Travel insurance is just as important as flight tickets for travellers on their getaways. However, insurance can be confusing. So Wise Traveller has provided a guide to what you need to know before buying a policy.
Restrictions
Travel insurance is mightily important when travelling to new and exotic destinations. Whether it's missed connections or lost baggage, a policy can come in extremely handy in a crisis.
But before you buy, check whether there is a limit on your trips. Multi-trip insurance schemes are highly useful, but some policies may carry a maximum. You may also be surprised to find that you may be limited by the number of trips you can make in a day.
Because parts of the world are considered dangerous for travellers, you may find that the insurance is invalidated for these areas. Check whether your travel insurance excludes certain countries. Equally, check travel warnings from your own national government to better understand the highest-risk places for travel to.
Most insurance policies carry age exclusions, meaning you may not be covered if you are over 65 years old. This also applies to children, so check insurance schemes for age limitations.
Excess and Liability
Check the amount of excess you are expected to pay towards any claim you make. The insurer will pay out the remainder to the limit of the benefit. Also, establish what charges your insurance covers if you hire a rental car and it either gets damaged or stolen.
Conversely, query where you stand if you are liable for an accident or hurt someone. Find out if you're covered if an incident is your fault.
Emergencies
Insurance really kicks in when you have an emergency. So, see whether your policy gives round-the-clock assistance and support. Most policy providers will give a phone number for emergencies.
Research whether your insurance provider enables emergency medical evacuations and limits and the kind of assistance it provides. Does the insurance also cover for medical emergencies?
Extreme sports
Many travellers want to experience life-making memories, and an extreme sport or activity can do that. But what happens if it all goes wrong? Are you covered? If you are contemplating rock climbing, paragliding, or even horse riding, check with your provider policy before embarking on an activity you may live to regret.
Death and disability
In rare circumstances, does insurance coverage extend to transporting a body home in case of death? Consider whether a policy offers for accidental death and if it offers cover if you are permanently disabled abroad.
Trips and Blips
A traveller's nightmare is flight cancellations and delays. So, establish whether you can get your money back if a trip is cancelled and what the limitations are. If your trip is cut short, can you reclaim the unused element of the travel and accommodation you've booked?
A checklist should also flag whether a policy covers you for a missed or cancelled connecting flight. Does it cover emergency overnight accommodation expenses? Ask your insurer what the limits are for travel delay coverage and additional cover for further delays.
Lost Luggage
One of the biggest, and most frequent headaches for travellers, is luggage that is either delayed, lost or damaged. Find out if your insurer will reimburse you for expenses, such as toiletries, if you are without your luggage for a few days.
Equally, discover the limitations on lost or damaged baggage and property. How much will the policy reimburse you? What evidence will you need to prove how much your luggage is worth? Save those receipts, just in case!
Lost Documents
Ask your insurance provider about coverage for replacing lost travel documents and a passport, and the cost limitations. Insurance companies will provide cover for a small amount of cash, but check the restrictions.
Family cover
If you are travelling as a family, check the limitations of any family package. Check the benefit limits based on family accumulated claims and if individual members have different limits. It is likely limits for children and their parents will be different.
It may well be worth checking whether there are conditions covering family members when travelling with a primary insured person rather than a family member travelling alone.
Conclusion
Having the right insurance will give you peace of mind and to travel with confidence. So utilize the Wise Traveller’s checklist so you can enjoy your vacation or business trip to the max.
Andy Probert is an independent PR writer and journalist who writes about travel experiences, airlines, airports, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror, as well as many newspapers/magazines globally.
