I have a European Health Insurance Card so why should i take out additional travel
Insurance?
The European Health Insurance Card will cover you for free
or reduced hospital cover accross Europe but it does not cover the cost of private medical establishments, flying you back
to the UK, costs of private ambulances or putting up a relative in accomodation while you are in hospital which are all things
a good travel insurance would cover you for. Plus of course it does not cover you cancellation or loss of luggage and valuables. Also
in some European countries are you really sure you want to be treated in their equivalent of our NHS? On saying that the European
Health Insurance Card should always be taken on holiday as it will cover you for any pre existing medical conditions
that have been excluded from your travel insurance.
Examples of the costs
you would face if you were to fall ill abroad and need to be brought home urgently
£12,000+
Air Ambulance from the Canaries
£2500+ seat in economy with a doctor present
from the Mediterranean
Do i have to declare my existing medical conditions?
The answer to this is yes as failure to declare will result in your claim probably being rejected as the insurance
company is likely to ask your GP for your medical records if you claim.
What cover should i be looking for?
As a rough guide you should be looking for
£3000+ of cover if
you have to cancel your holiday through illness,burglary,death of loved one,jury service,pregnancy etc
Personal Liability cover normally of about £1,000,000+ in case you are sued for causing
injury or damaging property
Medical cover including dental of £2,000,000
in Europe and £5,000,000 outside Europe
About £500 for lost or stolen
money
Legal expenses for about £25,000 in case you need to make a claim
against a 3rd party
About £1500 for the loss of valuables and baggage.
(obviously more if your items are more expensive like diamond rings,expensive SLR cameras,golf equipment etc
Cover if your flight is delayed
24 hour emergency
service and help
Should
i choose Single Trip travel insurance or multi trip travel insurance?
If
you don't travel often then you are better off with single trip as you won'y be paying for cover you won't be
using for most of the year. If you are a frequent traveller then choose multi trip travel insurance as you will be covered
for every trip you make during the year.If you travel more than 3 times a year this should work out cheaper than single trip
travel insurance.
How
can i save money on Travel Insurance?
1/ The first thing to do is to
shop around
2/ Try to refrain
from buying from your travel agent unless you have shopped around first and are sure they are offering you a good deal as
sometimes they can be as much as 75% more expensive.
3/ If you use annual travel insurance at the end of the year when it expires if you don't have another holiday
booked wait until you are about to book another holiday before renewing it.
4/ For those using annual travel insurance consider a premium bank account as one of the perks
with these accounts is often free travel insurance.
5/ If you are over 65 and looking for travel insurance details on travel insurance companies that supply over 65 travel insurance we have details on providers.
