Walker Jack Consultants

Overspending on travel insurance can be one of the biggest drains on money for British holidaymakers.  Most travel insurance is relatively cheap – with single trips starting from £10 and annual insurance starting from £30.  However, people often get confused and end up paying huge amounts to travel agents, instead of following some simple tips to cut the expenses. 

First of all, always compare and check different companies.  Online insurance agents have opened up the market and compete with the bigger insurance companies.  Some travel agents are overpriced, but others work closely with insurance companies to meet the customer’s requirements.  Compare quotes and ask your friends and relatives what they would recommend.  You would be surprised to hear how many good deals are available. 

Secondly, consider the right travel insurance for you.  The most expensive travel insurance is not necessarily the best, and the cheapest is not the worst.  You want to find the insurance that is exactly right for you – considering all your equipment, the specifics of your journey and your medical history.  You never know if your travel insurance might save you a large amount of stress and expense. 

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Depending on the nature of your travel, you may want to consider some specific types of travel insurance, like insuring your equipment or insurance for long stays. 

Winter holidays that involve skiing and snowboarding are quite popular in Britain.  A special type of winter sports travel insurance can give you exactly the type of coverage you need.  Broken legs and arms are common injuries that result in painful memories and hefty medical bills in foreign countries.  In France, for instance, a broken leg is around £4,000, while prices rise in the US or Canada.  Skiing equipment is another worry – whether it is your personal skis or hired, it is good to cover them against loss or theft. 

The adventure travel insurance is another type of insurance policy that is offered to those who love adventure sports.  The need of insurance is increased when you plan bungee jumping, sky-diving or white water rafting.  Give yourself and your friends and relatives peace of mind before you start putting yourself at risk. 

If you are planning to spend longer periods of time abroad, you should consider “long stay insurance”, also known as “backpackers travel insurance” or “students travel insurance”.  These policies vary from three months to a year and a half, including working abroad, and are especially important for people who plan to go to third world countries. 

People with medical conditions should consider travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, which give them the freedom to travel without worrying about the extra risks.   

Finally, always compare prices and types of insurance to find the one that suits you best. 

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Travel insurance has been designed to protect holidaymakers against unforeseen events, such as delayed or cancelled trips, lost luggage and damage, or lost or stolen personal items. It can also be there to protect you against the loss of deposits and other non-refundable payments due to unforeseen circumstances.    

No one wants to lose the cost of a trip due to bad weather conditions or a sudden illness. Having travel insurance is an ideal way to protect your travel investment if such events were to arise. If you should have to interrupt or cancel your trip due to situations out of your control, travel insurance can help to ease the financial burden and worry with reimbursement.   

Travel insurance generally covers medical expenses due to a sudden illness or other emergency. This can also include evacuation and other forms of medical transportation. Policies can also cover stolen, lost or damaged baggage, the cost of accommodation if you have suffered a travel delay, and also the essential items needed, such as clothing and toiletries, in the event that your luggage is also delayed.

Consumer traveler insurance can easily be purchased from your travel agent. This can be done at the time you book your trip. Travel insurance is a separate travel expense and will vary in cost, depending on the policy and the amount of cover that you choose.

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It is nice to know that your travel insurance will be there to help when you need it most. When unforeseen events arise that cause a trip to be altered or cancelled, it is travel insurance that usually saves the day. To make sure your travel insurance qualifies for reimbursement, there are a few things you need to know.

If you are hoping to have your hotel accommodation reimbursed, there are two key elements to being successful with your claim. The first is that your hotel has to be pre-booked before your trip. Most travel insurance policies will not cover hotels that are booked after you arrive at your destination.

The other important element is that, for some policies, where you stay must be recognised as a tourist accommodation. This includes hotels, B&Bs, hostels, guesthouses and resorts. It is always a good ideal to check with your travel agent if you are unsure.    
 
With certain companies, you will also need to show that your accommodation was at least 25 miles away from your home. Some travel insurance companies insist on a 50-mile radius. Other travel insurance companies will not cover trips that are not of a personal nature.

Always keep your airline tickets, accommodation confirmation and any other receipts. These will help to prove your travel dates and the cost of your trip in the event that you have to make a claim.

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If you are thinking about going on holiday, you may want to consider purchasing medical insurance, especially when travelling overseas. That way you can be sure that you will get prompt treatment if you fall ill or injure yourself in an accident on holiday.

Vaccinations

While travel health cover doesn’t usually cover the cost of vaccinations before you go on holiday, these are vital, especially when travelling overseas to different climates. There are many diseases across the globe that you may not have immunity against and vaccinations are there to protect you. Before travelling, speak to your doctor about which vaccinations might be required for your trip.

Medication

If you have any pre-existing conditions that you are treating with drugs and medicines, you need to make sure that your prescriptions are fully up-to-date. Always take a copy of your prescription with you when you travel. Having health insurance should also help you pay for the cost of buying medication, if required. It is also a good idea to establish whether your medication is legal in the country you will be visiting.

Travel Health Insurance

In the UK, health cover is free under the National Health Service, but many people forget that when they are holidaying to other countries, they may have to pay for healthcare. In fact, it can be incredibly expensive. Why risk having to pay out large sums because of injury or illness while on holiday?

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Travel insurance can be bought online, over the phone or on the high street from a whole range of different sources.

