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unbiased guide to travel insurance

Chances are, that it will never happen. But each year, holidays are cut short or ruined by illness or robbery, or even the sudden need to return home because someone else is ill. In a situation like that you'll bless the day you took travel insurance out with your holiday.

This guide has been written with the aim to answer the key questions in an unbiased way that will help you when deciding what to be aware of when purchasing a travel insurance policy and some of the places where you can purchase Travel Insurance from.

do i have to have travel insurance?

There is no legal requirement for you to have insurance when you travel abroad, but travel companies are within their rights to make it a condition of booking that you have insurance, even if it is their insurance. Some travel companies will let you arrange your own cover, but may insist that cover limits are as high as under its own policy, then set their own limits so high that you can't match them.

so what should i do?

In practice, it often pays to sort out your insurance in advance, so that you can give the travel agent the name of your insurer when you come to book. Often the agent will ask you to sign a form declaring that you were offered, but decided to turn down the company's travel insurance package.

should i buy from my travel organiser?

It's certainly the easiest way, but these policies are not always the cheapest and may not be the right choice for you. You can sometimes get a better deal via an insurance broker or an insurer that sells its products direct to consumers, so cutting out the middleman.

even if it's free?

This is a new wheeze by some travel companies since rules introduced in November 1998 stopped them from making holiday discounts conditional on buying insurance. It is unlikely that the insurance really is "free", as the cost is generally built into the price of the holiday. Remember that commission on selling insurance can be a huge earner for some larger travel agents.

where can i purchase cover from?

You can buy from an insurance broker, or from direct insurers such as Churchill, AA, Columbus, Direct Line and World Cover. Store groups including Boots and Tesco now sell policies as well. some of these firms tend to be far cheaper than some travel companies.

should i get annual cover?

Yes if you travel abroad more than a couple of times a year. These policies represent much better value than buying cover as you go along. Typically you might have to pay around £100 for the entire family, which is good value. But, as usual, shop around to find the cheapest deal.

when buying what should i be on the look out for?

Find out what the excess is (the first part of the claim which you pay yourself) and whether it applies as one amount per claim or for each part of a claim. Check the limit on individual items. You may need higher limits if you are taking expensive jewellery for example.

should i get extra cover?

If you're the sporting or outdoor type make sure you are covered for any unusual sporting or outdoor activities you are planning, such as white water rafting or bungee jumping. If you are going skiing, or taking part in other winter sports, you will usually be asked to pay extra, as these activities generate ore claims than a beach holiday in Spain or a city break in Amsterdam.

what about my health?

Generally you will be covered for medical problems occurring abroad as long as you are not traveling specifically to get treatment, or are traveling against medical advice. However some policies ask you if you have had any medical problems and then ask you to contact them before cover can be finalised. Older people are losers here, as they are often asked to pay more for travel insurance the companies arguing that they are more likely to make a claim.

 
   
   

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