Why take out travel insurance?
Travel insurance can protect you against the following problems:
- cancellation or shortening of your trip for reasons beyond your control
- missed transportation or delayed departure for reasons beyond your control
- medical and other emergencies
- personal injury and death
- lost, stolen or damaged items, including luggage, passports and money
- accidental damage or injury caused by you.
- insurance companies
- banks
- retailers and supermarkets
- travel agents
- online comparison websites
- holiday companies.
- where you are going to travel. For example, if you travel to the United States, you will need additional medical coverage
- How old are you? travel insurance may cost more if you are over 65. there are special policies for older travelers that are worth consulting
- how often you travel. if you go several times a year, it may be better to buy an annual travel policy instead of multiple one-trip policies
- what you will do while you are away. you may need additional coverage if you participate in dangerous sports, such as skiing or scuba diving
- whether you are traveling independently or on a vacation package. vacation packages generally offer you more protection if things go wrong with transportation or accommodation, so you may not need to make a claim on your travel insurance
- how are you traveling. Some insurance policies may not cover cruises and budget airline flights.
- medical expenses and coverage to get you home if you get injured or sick abroad
- personal injury and coverage for accidents or damage caused by you
- coverage for lost or damaged items
- Coverage for lost or delayed luggage
- Coverage for cancellation or loss of departure.
- learn more about household goods insurance
- make a claim on your travel insurance policy
- problems making a claim on your travel insurance policy
- if you need more help
- receive medical treatment while traveling in europe www.gov.uk
- travel insurance for families with seriously ill and disabled children or young people through the family fund at www.familyfund.org.uk
- information on travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions from tourismforall at www.tourismforall.org.uk
- get travel insurance if you have cancer from macmillan cancer support at www.macmillan.org.uk
If you don’t have travel insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to fix a problem while you’re away. Or you can lose money if you have to cancel a trip and you can’t get your money back. this could cost you thousands of pounds.
Where can I buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance is widely available. you can buy it at:
Sometimes travel insurance may be included as an additional service offered through your bank account or credit card. you should check how much you are paying for this and what kind of coverage it offers. for example, coverage may be limited for your spouse or partner. it might be better to buy a separate policy.
Your travel agent may offer you travel insurance as part of a vacation package. you can opt out of this if you want, but you don’t have to buy this insurance. The travel agent is breaking the law if they try to force you to hire them or charge you more for your vacation because you refuse to do so. if this happens, you should get advice.
before buying vacation insurance
It’s important to get the right type of coverage for your needs. think about:
What coverage should travel insurance include?
Your travel insurance should always include the following coverage:
The amount you pay for your insurance depends on the amount of coverage you’re likely to need. You should never under-insure yourself just to save money. however, you may be able to keep costs down.
the european health card (ehic)
If you’re a UK resident and have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can still use it to get medical care in EU countries until it expires.
If you don’t have an EHIC or it has expired, you can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) on the NHS website. You can use a GHIC to get medical care in EU countries at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. You should still get travel insurance before your trip, even if you have an ehic or ghic.
home contents insurance
check to see if your household goods insurance policy covers items you take from home. if so, you can choose a higher excess on your travel insurance policy. The deductible is the amount that your insurer will not pay on the claim and is usually between £50 and £100. if you choose a larger deductible, your travel insurance may cost less.
choosing the right insurer
The cheapest policy may not offer the best value for money, so it’s important to check what’s included in the policy and how much it costs.
You can check what different policies offer and how much they cost using an online comparison website. however, comparison websites generally only offer general coverage. If you have particular needs, it may be best to find an insurer that offers specialized coverage.
