Travel Insurance Myths Debunked
For many people it’s just one of those tasks to tick off before going away, or even something they feel they can do without.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what travel insurance does and doesn’t cover.
1. All travel insurance is the same
There’s no such thing as a ‘one fits all’ travel insurance policy, so it’s important to find the one that suits you best. The travel insurance you need can depend on who is going and how old they are, where in the world you are going (Europe, US, worldwide), how often you plan on travelling (single or multi-trip cover), the activities you’re planning to do and whether or not you have any pre-existing medical conditions. Different levels of cover can also give you more assurance over cancellation, baggage loss and medical emergencies.
2. It won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions
The key thing is to let your insurer know, at the time of booking, if you have been taking medication or had treatment lately, have an ongoing condition such as diabetes or a chronic condition like cancer. Failing to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions could result in your claim being void, so if you are unsure speak to your travel insurance provider. You’ll usually have to go through medical screening and your insurance cover may increase at a cost, however we can often provide cover for you.
3. You can’t get insured if you’re over 75
Many travel insurance policies do not cover people over a certain age, but there are an increasing number of insurers with no age exclusions, with most of us living longer, and travelling further afield on cruises on group travel. Premiums can be higher but cover can be comprehensive, especially for medical emergencies.
4. EHIC will give me enough cover
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is free, lasts three years and it will get you access to NHS-type health care available to citizens and residents in EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Treatment may not be free - it depends what local people generally pay, and you may have to pay a percentage. Although it is useful, it only covers medical emergencies and does not cover repatriation costs, so you’re very much recommended to get full travel insurance beside it to cover more severe medical emergencies, lost luggage, and your overall safety.
5. You don’t need travel insurance for UK only
Travel association ABTA found that 55% of travellers believed they didn’t need insurance when traveling in the UK. You haven’t taken your passport with you, but that doesn’t mean you can do without travel insurance. It may ‘only’ be a 'staycation', but you can still become ill, lose luggage, or be forced to cancel hotel stays. Whilst the NHS will cover medical treatment, it won’t cover the cost of family accommodation should they need to stay with you.
Here at Aynsley Insurance Brokers we offer a wide-range of travel insurance cover which we can tailor to your individual needs; from a relaxing beach holiday to extreme activities and winter sports - we have you covered! Why not contact us and give us a try?
Source
Source: telegraph.co.uk