Do you need travel insurance?
It’s something that not everyone thinks about before they head off on their trip. Maybe it’s because you think “it will never happen to me”, or maybe it’s because travel insurance is an expense that feels superfluous given your relatively low level of risk for having any problems. But… what if something does happen? What if you get injured, sick, or… worst of all… become a victim of violent crime? We’re not saying this is likely to happen, but the truth is things do go wrong when you’re away from home and out there in the world by yourself. So wouldn’t it be nice to have someone watching your back just in case? That person would be your travel insurance, who stands ready to help you with whatever you need.
What’s the difference between travel insurance and assistance?
If your wallet is ever lost or stolen in a foreign country, you will know the importance of having a travel insurance policy in place. However, when it comes to medical emergencies, both travel insurance and assistance companies come to your aid. So what’s the difference?
In essence, when you’re dealing with an emergency situation involving your health—an illness or injury that could put your life in danger—you need quick access to top-notch medical professionals who can treat you on site. They should be experienced enough not only to diagnose the nature of your problem but also have all the resources they need at hand to fix it as soon as possible.
Is my holiday cancellation cover enough?
There are both domestic and international policies available that provide evacuation cover. The best way to find out whether your current travel insurance covers emergencies is to call up the insurers’ 24-hour emergency assistance lines before you go on holiday. It is worth noting most travelers will automatically be covered for this service if they’ve taken out comprehensive travel insurance within the last six months, even if they haven’t called their insurer’s emergency assistance line recently.
What about insurance for my mobile?
If you’re taking a mobile on holiday with you, make sure that it is insured against theft or loss. It’s also worth noting that if you are bringing an unlocked phone back into the UK from outside Europe, then buying a pay-as-you-go SIM card can be much cheaper than using your contract at home – make sure it covers calls to the UK as well as other countries.
What about travel insurance for my car?
Car hire excess cover is usually included in your travel insurance policy so you don’t need to go out of your way to get it separately. However, if not, you should take this with you – some companies offer temporary covers while abroad but these are often more expensive than buying a local one. You can also buy separate motor legal protection, which many people forget they need until it’s too late and they’ve been involved in an accident abroad.
What types of travel insurance are there?
There are many, many types of travel insurance. Cover varies from medical and emergency evacuation cover to baggage and accident insurance. Some plans only include the essentials like trip cancellation/interruption and medical expenses. At the same time, others also have features such as lost or delayed luggage coverage or even adventure activities like bungee jumping or skydiving! So no matter your inclination when it comes to getting adventurous on your holiday (or if you’re a complete home bird), there’s a plan for you.
How can I save money on travel insurance?
Here are a few tips:
Check whether your home contents or life assurance is enough – many policies include medical cover as standard these days;
- Use a comparison site to find the best deals online – compare prices from different providers by using a website such as MoneySupermarket.com;
- If traveling with children under 16 years old, make sure their policy is valid outside the UK – they are considered a pre-existing condition under home contents policies;
- If you’re taking an unlocked mobile phone with you, buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card when you arrive rather than using your usual contract at home; and If you already have car insurance, check that your current provider covers accidents in Europe (or wherever you’re traveling).
Does travel insurance include car rental insurance?
Yes, it covers any losses or damage that you may cause to the hire car, but there’s a small exception: if you’re driving abroad and get into an accident, your insurer will want to see proof of where and when it happened. For more information visit ZeCoverage.com If you can’t provide this, you’ll need to buy additional coverage for this section.
What travel insurance doesn’t cover?
With great levels of cover comes great responsibility. Travel insurance is not intended to replace all of the risks inherent in foreign travel. Here is a list of things that it does not usually include:
- Baggage lost by airlines – check with your insurer before making any claims as those made through the airline’s scheme will be invalid;
- Loss of deposits for canceled trips – again, check the terms and conditions of your policy;
- Cancellation costs of new passports or visas if you lose yours while abroad.
Some travel insurance policies also exclude pre-existing medical conditions so make sure you read the small print before you book anything. Finally, holidaymakers are expected to take responsibility for themselves, so self-medicating is not covered by most policies unless it is a dire emergency.
How much does travel insurance cost?
As with all services, prices vary drastically depending on what type of cover you want and how old you are when you buy it. Here is a chart showing average prices:
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
This is a health problem which you have before you buy travel insurance. It is excluded from most policies so it’s best to buy cover as soon as you book your trip. If you need any treatment or medication for an existing condition, make sure you bring evidence of this with you – some countries will demand proof of your state of health before they hand over a visa. In most cases, if your insurer finds out that the condition was already present at the time that you bought cover then they reserve the right to refuse to reimburse any medical expenses that stem from it.