To Buy Or Not To Buy - That's The Travel Insurance Dilemma
If book your holidays through a travel agent, either online or via the high street, chances are that you'll be asked if you want to include travel insurance at some point during the transaction.
Faced with this question, consumers can often make one of two big mistakes. Either they say yes without shopping around and pay far more than they need to, or they say no but don't bother arranging travel insurance at all.
Why Travel Insurance is Worth the Expense
After you've paid out hundreds or even thousands for a holiday that might be your only break for the year, why would you balk at an extra 5% to ensure it doesn't become a holiday from hell?
The right travel insurance policy can provide much needed comfort and financial relief if your luggage is lost, your flight is canceled or if you fall ill while on holiday. Among the many benefits you can expect from a good policy are:
- Trip Cancellation benefit
If your trip is canceled through circumstances outside your control and after the time period that the travel or tour agent will reimburse you, trip cancellation cover will pay you a percentage of the amount you've paid to reserve your place.
- Lost Luggage Cover
Lost luggage cover will reimburse you for items that were in your luggage if lost or stolen. Be aware, though, that there are limits to the amount an insurer will pay out per bag and per item. If you're carrying an expensive digital camera, for instance, or jewelry, chances are you'll want to take out insurance specifically to cover it.
- Health and Accident Cover
While limited health care costs are covered under EHIC, it's not likely that the full costs of medical care will be covered that way. A travel insurance policy will cover medical costs and more. A medical emergency overseas can mean extra costs for accommodation, prescriptions and even repatriation. Most policies will even cover the cost of flying a family member or other companion to accompany you back home if necessary.
- Repatriation Benefit
There are other reasons you may need to return home than illness or accident. Some travel policies will reimburse you a percentage of the costs of your holiday and pay for travelling to return home under unforeseen circumstances, including a home fire, a relative's illness and even a pet's illness. Be sure to read the fine print to see exactly what is covered, and to what extent. It's worthwhile to be generous when deciding how much repatriation coverage to pay for. If you did need medical care and special treatment for a return home, for instance, the costs can run into tens of thousands.
- Cash Replacement
While your credit card companies will step in to quickly cancel any lost credit cards and provide you with replacements, you could be on your own if your cash is stolen or lost. A good travel insurance policy will cover cash losses up to a set amount - and get it to you quickly.
- 24-hour Emergency Help Line
Look for a policy with a company that has a 24 hour emergency help line - the assistance you get there can be invaluable in a difficult situation. Emergency operators can help get you set up in accommodation if needed, expedite claims and get services to you as quickly as possible. When you're stranded in an unfamiliar country with no luggage, no cash and not even a toothbrush, something as simple as an emergency voucher to cover the cost of toiletries and bedclothes can make a world of difference.
Many travellers pay too much for holiday cover because they fail to shop around. In fact, it's easy to compare travel insurance companies in minutes by using price comparison sites like travel insurance supermarket and Confused.com.
Related Articles:
Europ Assistance Wins Travel Insurance Contract with Cheaptravelinsurance.com
Cheaptravelinsurance.com has appointed Europ Assistance to provide its travel insurance solution which includes underwriting, claims handling and medical assistance to its customers. This has resulted in a number of increased offerings which will see the age restriction increase from 64 years to 80 and backpackers can benefit from 18 months travel cover rather than the original 12 month limit.
Travel Insurance For Saga Louts?
Our older generations have been getting some negative press due to their alleged bad behaviour while on holiday abroad - earning them the unfortunate nickname 'Saga Louts' The same seniors don't behave badly and earn themselves an ASBO at home
Compare All Major Travel Insurance Companies - Buy in Less Than 30 Seconds
Squaremouth is delighted to announce our new comparative travel insurance quotation engine. At squaremouth.com quotations from ALL the major suppliers are produced by answering just a few questions. Full comparison screens are just a click away and policies can be purchased in under 30 seconds.
Finding Travel Insurance
Planning your annual holiday trip is important to most of us as it is the time when we take time to look after ourselves after working hard all year long. Some of us travel more frequently and whether you are planning a single trip or have more than one holiday per year you will probably want to make sure you have adequate travel insurance cover in the unfortunate event that you need to make a claim against your travel insurance.
Where Is the Best Place to Buy Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance, sometimes called travel health insurance or travel medical insurance is available from a number of sources besides from your travel agent. In fact, it's to your advantage to buy travel insurance online because you have more companies and products to choose from and you can save a lot of money.You can purchase travel medical insurance from your travel agent when you buy your tickets. While that may be convenient, it may not get you the most value for your money. The travel agency will offer you one or two travel health insurance policies sold by one company. The products offered may or may not be appropriate to your circumstances.Also, some basic travel insurance is often available through credit cards. However, that insu...
What is Travel Insurance?
Travel Insurance is designed to protect your health, belongings, and your financial investment in your trip. It provides peace of mind for you and your family while on your vacation.
Travel Insurance Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage - How It Works
What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?When a trip cancellation travel insurance company refers to
a "Pre-Existing
Condition", they are talking about medical conditions that
exist in the
Lookback Period that immediately preceeds the travel
insurance purchase
date.Simply put, a Pre-Existing Condition is any medically
documented condition (no matter how minor) an
Insured Person, Traveling Companion or Family Member
has been treated for, consulted with or received advice on.
What You Don't Know About Travel Insurance - Squaremouth Answers Some Nagging Questions
What you don't know about travel insurance! Squaremouth answers some nagging questions.
Are You Too Old For Cheap Travel Insurance?
Remember the days when grandparents might toddle off to the coast for a holiday? When the most adventurous trip they might take was a sight-seeing bus through the Highlands? Those days are long gone for many senior citizens and those over 65 are just as likely to be on the ski slopes as those half their age. Many seniors have just got to the point in their lives when they can kick back and relax - and their relaxing often involves deep sea diving and hikes through the wilds of a jungle.
Holiday Travel Insurance - Why You Need It!
We have all faced the question, would you like to purchase holiday travel insurance? Many of us, myself included, are thinking well why would I want to spend more money on that? I know that I am travelling on this particular date, my vacation time is booked and there is nothing that is going to stop me.