Why should I buy travel insurance?

By now many of us will have booked our summer holiday, but worryingly not everyone will have purchased their travel insurance. Research conducted by ABTA last summer* indicated that just over one in five (21%) holidaymakers said they had travelled without insurance in the last year, putting themselves at risk of being liable for cancellation costs and medical bills.

To avoid problems, companies like ABTA as well as the UK government and many tour operators strongly advise holidaymakers to buy suitable insurance before travelling. Your holidays are a great time to relax, so don’t make your holiday memorable for all the wrong reasons by neglecting your insurance needs.

Before you travel

It’s best to buy your travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, to ensure you’re fully covered against any cancellation costs or pre-trip illnesses. By taking out a policy early you could potentially save yourself thousands if you have to cancel your trip, and it’s one less thing to worry about before you travel.

If you’re travelling to the EU make sure you apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or check your current one’s not out-of-date. This free card entitles you to state-provided healthcare in any European country you visit. But remember, this isn’t an alternative to travel insurance. It doesn’t cover any private medical healthcare or costs, being flown back to the UK, or lost or stolen property.

Check the level of cover

It’s easy to assume that you’re automatically covered for all possible mishaps, but this isn’t always the case. Policies can vary widely with particular requirements for insurance to cover cruises, certain sports and a range of leisure activities.

Make sure you’re open and up-front when discussing your needs with your insurance company. While most policies will cover unexpected events like redundancy or illness, they’re unlikely to cover something you knew was likely to happen ahead of your holiday.

You must provide all the relevant information regarding any past or current health issues or disabilities, known as pre-existing medical conditions. Withholding details of your medical history may mean you are not fully covered if you should have to make a claim as a result of any conditions you already knew about but didn’t declare.

Read the small print

No-one enjoys wading through long lists of terms and conditions, and it’s very tempting to simply tick the box to agree you’ve read and understand them. But are you confident you know what you’ve agreed to?

For instance, check how much excess you may need to pay, so you don’t get caught out. Some policies that may seem cheap on the surface could have higher excesses, so may not save you money in the long run if you need to claim.

Although price is an important factor, your choice of travel insurance company should never be on price alone. Remember, the cheapest policy may not provide the protection you need.

Make sure you’re happy with the policy and if something’s unclear, speak to your travel insurer. It’s best to have the discussion early so you know exactly what you’re covered for and don’t have to worry on holiday.

And don’t forget, when you travel, make sure you carry details of your insurance including emergency telephone numbers to contact your insurer. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Where can I get Travel Insurance?

Here at Fish, we’re proud to be working with travel experts Ancile Insurance to help you find the right cover for your trip. Travel Insurance from Ancile ensures you’re covered for everything you need, including cover for many disabilities and pre-existing medical conditions, while you get on with planning your adventure.  You can find out more about Ancile’s Travel Insurance cover on our dedicated travel pages. Get a quote online today or call 0333 331 3770.

*Research conducted by ABTA can be found here.