Finding the best travel insurance policy is vital while going on holiday – whether you’re jetting off to one of the top islands for a warm winter or exploring places closer to home.
Amid the excitement of booking flights and arranging your travel money, travel insurance can be easy to overlook, putting you at risk of paying for unexpected medical fees, last-minute travel delays, or costs that are out of your control.
While having one of the best cards for travel can provide some level of insurance coverage, it’s better to have a dedicated policy that covers you for everything you’ll need.
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Top tips to find the best travel insurance
1. Check if you’re already covered
Before you shell out for a new travel insurance policy, take a look at what you’ve already got, so you don’t end up paying twice. This can be the case with packaged bank accounts that charge a monthly fee and, in return, provide you with travel insurance as one of the benefits.
For example, Nationwide Building Society’s FlexPlus account includes worldwide family travel insurance, which includes some winter sports coverage, for £18 a month.
2. Don’t leave it to the last minute
Once you’ve booked your trip, getting travel insurance should be at the top of your list, not something you scramble for just before you head off on your travels.
Over a quarter of holidaymakers wait until the day of departure to buy travel insurance, according to data from Go.Compare. But if someone falls ill before the trip, your holiday gets cancelled, or you run into travel delays, you might find yourself out of pocket, unable to claim compensation.
Rhys Jones, from Go.Compare, said: “The best time to book travel insurance is as soon as you’ve made any financial commitments toward your trip, such as booking flights, accommodation, or tours. That way, you’ll have more comprehensive options and peace of mind knowing you’re protected long before your journey begins.”
3. Cheap isn’t always best
When looking for the best travel insurance policy, it’s a good idea to use price comparison sites to find options. You can quickly get quotes from a host of different travel insurance providers, filter them according to your needs and make an informed decision about the best policy for you.
Make sure you compare the details of what each policy covers and don’t just pick the cheapest. There are often a number of exclusions, and the policy terms will vary depending on your age, medical history and the duration of the trip.
4. Are you covered for your destination?
Make sure your travel insurance covers the locations you’re planning to visit. Most policies have ‘European’ or ‘Worldwide’ cover, but this doesn’t always mean every country you plan to visit is included – especially if you’re going off the beaten track.
Some policies won’t cover you for travel to major destinations like the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, or exclude Turkey from European cover. On the other hand, some non-European countries, like Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt might be included in European cover. It’s always best to make sure.
5. Consider travel insurance for UK trips
If you’ve booked a UK trip, things work a bit differently. You won’t need to fork out money for medical emergencies, as you can access your normal healthcare provider – the NHS or your private healthcare plan if you have one.
But depending on the nature of your trip, it could still be useful to have travel insurance in place to cover things like lost baggage, last-minute cancellations, or if you become unwell and can’t go.
Note that most travel insurance policies only cover UK holidays if it involves spending at least two consecutive nights in booked accommodation. Camping trips often don’t count, so be sure to check the small print.
6. Do you need annual travel insurance cover?
If you travel more than once or twice a year, an annual insurance policy can often work out cheaper, and it saves you having to sort out cover each time you head off on a trip. Annual travel insurance policies cap the number of days you can be on holiday, per trip, so be sure to check that limit before you buy it.
7. Disclose any medical conditions
When it comes to medical conditions and insurance, honesty is the best policy. Even if that means slightly higher upfront insurance costs, it’s better than having your claim denied later on.
With some medical conditions, there’s a higher chance you might need medical attention on your trip. It might be tempting to omit certain details about your condition to keep costs down, but if you do end up needing to make a claim and your undeclared pre-existing condition is revealed, your claim is very likely to be rejected.
This would leave you to cover the costs of your treatment and any associated costs (transportation home, for example), making it an extremely expensive affair.
8. Do you need extra cover?
If you’re likely to be undertaking adventurous activities during your holidays, check if your insurance policy has your back.
Standard policies don’t usually include things like winter sports or cruises, so you might need to pay extra for those. The same applies if you’re getting married abroad or even if you’re heading for the golf course. We have a separate guide on activities your travel insurance might not cover.
What about the GHIC?
Since Brexit, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) has replaced the old European Health Insurance Card. The card is free to apply for and gives you access to state healthcare in most European countries, either for free or at a reduced cost.
While it’s a good idea to have a GHIC, it is not a replacement for travel insurance ‒ you should have both. Find out more about the GHIC and how to apply on the NHS website.
How to make a claim on your travel insurance
Ideally, you won’t need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. However, if you do, you want to be confident that you are in safe hands with your provider.
As such, it’s important to do some research on the travel insurance provider’s claims record, how reliable they are when it comes to paying up, and their customer service. That way, you’ll know if it’s worth paying a bit extra for cover with an insurer that’s more reliable.
If things go astray, here are a few things to remember:
1. If you make a claim while travelling: Remember to have your travel insurance policy number and emergency contact in hand. Also, make sure to keep all receipts and paperwork in hand so the claim is easily dealt with.
2. If you make a claim after getting home: Check that you’re within the time limits of making a claim, how much you’re covered for versus how much you’re claiming and how much the excess is. Once you’ve got all the information, contact your insurer and ask them to send you a claim form.
If your belongings are stolen, Sean Doolan at travel insurance broker Swinton Travel Insurance recommends: “In the case of theft or loss, report it to the local police within 24 hours and obtain a crime reference number.
“You’ll need to gather the necessary documentation to support your claim, including receipts or proof of purchase for lost or stolen items, medical reports and hospital bills for illness or injury, police or incident reports for theft or accidents, travel documents like boarding passes or delay notifications, and photographs of any damaged belongings.”
3. If you make a medical claim: If you need medical treatment during your holiday, contact your insurer and get them to agree to any treatment in advance. If it’s a medical emergency and that’s not possible, call your insurer’s helpline as soon as you can. You may have to pay any medical expenses upfront, up to a certain amount. If you do, keep all the receipts so you can claim back the costs on your insurance.
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