When planning your yearly holiday, you have a lot of things to do in order to be prepared. There are decisions that need to be made, and one of the most important ones is whether or not to purchase travel insurance. Although many people consider it unnecessary, travel insurance provides peace of mind for travellers because it will pay for a number of expenses should something go wrong while you’re away from home. Best of all, travel insurance is inexpensive, so there is no need to be hesitant about purchasing this very important type of insurance.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Travel insurance covers many different circumstances that are usually beyond one’s control. There are things we do not expect to happen while we are on holiday, but that sometimes happen anyway. Travel insurance covers things such as:
- Insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, which includes asthma, all types of cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, various heart conditions, high blood pressure, HIV, lupus, and stroke victims
- Insurance for those over the age of 65, which is especially important for those on medications for such illnesses as high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and others
- Insurance for those going on cruises, which covers things like the pre-existing medical conditions mentioned above, as well as occurrences such as missing your port call, any change in your itinerary, confinement to your cabin, reimbursement for unused excursions, an interruption in the cruise itself, or airlifting to a nearby hospital should you need expert medical care
- Life insurance that is available both for healthy travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions
In addition, travel insurance can be purchased for one trip only, or for multiple holidays taken within a certain time frame, e.g., a one-year period. Insurance for travel purposes is also very inexpensive, so you do not have to spend large amounts of money simply to have peace of mind while on holiday.
Prices for Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is much less expensive than many people realise. For instance, a one-trip policy that covers pre-existing medical conditions and potential events such as hospitalisation usually starts at around £5.00. This is an extremely low amount considering the peace of mind you get in return, as well as the amount of coverage that you will receive. Travel insurance policies usually have high coverage amounts; for instance, they usually cover medical conditions up to £10m, with an excess of only £250, and can pay you £750 or more should you unexpectedly have to cancel your trip. These high coverage amounts, low excess amounts and low premiums make purchasing travel insurance a win-win situation. After all, we do not plan to get sick on holiday, or to have to go to the hospital for medical treatment, but it does happen. This is why travel insurance is so important.
Where to Find Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is easy to find, as there are numerous competent companies that provide a wide range of policies for various prices. In fact, companies such as Medical Travel Compared have provided a comprehensive list of travel insurance guides with information on topics such as travel insurance for seniors, travel insurance destinations, pre-existing medical conditions, travel insurance policy types, buying travel insurance online, and medical screening online. Travel insurance companies want to make it easy for the customer, but they also want to give you as many details as possible so that you can make an informed decision and purchase the policy that is right for you.
When researching travel insurance, it is recommended that you start online. Most companies have extensive websites that will provide a wealth of information on not only their policies and premium amounts, but any other information you need in order to choose the right policy for your needs. Their websites also include a way to enter some basic information and receive quotes, often from more than one company, so that you can better choose a policy. In addition, these companies may also have a presence on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, as well as a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) so that even more of your questions can be answered. Going online is definitely a great first step when researching travel insurance companies.
Terms and Conditions May Apply
As with most insurance policies, travel insurance has certain stipulations that the insured needs to keep in mind before purchasing a policy. These include:
- All pre-existing conditions must be disclosed on the application for the policy to be effective
- Most insurance policies will only cover people who are citizens of the country in which the insurance company resides
- Travel insurance coverage cannot cover a one-way trip; in other words, insured people must depart to and return from the country in which they reside
- Policies usually exclude coverage for people who are awaiting treatment for a certain medical condition, as well as those who are under investigation and have not yet received a diagnosis
- Even people who have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should purchase travel insurance
- If you purchase the policy and your medical condition changes in any way, you must inform the insurance company before you leave for your holiday
- At the time of your holiday, you must be in good condition and healthy enough to travel
- Any cancellations, amendments or claims to the policy must be handled through the insurance company itself
A travel insurance policy is similar to most other types of policies. You must go into the policy knowing that you are healthy, and you must be honest when filling out your paperwork. Should you have any questions about your policy, it is best to ask questions of the company before signing any papers. Since travel insurance companies allow you to compare rates and premiums from various companies, it should be easy to find a policy that suits your needs. However, it is always recommended that you ask as many questions as you need in order to make sure you completely understand everything about the policy before purchasing one. This is the only way to reduce the chance that there will be any misunderstandings later on.
