Travel insurance might seem like an unnecessary cost when you’re planning out your holiday, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. With long-range travel comes greater potential for things to go wrong, and travel insurance can protect you against all sorts of unexpected mishaps like cancellations, lost or stolen items, and medical emergencies.
The bottom line is, you can’t enjoy a holiday without peace of mind, so here are some top tips to help you save on your travel insurance without compromising on cover.

Decide on the right cover for your trip
The type of cover you will need depends on how long you’re travelling, where you are going, and who you are travelling with. You should also think about what you’re taking with you, as personal belongings might need covering if there are things in your suitcase that you can’t afford to lose!

Combine cover
You can get policies for an individual, a couple, a family, or a group.

If you are travelling with others, it may be cheaper to purchase coverage under a couple, family, or group policy rather than insuring everyone separately. However, if anyone that you’re travelling with has a pre-existing medical condition, it’s usually more cost-effective to take out separate policies.

Balance payment cost with excess
The insurance excess is the base amount of money you are required to pay before you can make a claim on your insurance. This factor often makes people take a moment to evaluate whether they really do want to make the claim.

Cheaper insurance usually has higher levels of excess, sometimes in the hundreds of pounds, which might be a suitable option for those taking a more laid-back holiday with a shorter journey.

Others may prefer to pay a lower excess, or even none, especially when travelling far and wide to unfamiliar destinations.

Check exemptions on your cover
Some policies may have exemptions, so you should always research before traveling. Some of these may include:

• Alcohol consumption
• Age restrictions
• Driving abroad
• Being reckless
• Travelling against medical or Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCFO) travel advice

Get your GHIC
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is free and entitles you to free or reduced cost medical treatment in the European Union (EU) in the event of a medical emergency. It replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) after Brexit. 

It’s important to note that your GHIC or EHIC card isn’t a replacement for travel insurance, and it doesn’t mean you’ll get free treatment everywhere. This card also won’t cover you for anything more than medical care and cannot pay to get you home in a crisis.

Make sure your holiday activities are covered
Standard travel insurance may not cover holiday activities such as winter and water sports. The riskier the sport, the less likely it is to be included in your policy. If you’re planning on some fun activities while you’re away, check your cover for what’s included and what activities you can add for an extra fee.

 

For more information about our insurance policies, contact us today.