To help better choose travel insurance before going away this summer, the Association of British Insurers published a guide to make clear what is covered or not in standard travel insurance.
15 million people are expected to go on holiday abroad this year. Most travellers have trouble free trips. However, for those without insurance, if disaster strikes their trip could come to a costly end. Medical expenses, cancellation of flights, and lost baggage are just some of the things that go wrong, and they can all cost a lot of time, money and stress if appropriate travel insurance is not in place to help soften the financial blow. The ABI’s guide will help consumers better understand travel insurance policies so that they can purchase the right policy for their needs.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:
“Last Summer UK residents spent over £18billion2 travelling abroad. However, some travellers do not see purchasing travel insurance as a necessity, or, when they come to purchase it they are confused by the different policies on offer. This guide points out what standard travel insurance policies will cover and why it is needed. Hopefully when consumers plan their next trip abroad this guide will help them choose the right policy.”
Rochelle Turner, Head of Research at Which? Travel said:
“Buying travel insurance can be really complicated, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions or those wanting more than just medical cover. Which? Travel research shows that, in the last year, 10 per cent of people were disappointed to find that they couldn’t make a claim against the policy they had purchased. The work that the ABI have been doing will help in the move to clarify what insurance does and doesn’t cover so people are better informed and can buy policies that are right for their travel needs.”
Rob Tinline, Director of Consular Services at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said
“Every year overseas Consular staff see cases where people don’t have adequate travel insurance and end up paying out thousands of pounds of their own money to cover their medical and other bills. Getting comprehensive insurance that covers everything you want to do on holiday is a vital part of planning your trip. We welcome the ABI initiative and hope it makes choosing a policy easier for British travellers going abroad.”
The top three things the ABI advises customers to think about when purchasing travel insurance:
The travel insurance market is very competitive. However, the cheapest policy is not always the best as they often provide the least cover. Customers should shop around and ensure the policy they purchase covers their individual needs.
Travellers must ensure they disclose their medical conditions to insurers so they can confirm if their policy will cover any emergency treatment they may need abroad, or whether a tailored policy would be better suited to their needs.
Do not do anything on holiday that you would not normally do at home. Holidays are perfect for having fun, but travellers should still take necessary precautions to remain safe and not take unnecessary risks. Drink or drug-related incidents and leaving possessions unattended, particularly valuable items, could invalidate a claim.
