While we all love to dream about our next vacation, it is essential not to overlook the importance of travel insurance. It may not be the most exciting part of booking a trip abroad, but it could save you thousands of dollars should the worst happen. After all, a summer getaway is already one of the biggest expenses of the year.
Kelly Whittington, head of travel claims at Aviva, highlights that travel insurance can provide “valuable peace of mind”. She explains that potential claims could range from accidents or illnesses requiring medical assistance abroad, theft of personal belongings, or pre-trip incidents requiring cancellation, such as injuries or bereavement.
Here are their key tips for avoiding the most common travel insurance mistakes:
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1. Don’t leave it to the last minute to ensure your coverage.
“The most important thing is that people buy travel coverage as soon as they book their vacation,” advises Whittington. This ensures that if an unforeseen event such as illness or injury forces you to cancel your holiday, your insurer should cover any costs that cannot be recovered elsewhere. She explained: “If someone plans to buy their insurance at the airport, they will not be covered if an emergency occurs two weeks before their departure date.”
2. Always read the fine print to make sure the policy meets your specific needs.
Whittington advises that tourists planning activities such as diving should check whether their policies have coverage for them. She says: “Similarly, people should check that their cover is valid for their destination country. Most insurers offer global or European travel insurance, which provides cover in certain parts of the world.”
“World policies may include the US, Canada and the Caribbean, although most will stipulate which countries they cover.” He adds: “The same goes for European insurance policies, which can vary from provider to provider. Checking your policy documents will only take a few minutes, but could save you thousands of pounds should you need to make a claim and “Your policy does not cover your destination country.”
He explained that taking a few minutes to review your policy documents “could save you thousands” in case you need to file a claim and your destination isn’t covered.
3. Failure to inform insurers of any medical conditions.
Whittington also emphasizes the importance of disclosing all medical history information to your insurer, as well as any health changes between the time you purchase the policy and the dates of your trip. She explains: “This allows the insurer to properly assess the medical risks posed by each customer, along with other risks, so that they can offer coverage at a fair price.”
Although obtaining affordable coverage may be more difficult for those with significant medical history, assistance is available. Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity, provides resources to help people with cancer navigate travel insurance options.
Recent research by Macmillan and YouGov revealed that a quarter (24%) of UK residents who have received a cancer diagnosis have serious concerns about travel insurance. The British Association of Insurance Brokers provides a directory of specialist providers on its website for people requiring travel insurance with a serious medical condition.
4. Don’t compare prices.
In addition to Whittington’s advice, it’s essential to compare quotes from a variety of providers to ensure the best deal to fit your needs.
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