Travel Insurance Guide Blog

Enquiries up for travel insurance

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:37:27 BST

The recession is certainly not stopping people going on holiday this summer, as Confused.com has just reported a 63% increase in the amount of visitors enquiring about travel insurance compared to the same time last year.

This is great news as not only are people still determined to go on holiday, but they are also wising up to the problems of going abroad without travel insurance.

There have been a number of well-publicised horror stories of people going on holiday without insurance only to end up paying out a small fortune when they find themselves in hospital, and perhaps these have finally managed to get people to see that going abroad without insurance really is no longer an option.

However, there has been a change in the types of policies that are being purchased. Confused.com has reported that a greater number of people are now switching to single-trip insurance rather than multi trip, and on the website 70% of the enquiries are now for single trip, whilst the remaining 30% are for multi trip. This suggests that people still want travel insurance but that they are looking for the cheapest deal that they can find.

The head of travel insurance at Confused.com, Steve Williams, said that he thought the swine flu outbreak could have made people more aware of the dangers of not taking out travel insurance. The thought of spending a few nights in hospital and not being able to afford it is certainly not something that many people would want to risk, and in this sense the outbreak has been good in getting people to take their insurance more seriously.

Are you covered if you were drunk on holiday?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:55:42 BST

If you’re lounging by the pool, soaking up the rays and sipping a few cold beers throughout the day, then come the evening you might not even realise how much the beer has gone to your head and if you stumble over your feet and break a bone or two, are you right to assume you’ll be covered by your travel insurance?

The consumer website for the travel industry, EssentialTravel.co.uk, have compiled some research from various travel insurance companies and have come up with some pretty scary results, especially for those of you who like a few drinks when abroad. It shows that 7 out of 10 people didn’t know that the amount of alcohol that they’ve imbibed meant they wouldn’t be covered for injuries when on holiday. 8 out of 10 of the same people then admitted to drinking too much when away.

Of course all individual insurance packages are different, but you’re very unlikely ever to find one that doesn’t sting you if a claim is made as a result of being under the influence of alcohol. The most common claim is for the loss, damage or theft of personal items and many people might not realise that excessive alcohol can void such a claim.

Also, 28% of people on holiday suffer a personal injury due to a physical activity (skiing being the biggest one) or risky mode of transport (such as riding a moped), and again this might preclude you receiving any medical treatment if you’re drunk.

It could cost you up to £1000 a day for hospital treatment abroad if you’re not insured. There is a case-by-case review for each claimant, but if there’s too much alcohol in your blood when you are admitted to hospital then it might mean your insurance is invalidated.

AXA warns over travel insurance for thrill seekers

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:48:15 BST

Activity holidays have witnessed a boom in popularity over recent years. However, this has brought with it new problems as many travellers now fail to get the correct level of cover on their travel insurance policies to cover the new events.

Insurance company AXA has just issued a warning to travellers, ahead of the summer break, to check their travel insurance documents carefully before they go away to make sure they know which activities they will be covered for.

Most insurance companies will have a standard list of activities that they provide cover for, but this can sometimes be limited to more traditional activities. With the growth of new and previously unknown activities, travellers may find that after making a claim they do not actually have cover for their chosen activity.

AXA highlights the new sports such as zorbing (getting inside an inflatable ball and rolling down a hill) and octopush (hockey played underwater) as just a couple of the new activities that are increasing in popularity but which may not be included on standard insurance policies. AXA has said that it has to constantly increase its level of cover to take these new activities into account, but that many insurers would not provide automatic cover for travellers.

If you have an accident abroad then the medical costs can be enormous. The average claim for an injury abroad is £744, but this can be a lot higher in many cases, and it is therefore essential to get the correct level of cover.

People who travel abroad to take part in any activities should definitely look at their policy documents to make sure that they are covered. You may be surprised by what is not covered (horse riding for example), and if you have an accident whilst taking part in a sport for which you are not insured then the results could be devastating.

Travellers paying up to six times more for insurance

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:37:48 BST

Confused.com has just released research suggesting that travellers in the UK are paying up to six times more than they have to for travel insurance by purchasing their policies from high street travel agents.

If you go to a travel agent to book your holiday, the convenience factor tells you that you should just take the travel insurance being offered as an added extra at the same time that you are booking your trip. And if you’ve spent a few thousand pounds on a holiday then it might not seem like a lot to add on.

However, Steve Williams, the head of travel insurance at Confused.com, said that travellers “should not feel obligated” to take out their insurance with the same company that provides them with their holiday.

According to Confused.com, 40% of all travel insurance policies last year were bought at travel agents. This figure suggests that many people are simply not aware of the huge savings that can be made if they just search around a bit first.

There are large savings to be made with travel insurance, and cheaper insurance should be one thing that everyone tries to get, although this should not of course be at the expense of good cover. Finding a cheap insurance policy without the correct level of cover could be disastrous in the long term and end up costing a lot more if you have an accident or have to cancel your holiday. So always shop around to find something cheaper without paying over the odds, but just make sure that the policy comes with the right level of cover.

Travel Insurance companies blasted over swine flu cancellations

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:36:29 BST

Campaign groups have been vocal recently in their criticism of British travel insurance companies which are apparently taking advantage of holidaymakers and travellers forced to cancel their trips to Mexico, following the outbreak of swine flu in the country. The news has been full of hype about swine flu since it first emerged in Mexico and the British government has been quick to issue a warning to those intending to travel to the country.

Many holidaymakers have followed the advice of the Foreign Office and abandoned plans to visit the country but have since been left disappointed by insurance companies refusing to provide a refund. Under normal circumstances, holidaymakers are entitled to a refund if they are unable to travel (as a result of illness, for example). If a refund is not provided, the travel company will usually offer a different date or destination, depending upon the individual situation.

The consumer campaign group, Which?, has been quick to criticise the attitude of such insurance companies, which seem to be punishing Brits for following the advice provided by the government. This trend is sadly indicative of a wider problem in today’s society, with companies ruthless in trying to make a quick buck from the misfortune of others.

Luckily, there are exceptions and it is important to take notice of the companies which have acted strongly in the face of the swine flu outbreak. Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance announced that it would provide customers acting on the advice of the Foreign Office with full refunds. Sainsbury’s was also keen to encourage travellers and holidaymakers to consult their travel agents for further advice about their plans.

Many travellers not declaring pre-existing medical conditions

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:23:01 BST

If you have ever applied for travel insurance, you will be familiar with the question regarding any pre-existing medical conditions. This includes everything from common conditions such as elevated blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels, to the more obscure complaints from which you may suffer.

Recent research, carried out by Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance, reveals rather worryingly that 1.3 million people went abroad last year without disclosing their pre-existing medical conditions.

Of these, around one in five had heart conditions, one in six had respiratory problems, and one in nine had cancer or was recovering from cancer. These figures do not of course take account of the half million travellers who do not bother to take out insurance at all despite having medical conditions. All laid themselves open to huge medical bills had they required medical attention for their problems whilst abroad, since their omission would have invalidated their travel policy.

The two biggest factors leading people to be sparing with the truth when filling in their insurance proposals are concern that it will cost an arm and a leg and worry that they will be refused cover altogether.

The irony is, of course, that by omitting to declare a pre-existing condition the policy holder will invalidate the policy and could be faced not only with a hefty bill for medical treatment but also the costs of repatriation should disaster strike.

Insurance companies are generally keen to attract business and although they will normally charge a higher premium to cover pre-existing conditions the uplift may well be minimal, especially if the condition is a common one. If you have a more critical condition there are specialist insurers who should be able to help.