Travel Insurance - Do I really Need It?
I advise all my clients to take out proper travel and cancellation insurance, but have had certain questions asked to me as not everyone knows what the benefits are of making sure you are fully covered from the point of booking your trip.
I would like to tell you more about the importance of travel and cancellation insurance. So that in the future, you can make an informed choice and go on a journey without worry.
What is travel insurance and what is it for?
Travel insurance is an insurance policy that offers a number of guarantees during unforeseen circumstances and problems during your trip or holiday. A travel insurance policy provides cover for a number of important components: - Financial compensation for, among other things, loss or theft of luggage. - Compensation for necessary longer stay or accelerated return home. - 24-hour emergency assistance from an Emergency Centre. - Medical expenses.
In which situations can travel insurance come in handy?
There are a number of reasons why it is wise to take out short-term travel insurance. The most important ones are carefree on vacation, assistance with unexpected events and the prevention of high costs.
A number of practical examples: - You must cancel your trip in connection with illness. - A family member has had a serious accident and you must return to the UK immediately. - Your flight is delayed due to heavy weather and you have to stay overnight in a hotel. - Your luggage has been lost at the airport and you have to purchase new clothes. - You need acute medical assistance abroad. - You are involved in a car accident abroad and you need legal assistance. - You cannot go home because of strikes at your holiday destination.
What is a cancellation insurance and what is it really for?
A cancellation insurance gives you financial compensation if you cannot go on holiday or if you have to cancel or cancel your holiday due to an unexpected event. For example, in case of illness of yourself, your travel companion or a family member (who may or may not be travelling with you). It must then be an event that falls under the cover. The policy conditions of a cancellation insurance state exactly what is covered. Even if you have gone on holiday and have to cancel it, this can be covered by your cancellation insurance.
What is covered by a cancellation insurance?
Below are a number of examples of events that are usually covered by a cancellation insurance (as with anything please double check the policy before taking it out as different providers have different levels of inclusions): - Death, illness or accident of the insured. - Death, illness or accident of close family members - travelling or not (unless it is due to undeclared pre existing medical condition - see more notes below). - A medically necessary intervention with the insured, partner or children. - Unemployment of the insured as a result of dismissal. - Final disruption of the insured's marriage. Not obtaining a necessary visa. - The failure of the private means of transport with which the trip abroad would be made. - Duty of care for a relative in 1st degree. - Loss or theft of insured travel documents required for the journey on the day of departure.
Extra information about insurances:
- Did you know that you can file a claim with your cancellation insurance if you have a departure delay? - When you go on a ski holiday, you need to take out additional cover on the travel insurance to cover the dangerous side of the activity. - You need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions to the insurer before you travel. They may then decide to increase your excess should you have a claim for this whilst away, or decide not to offer any cover on this aspect at all. If you have a pre-existing condition, always check with the provider what they would offer you in regards to this before you take out the policy so you can decide if you are happy or not with the level they are providing. On a lot of policies pre-existing conditions of family members not travelling also need to be declared - in case you have to cut short your trip to return home to them. - There is an age limit on policies, so do read the information regarding this as if you are over their upper age limit the policy will be void. Specialist Insurers can provide insurance on this occasion.
I advise all my clients to take out proper travel and cancellation insurance. I can help you with this, give you advice on coverage conditions and what you should pay attention to so that you choose an insurance policy that suits the journey you make! I can also offer a policy that would be suitable for anything you book with me, if you are unsure of what type of cover you need.
Stay safe – you never know what is around the corner and I have heard some pretty awful examples from people who wished they had been insured when things went wrong.