If you follow our advice, you should have no trouble finding travel insurance of acceptable cost.
Travelling without insurance is not recommended.
After spending money on airfare and lodging, a lot of people decide against purchasing travel insurance. However, they really shouldn’t.
cheap travel insurance
It’s bad enough that you had to cancel a vacation that cost you thousands of pounds. If you get sick while travelling and need to be brought home, the cost of doing so could easily reach six figures or higher.
However, these expenses could all be covered by purchasing a travel insurance policy, which will cost less than one hundred pounds for most people.
In this article, we will share our best advice on how to find affordable and comprehensive travel insurance.
What kinds of travel insurance should I purchase?
Travel insurance protects you in the event that you have to cut your vacation short or return home earlier than planned, assists you in obtaining necessary medical treatment while you are away from home, and pays the cost of replacing your luggage in the event that it is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Even though it might be tempting to look for the least expensive insurance policy possible, doing so might turn out to be a waste of money. Instead, you should search for the bare minimum levels of coverage:
Medical expenses: £5 million
Cancellation cover of up to £2,000 or the total value of your vacation, whichever is greater
Belongings you take with you: the greater of 1,500 pounds or the value of the things you take with you.
Personal liability cover: £1 million
When it comes to travel insurance, our ratings for policies are based on how comprehensive their coverage is.
Both the best and the worst are available here.
You should never take the risk of purchasing travel insurance without first reading the extensive policy document. Instead, you should make sure that the policy includes all of the coverage that you require before making a purchase decision.
Should I purchase a single policy or an annual one?
Also, think about whether you need a one-time trip policy or a policy that covers multiple trips per year.
If you are only going to be travelling once or twice in the next year, it is more cost effective to purchase a policy that covers a single trip. However, if you are going to be travelling more than three times, purchasing an annual policy is your best option.
When is the best time to purchase travel insurance?
One of the most advantageous aspects of purchasing travel insurance is the fact that if you are forced to cancel your trip prior to departure for a valid reason, you may be eligible to receive a refund of some or all of the money you paid for it.
Keeping this in mind, it is imperative that you purchase your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, unless you already have an annual policy. If you do not already have an annual policy, you can purchase one.
If you wait until the last minute to purchase insurance, you won’t get the most out of your cancellation protection, and you run the risk of having to pay out of pocket if you decide not to go.
purchase travel insurance
Should I buy travel insurance from the airline, or should I buy it from the tour operator?
At the time you purchase your vacation, regardless of whether it is through a conventional travel agency or a low-cost airline, you will most likely be given the option to purchase travel insurance.
Coverage that is purchased as an add-on to your vacation is less likely to be customised to meet your requirements and may cost you more. Always look around the market as a whole to see if you can find better coverage at a lower price.
Have I already obtained health insurance?
Before you make the decision to purchase travel insurance, you should first check to see if you already have it. If you already have a packaged bank account, you should check to see if cover is included in the account because some packaged bank accounts include travel insurance as a bonus perk.
If you already have travel insurance through your bank account, review the policy’s terms thoroughly to ensure that it satisfies your requirements. Does it cover you if you travel to other parts of the world? If you have medical conditions, will it cover them? In the event that it does not, you should contact your bank to determine whether or not you can extend the duration of your policy, or you should look for a standalone policy that better suits your requirements.
If I have a medical condition, will it affect my ability to get insurance?
In the unfortunate event that you become ill while travelling, you need to make sure that you have adequate coverage in the event that your flight is cancelled or that you exceed the allowed weight limits for your luggage.
Coverage for medical expenses is especially crucial for people who already have a variety of health problems. Your medical history will be inquired about by your insurer in order for them to correctly calculate your premiums and provide you with coverage.
In the event that you become ill while travelling, you run the risk of being responsible for extremely high medical costs if you have any preexisting conditions that your insurer is unaware of.
Ask a broker for help
If you are still having trouble finding coverage, you should get in touch with the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) to receive some guidance.
BIBA will put you in touch with an insurance broker in your area who will assist you in locating the type of coverage that meets your requirements.
Don’t forget your Ghic.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has been replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which is a medical card that can be used anywhere within the EU and grants the holder the right to receive treatment in state hospitals at the same cost as local residents of the country they are visiting. Therefore, if they are granted free treatment, you will also be granted free treatment.
If you are going to be travelling in Europe, you should bring it with you at all times because some insurance companies will reduce or even waive the deductible if you have a GIC.
However, you should never make the assumption that a GIC can replace travel insurance.
In addition to paying for medical costs, travel insurance will reimburse you in the event that you have to cut your vacation short or return home earlier than planned. It will also reimburse you in the event that your luggage is misplaced or stolen. In addition, if you have an Ehic, certain insurers will not make you pay an excess on a medical claim that you make.
