Anywhere you go, whether you are travelling or not, you are going to need insurance for the simple fact that shit happens. Who knows what could happen when you're travelling, you could get attacked by a wild animal, or develop a strange disease or even trip and break a leg - all of which may require a trip to the local hospital, which can get costly.
It goes without saying that you'll need insurance while travelling, and it's definitely not something you should be sorting at the last minute. If you currently have health insurance, check in to whether it offer's travel insurance as well, because some do. However if your current health insurance does not cover you when you travel abroad, you should be considering buying additional coverage.
Policies vary significantly and you need to spend a while reading all the small print as there are hundreds of travel insurance companies - just Google the words and you'll find thousands of results be beware, not all are equal in price nor policy. An important thing to do while shopping for travel insurance is not to settle on the lowest price, you need to shop around and make sure you read the fine print – they will try to trick you by using loopholes and black-spots (things that you are not aware of because they haven’t told you, it’s in the fine print).
It goes without saying that you'll need insurance while travelling, and it's definitely not something you should be sorting at the last minute. If you currently have health insurance, check in to whether it offer's travel insurance as well, because some do. However if your current health insurance does not cover you when you travel abroad, you should be considering buying additional coverage.
Policies vary significantly and you need to spend a while reading all the small print as there are hundreds of travel insurance companies - just Google the words and you'll find thousands of results be beware, not all are equal in price nor policy. An important thing to do while shopping for travel insurance is not to settle on the lowest price, you need to shop around and make sure you read the fine print – they will try to trick you by using loopholes and black-spots (things that you are not aware of because they haven’t told you, it’s in the fine print).
Quick & Dirty Explanations:
1) Medical & Health Care Coverage: This is probably the most important thing that your insurance should cover. While staying within the European Union you could find yourself liable to foot the bill for some medical expenses if you do not possess medical insurance - we recommend looking at a policy with £1 million of healthcare cover within Europe or £2 million when traveling outside Europe. Some policies include 24 hour emergency service which means that in the case of a medical emergency an assistance company will make all arrangements for you. Although some insurance companies exclude injuries while taking part in sports and activities (like bungee jumping and jet-skiing), there are a very few that do. Here’s one for example, World Nomads, they are a newer company that set up with backpackers in mind. You can extend the policy indefinitely and make claims on-line while travelling. They also offer a money back guarantee, cover activities such as surfing, diving, trekking and bicycling, and you can buy from any country in the world.
2) Possession Coverage: This is also really important when shopping for insurance; how much protection will they give you in the event of your possessions being lost, stolen or even damaged? Most insurance companies offer this coverage, however have a maximum limit on the total claim as well as a maximum limit per item - this means that if you plan on bringing something expensive/valuable make sure that you will be able to claim in on your insurance policy in the event of theft. They will also include certain boundaries/limitations around insurance on money and documents, so you should read up on what is covered and what is not. Remember that if a situation of theft occurs it needs to be reported within 24 hours to the police - the insurance company WILL ask you to provide proof of this before they pay you, so you may need to get an official note from the officer documenting the time and date.
3) Personal Liability Coverage: Your policy should include a section concerning personal liability cover, this will cover any costs incurred by you if you are being sued because you injured someone or damaged their property - even if it may have been accidental or if you were wrongfully accused.
4) Cancellation Coverage: Look for a policy that provides you with coverage in the event that you need to cancel some or all of your trip. Try and arrange for this portion of the coverage to start on the date that you book your trip.
5) Personal Accident Coverage: Hopefully this won't happen to you, but in the unlikely event of death or permanent disability while travelling abroad, your insurance company will pay out a certain amount of money. Some policies will give you support with legal expenses to pursue compensation for damages and loss of earnings after a personal injury.
General Tips:
- Mention anything which may affect the policy (for example health conditions) - if you do not declare everything relevant you may no longer covered by the insurance
- If you are booking through an agent choose one which is registered with ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) or ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents)
- If you are traveling in Europe make sure you apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - access to medical treatment at reduced cost/free
- Always purchase coverage from a well known and recognized insurer but also make sure to compare travel insurance quotes
- Before choosing an insurer, do some research into whether the travel insurance company pay their claims quickly and accurately
- Ensure you keep a copy of your insurance policy and any contact numbers when you go abroad
- You may have some travel coverage from other sources such as credit-cards or private healthcare insurance however be sure to read all the policies thoroughly
- Be aware that your insurance is unlikely to cover you in the case of alcohol or drug related injury or damage
- Mention anything which may affect the policy (for example health conditions) - if you do not declare everything relevant you may no longer covered by the insurance
- If you are booking through an agent choose one which is registered with ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) or ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents)
- If you are traveling in Europe make sure you apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - access to medical treatment at reduced cost/free
- Always purchase coverage from a well known and recognized insurer but also make sure to compare travel insurance quotes
- Before choosing an insurer, do some research into whether the travel insurance company pay their claims quickly and accurately
- Ensure you keep a copy of your insurance policy and any contact numbers when you go abroad
- You may have some travel coverage from other sources such as credit-cards or private healthcare insurance however be sure to read all the policies thoroughly
- Be aware that your insurance is unlikely to cover you in the case of alcohol or drug related injury or damage