Fully protected for your trip? Here’s our checklist.
Whatever type of trip you’re taking, be it a South American trekking adventure or a lazy beach holiday in Spain, it’s important to get covered. Unfortunately, things can sometimes go wrong when you’re away from home. Without sufficient travel insurance in place, you could find yourself landed with large, unexpected financial outlays. In particular, medical attention abroad can be extremely costly. For example, if you were badly injured and needed to be flown back home, repatriation costs could leave you with enormous bills.
Wherever you’re jetting off to, here are a few things to think about:
Type of policy
Travel insurance can be bought as either a single trip or a multi-trip (annual) policy. If you’re going on a one-off holiday, then single trip is likely to be the best option. However, if you plan to take lots of trips throughout the year, an annual policy may work out the more cost effective deal.
Specialist cover
There are various policies available to fit specific travel circumstances. For example, you may be able to get a family insurance package that covers your partner and children under the one policy. If you’re planning a ski-trip, you’ll probably need to invest in some specialist winter sports cover. Equally, if you’re going on a long-stay trip, like a gap year adventure, look out for specific backpacker’s insurance.
Read the small print
It’s a wise idea to read through all your travel insurance documents in detail. This is so you understand all the terms and conditions that apply, the level of cover you have purchased and any excess amounts that you’d have to pay in the event of a claim. Remember, the cheapest policy might not always be the best option – some cheaper insurance may have a larger excess attached.
Activities included
Your policy documents should tell you what activities are covered under your policy. If you’re planning an action packed, high adrenaline trip – be aware that some sports and activities might not be automatically insured. If you had an accident while engaging in a sport that isn’t listed on your policy, you’d not be eligible for a pay-out. Certain extreme activities may require additional insurance.
Check your home insurance
Some valuable items may already have some cover in place under your contents insurance policy. This insurance can usually be extended to cover the item when it’s taken outside of the home, such as an expensive camera taken on a trip away. Speak to your provider to check the details. Your contents cover may only be valid within your home country.