Travel agents often offer insurance as an extra when you book a package holiday with them. This can be very useful since the insurance will be suited to the holiday. For example, when booking a skiing holiday, you can buy winter sports insurance with it.

Very often, banks offer free travel insurance when you open an account with them. This is usually very basic cover and it is important to check that the policy is suitable for your holiday. For example, it may not cover adventure activities since there is a greater risk of an accident.

Supermarkets are convenient and low-cost, which are the main benefits of buying travel insurance with them. However, it is once again important to check that you are comprehensively covered for your holiday, as supermarket insurance is often the most basic.

Online comparative websites can help you save money by comparing a number of insurance companies. Buying insurance online is often quick and convenient, but if you have very specific needs or are confused about what policy you require, it is worth buying insurance in person on your local high street.

Finding an independent insurance broker may be the best option for you if you have very specific needs, such as travellers who are over 65 or have pre-existing medical conditions. Brokers can find policies to ensure you are covered adequately, and could perhaps save you some money in the process.

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Purchasing travel insurance for your holiday abroad is not as complicated as it might at first appear.  When you are speaking with your insurance agent about your holiday plans, ensure you discuss how long you intend to be on holiday, what you intend to do while there, who is going with you and their ages, and if there are any medical conditions that need to be taken into consideration. 

When you speak to the insurance agent, you will have the choice of purchasing single trip or annual holiday travel insurance.  The difference between the two is straightforward: single trip covers only one holiday/trip, while annual insurance covers a number of holidays throughout the term of the policy.  With this in mind, those wanting to embark on a number of holidays throughout the year might wish to consider opting for annual coverage; it will likely cost less in the long run than purchasing multiple single trip insurance policies. 

If you are travelling on holiday with a large family, you may wish to invest in a family travel insurance policy.  This allows you to customise the policy so that it covers all members of your family travelling with you, rather than having to invest in multiple individual policies.  Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child in a family policy.  

Those over the age of 65 years are considered ‘high risk’ and many insurance companies will not cover people who fall into this group.  Companies that do provide insurance for over 65s will therefore likely charge more for a policy, though the cost varies from provider to provider.  Research the various policies carefully and you will find travel coverage within your budget that suits you and your family.

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People with a pre-existing medical condition have just as much right to travel abroad on holiday as anyone else.  Unfortunately, many people who fall into this group face paying higher travel insurance premiums. 

Travel insurance for people with medical conditions is designed to cover any healthcare costs that might arise as a result of that condition.  It will also cover any unforeseen costs that might arise outside of the pre-existing condition.  Ultimately, this type of travel insurance is designed to lessen the out of pocket cost of treatment resulting from the condition while abroad.  By including any pre-existing medical conditions in your travel insurance, you are protecting yourself financially and your claim will not be denied by the insurance carrier for not disclosing it when you first purchased the policy. 

Keep in mind that the insurance carrier has the right to exclude the pre-existing medical condition from your travel insurance.  If you have a medical condition such as asthma or you are pregnant, always ask whether you will be covered in the policy.  If not, it would be best to look for alternative cover.

In addition to travel insurance for a pre-existing condition, you should also look into an EHIC.  An EHIC will allow you to receive needed medical treatment in any country that is part of the European Economic Area (EEA).  This is especially useful if you cannot obtain travel insurance that covers your current medical condition.

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There are five different types of travel insurance available to the British traveller.  Each option appeals to a certain group, and will help travellers choose the best form.

Single trip travel insurance is purchased by an individual or family member at the time of travel.  It only covers them for as long as their trip is expected to last.  This type is the cheapest and most convenient, as well as the most popular, because it is only bought and paid for when you need it.

Annual travel insurance covers an individual for the entire year and thus for multiple trips abroad.  This form of insurance is perfect for the person who travels more than once because they often save money in comparison to purchasing a policy for each single trip.

Family travel insurance allows for parents and children to all be covered together on one policy versus having to take out individual policies for each member.  Some companies charge depending on the number of children you have, whilst others will list a set rate for families with up to six children.

Business traveller insurance is a must-have for anyone who travels extensively and often for his or her career.  Busy professionals can purchase travel insurance annually.  This not only takes care of medical expenses, but also theft of business equipment.

Over 65′s travel insurance is a speciality insurance policy available to people in this age group.  This type offers fewer options, but many insurance companies offer reasonable options to mature travellers.

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As the price of airfares has decreased, international travel has subsequently boomed.  As the developing world has become more accessible and available as a holiday or business destination, people have become increasingly concerned with the healthcare provisions that may or may not be available should they fall ill whilst on holiday.  Travellers are generally concerned about the quality and safety of any medical treatment they might receive whilst abroad, as many parts of the world do not have the efficient and sterile medical facilities that are available in the UK and the US.  This is where travel insurance can be of particular benefit, as under the right conditions it will ensure that clients have access to the best and most suitable healthcare available if an emergency situation arises whilst on holiday.

It is vital to be certain that you know what is and is not covered by travel insurance before going on holiday or on a business trip abroad.  This information should be checked before taking out the policy so that you know, as a consumer, what you are entitled to in exchange for your hard-earned money.  You should know whether your insurance covers call-out or hospital fees, and also the conditions for which that treatment will provide coverage.  You may find that any healthcare will have to be paid for ahead of time and then re-enumerated by the insurance company after the event.  In this case, it will be very important to keep receipts for your treatment.

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