Booking Travel Insurance – What Should You Consider?
With many people planning on taking a holiday later in the year, it’s a good time to think about travel insurance and what cover you may need. We asked Antony Martin, Managing Director at Insurefor.com for his advice…
By Antony Martin, Managing Director at Insurefor.com
What’s the most important thing to consider right now when booking travel insurance?
Due to the ever-changing UK Government travel restrictions and updates to FCDO travel advice, holidaymakers have faced much confusion around which travel insurance policy to choose during the pandemic. The advice I would give to people planning on travelling is to pick a policy that covers them for any COVID-related issues. Insurefor.com recently launched new insurance products making it the first travel insurance brand to provide cover when travelling against FCDO advice (to European countries for single-trip policies) whilst simultaneously protecting consumers against COVID-related issues both pre-departure and whilst abroad. It is necessary to have cover for pre-departure for cancellation in case a consumer or their travel companion tests positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days before the trip.
When should you buy travel insurance?
As soon as you have made a financial commitment towards your trip, you should book your travel insurance too. As people are becoming increasingly aware, it is key not to always choose a policy based on price as many cheaper policies have very high excesses which can work out more expensive if people need to make a claim. It is important now more than ever for travellers to read and understand exactly what they are covered for to ensure they choose the policy that is right for them and will protect them from any COVID-19 related issues.
Do you need it if travelling in the UK (on a staycation)?
Pic: Shutterstock
Yes, it is important to take out travel insurance for a staycation under normal circumstances to cover various issues such as cancellation, curtailment in case you have to cut your staycation short, transport delays, lost or stolen luggage and personal liability to cover legal expenses if you’re held responsible for causing damages or injury to another person while on holiday. However, in light of the current situation, you should take out a policy that also protects you against COVID-related issues both pre-departure and during a UK trip in case you contract the virus before or during your stay or the area that you intend to travel to, or your local area, goes into lockdown meaning you can no longer travel.
Where can you buy travel insurance/best places to buy?
It’s important to find the best travel insurance for your needs, rather than just searching for cheap travel insurance. The best thing to do is compare holiday insurance. First, find the right type of insurance for your needs, and then do a travel insurance comparison. Pick the best travel insurance quote that meets your needs. Consumers should make sure they buy a travel insurance policy that offers free amendments, so if holiday plans change they can move their cover. Insurance comparison websites are a good place to start looking for the best travel insurance policies but it is necessary to read the small print. We know that there can be a great deal of confusion around travel insurance, particularly in the current climate, so at Insurefor.com, we have created a robust product which clearly states what is and is not included in the form of a checklist on Insurefor.com’s website. It is essential to book travel insurance at the same time as you book your holiday, for a trip abroad or a staycation, to ensure you are covered for both pre-departure and during a trip.
How will Brexit affect my travel insurance? Can I still use my EHIC?
It is important for consumers to be aware of changes regarding their European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC). EHICs were valid until December 31 2020 when the Brexit transition period ended and are now being replaced with the Global European Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which just covers EU countries (and not Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland). The EHIC did not cover holiday cancellation or repatriation and neither will the GHIC so it is essential for consumers to still take out travel insurance when travelling to European destinations and not just rely on their GHIC.
Anything else to note?
Always purchase travel insurance from a reputable, trustworthy company and check online reviews of the product. It is important now more than ever for travellers to read and understand exactly what they are covered for to ensure they choose the policy that is right for them and will protect them from any COVID-19 related issues.
For further information about Insurefor, please visit www.insurefor.com.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
