance – provided by AXA Assistance.

A large number of people still take a chance by travelling without insurance.  If you are in that camp, please read what the FCO has to say about it here.