TRAVEL INSURANCE: HAVE YOU GOT IT COVERED?

The aim of travel insurance is to cover the cost of the unforeseen, such as illness and injury or theft of your personal possessions while you are on holiday. It's also designed to cover you if you have to cancel your trip before you go, or if you need to return early due to an emergency.

Especially now with the Pandemic looming over us, it is very important to know more information before you buy one. Whilst more policies now have restrictions on claims relating to Covid-19, other benefits still apply. Some providers have restricted cancellation and travel disruption cover in policies bought after coronavirus was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. 

While most are likely to cover claims related to COVID-19 for emergency medical and repatriation costs in line with your chosen policy. However, other types of claims related to COVID-19, such as cancellation, vary by provider, so I encourage you to check your policy before purchasing.

Here are 10 things you should know.

1. Buy as soon as you've booked to cover cancellations and pre-trip illness.

2. Make sure the policy is right for your needs.

3. Always declare medical conditions, or your claim may be rejected.

4. Going to Europe? Don't forget your free EHIC card, as they are valid til 31st December 2020. However, EHIC card is not a substitute for travel cover. This currently entitles you to free or discounted state medical care, but won’t cover ‘out of pocket’ expenses like rearranging flights home.

5. Heading away twice or more this year? Annual Cover is often cheaper.

6. Check if you're already covered via your bank account.

7. Going skiing ? Make sure you've got wintersports cover.

8. Going on a cruise ? You're likely to need an add-on to your policy to be fully covered.

9. If you choose to travel overseas to a destination where the FCO is advising against non-essential travel at the time of your departure, then your insurance policy will be invalid, and any claim likely to be rejected.

10. For domestic travel, please check the local public health rules for the destination you wish to travel to within the United Kingdom.

Have you got your travel insurance covered?