Four vacation insurance mistakes to avoid if you travel abroad this year

Here is a list of travel insurance mistakes you should avoid if you go on vacation.

Experts say it’s important to make sure you have the right coverage in case the worst happens when you’re abroad. Kelly Whittington, head of travel claims at Aviva, says insurance can give people “valuable peace of mind”.

It explains that the range of possible travel insurance claims “could involve an accident or illness abroad requiring medical assistance, the theft of personal belongings abroad or a pre-holiday incident that forces a holidaymaker to cancel their trip. such as an injury or a bereavement.

So what should tourists do to ensure they have the right coverage? Kelly has provided the following advice on risks to avoid in travel insurance.

Leaving it until the last minute to get coverage.

“The most important thing is that people buy travel coverage as soon as they book their vacation,” says Kelly. “This means that if they need to cancel their holiday due to an unforeseen event, such as an illness or injury, their insurer must cover any costs that cannot be recovered elsewhere. If someone plans to buy their insurance at the airport, they will not be covered if it happens. an emergency two weeks before the departure date.”

Failing to check the fine print to make sure a policy fits your own needs

Kelly says that, for example, tourists who plan to scuba dive or play other sports should check that their policy covers them. He adds: “Likewise, people should check that their cover is valid for the country of destination. Most insurers offer global or European travel insurance, which offers cover in certain parts of the world.

“Global policies can include the US, Canada and the Caribbean, although most will stipulate the countries they cover. The same goes for European insurance policies, which can vary from provider to provider. Check your policy documents It will only take a few minutes, but you could save thousands of pounds in case you need to make a claim and your policy doesn’t cover your destination country.”

Not disclosing medical conditions

Tourists should also tell their insurer about their medical history and any health changes that occur between purchasing coverage and traveling, Kelly says. 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.”

Finding affordable coverage may be more difficult for people with a history of major medical conditions, but support is available. Charity Macmillan Cancer Support has information to help people with cancer when considering travel insurance. Recent research by Macmillan and YouGov indicated that one in four (24%) people in the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer have serious concerns about travel insurance.

The British Association of Insurance Brokers has a directory of specialist providers on its website for people who need travel insurance and have a serious medical condition.