Five reasons to get travel insurance
Research from MoneySuperMarket reveals that more than a third of people go on holiday without any travel insurance. If you see it as a nice-to-have rather than an essential, especially for short trips, think again…
1 IT’S A MUST
Insurance is about planning for the unexpected – missed or cancelled flights, medical issues, hotel problems, thefts (including replacement passports) while travelling. If an accident happens, especially a medical one, you’ll have to cover the costs yourself, which can be eye-wateringly expensive. A broken leg in Thailand can cost you around £17,000.
2 BUY WHEN YOU BOOK
While there is protection that comes with using your credit cards, travel insurance covers you for cancelled flights, accommodation and other prebooked essentials. The chances of you falling ill or having to cancel your trip are statistically higher the older you are, but it’s important to buy insurance as soon as you book your trip whatever your age.
3 PICK COVER CAREFULLY
Read the small print to make sure you know what’s included, then there won’t be any nasty surprises when it comes to claiming. You need different insurance for different holidays. People who go on a cruise, for example, will need insurance that covers against cabin confinement, missed shore excursions and port changes. If you go away more than once a year, invest in annual cover – it usually works out cheaper.
4 FIND THE CHEAPEST WAY
It could be cheaper to get family or couples’ insurance rather than individual. If you’re travelling as a party, group insurance is based on the age of the eldest
– or deemed to be the highest risk traveller – and insurers hike up the price accordingly. Always be honest with insurance companies, or it could invalidate your policy. Don’t just buy the insurance offered by the travel agent either, you can be paying a premium. Check comparison sites moneysupermarket.com or comparethemarket.com.
5 MATURE TRAVELLERS
If you’re over 65 or have a pre-existing medical condition, use a specialist insurance provider. Ageco.co.uk (formerly Age UK) and allcleartravel.co.uk don’t have upper age limits for policy holders, while staysure.co.uk and world-first.co.uk offer cover for travellers with health problems. It’s worth looking at comparison sites, too.