Going On Holiday? Why Travel Insurance Is So Essential…
Travel insurance is a must if you’re planning a holiday abroad. This applies to all trips, whether you’re planning an all-inclusive holiday to Spain or skiing in France.
Like most insurance policies, it’s a service you hope you will never have to use but who knows where or when you are going to need it most. However, why is it so important to travel with insurance and what do you actually need it for?
You’re covered for delays and cancellations
There are a number of reasons for travel delays and cancellations, from adverse weather conditions to security threats – more common by the day. More often than not, these matters are completely out of our hands.
We’ve all been there before, sitting in the airport lobby, wondering if our flight will ever get off the ground. With your holiday in jeopardy, and so much money spent on flights and accommodation, what can you do? A travel insurance policy can really be your guardian angel in these situations.
The right policy can cover you for delays, cancellations, and missed flights. Likewise, many policies will cover you for hotel expenses – no more sleeping inthe uncomfortable airport lobby.
Hijacks
The hijacking of planes and boats, although rare, does happen. Most travel insurers will pay out if you are prevented from reaching your end destination. Many travel insurance companies also cover kidnappings.
Save £££’s if your passport is lost or stolen
If you lose your passport, or if it is stolen whilst abroad, most travel insurancepolicies will cover the reasonable costs of a replacement. The cost of a replacement emergency passport is £95, and with most single policies starting from as little as £12, you can see the amount of money you will save with an insurancepolicy.
Top tip– if your passport has been stolen, you must notify the local police as soon as possible. In this case, most insurers require a crime reference number.
Details of how to obtain a replacement or emergency passport can be found here on the gov.co.uk website.
Caught in a catastrophe?
Castyour mind back to 2010, when a certain Icelandic volcano (Grimsvotn) caused holidaymakers and airlines havoc. The natural disaster really put travel insurance under the spotlight and questions were asked as to how insurers would pay out.
According to The Telegraph, as a result of the volcanic ash cloud:
- 100,000 flights were cancelled in total
- Over 10m people were stranded or unable to board flights
Since then, ‘catastrophe’ has been recognised as a very real concern and as a result, most travel insurance companies will cover you when a disaster strikes. Insurers will usually pay for your onward journey, travel or return to the UK.
As always, remember to check what your insurer covers within your policy before travelling. Here are just a few of the catastrophes and occurrences that you could be covered for:
- Fire
- Explosions
- Earthquakes
- Storms
- Hurricanes
- Medical Epidemics
Personal Accident claims – the big one
It’s fair to say personal accident claims are the big one when it comes to travel insurance. It’s arguably the first thing what pops into most people’s minds when thinking travel insurance, whether it’s a lads holiday to Malia, or a honeymoon tour of the Caribbean.
A solid travel insurance policy will cover your medical expenses, hospital bills, repatriation and medicine. Many policies cover a loss of limb and or sight, if you are injured abroad.
A survey by gov.uk found that 3,793 Britons were hospitalised whilst holidaying abroad in 2011/12, with the average medical claim totaling £914. Despite this, 24% ofpeople admitted to travelling uninsured during 2012. Check out the full statistics here.
Death
Unfortunately, tragic deaths can occur during a holiday for any number of reasons. We’ve all heard the horror stories. We hope you never have to use this clause of your policy. If tragedy does strike, most travel insurers will pay out a sum to recompense loved ones and other fees involved.
These are just some of the many elements of travel that insurance companies cover. Others include any legal costs, loss of luggage and mobility aids. As with all insurance policies, remember to check exactly what you are covered for, including the additional costs and the excess.
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