Sign up for Simon Calder's free travel emails for expert advice and great deals
Get Simon Calder travel emails
No one likes to think about something going wrong while on vacation, but sometimes it does happen.
Holidays are often one of the biggest “one-off” expenses of the year, so when booking it's important to make sure you're adequately covered in case the worst happens.
Kelly Whittington, director of travel claims at Aviva, says travel insurance can give people “valuable peace of mind”.
She explains that the range of potential travel insurance claims could include “accidents or illness requiring medical assistance overseas, theft of personal belongings overseas, injury or bereavement prior to the holiday, or any other event that forces a traveller to cancel their trip.”
Here are some tips from Whittington on travel insurance pitfalls to avoid when considering travel insurance.
1. Wait until the last moment to remove the cover.
“The important thing is that you should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday,” Whittington says.
“This means that if you have to cancel your holiday due to an unforeseen event such as illness or injury, your insurer should cover any costs you cannot recover elsewhere.
“If you try to buy insurance at the airport, you won't be covered if an emergency occurs two weeks before your departure date.”
2. Not checking the fine print and making sure the policy meets your needs.
Whittington said holidaymakers planning to do scuba diving or other sports, for example, should check their insurance will cover them.
Travellers are being urged to avoid insurance excess waivers offered by car rental companies, which can cost up to 12 times more than the alternative (Alamy/PA)
She added: “Similarly, people should check that their insurance is valid in the country they are travelling to. Most insurers offer European travel insurance with global or region-specific coverage.”
“Worldwide policies include the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, but most policies specify which countries are covered.
“The same goes for European insurance policies, which can vary between insurers. Checking your insurance policy only takes a few minutes but could save you thousands of pounds if you need to make a claim and your destination country isn't covered.”
3. Not disclosing your health condition.
Travelers should also tell insurers about their medical history and any changes in their health that occurred between buying the policy and traveling, Whittington says.
She explains: “This allows insurers to properly assess the medical and other risks each customer faces and offer insurance at a fair price.”
For those with significant medical histories, finding affordable insurance can be a challenge, but help is available.
The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has information to help cancer patients consider travel insurance.
A recent survey by Macmillan and YouGov found that one in four (24%) people who have been diagnosed with cancer in the UK have serious concerns about their 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 serious medical conditions.
4. Don't shop around.
In addition to Whittington's tips, be sure to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best plan for your needs.
