Travel Insurance

Think before you go.. Get Travel Insurance

Each year holidays are ruined by illness or robbery or even the sudden need to return home because someone else is ill. There's no legal requirement for you to have insurance when you travel abroad but if you find yourself in a situation like that you'll bless the day you took a policy out.

Illness abroad

Generally you will be covered for medical problems occurring abroad unless you are travelling specifically to get treatment or travelling against medical advice. However some companies 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 - the insurers argue that they are more likely to make a claim.

Dangerous Sports

Make sure you are covered for any unusual sporting 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 more claims than a beach holiday in Spain or a city break in Germany.

Buying a policy.

Buying cover from your travel agent is the easiest way to get travel insurance but probably not the best. Some travel companies offer 'free' cover but it's 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 is a huge earner for travel agents. You can usually get a better deal via an insurance broker or an insurer that sells its products direct to consumers. Try Boots, Churchill, Club Direct, Columbus, Direct Line and World Cover. They often charge half as much as the travel companies.

Travel agents cannot advertise big discounts on holiday prices and then say they are only available to people who take out their 'own label' travel cover. But they are within their rights to make it a condition of booking that you have some form of insurance in place, so it makes sense to have your policy details with you when you book - some agents will demand to see a policy document. Unscrupulous agents may try to say the insurance you do have is not good enough in a bid to persuade you to pay for their own cover. This is technically legal, but goes against the spirit of the rules guiding insurance sales. So resist their pressure and stick to your existing policy - or go to a different agent.

TravellersHealth Tips

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.

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Don't buy travel insurance offering personal possessions cover without first checking what's covered under your contents policy, it may automatically include cover for personal possessions away from home. Ask for a discount on premiums if you don't require possessions cover.