Wherever you're going, good travel insurance is as essential as your passport. No one wants the unexpected to happen when they go abroad, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a totally risk free holiday. The risks that travellers face abroad are similar in nature from those that they would face at home – like suffering an illness or accident and losing our possessions.
There are several different types of travel insurance policies:
- Single trip: A fixed-term contract covering single journeys of up to 365 days to named destinations or geographic regions (UK/Channel Islands/Ireland, Europe, Australia & New Zealand) or worldwide.
- Annual multi-trip: A yearlong contract with one insurer covering multiple trips of maximum individual duration (e.g. 31 days each) to specified regions. Some insurers limit the number of trips per year or limit the total number of insurable days abroad (e.g. 3 trips per annum of 45 days each to 120 days in total)
- Long Stay: A single trip contract, usually covering travel to a named destination but with a longer term (e.g. a year or more).
- Backpacker: Long-stay cover for the young (e.g. up to age 36).
- Sporting: tailored policies, typically catering for golfers and winter sportspersons.
- Adventure/Hazardous Pursuits for activities like abseiling, ballooning, bungee jumping, hang gliding, potholing and parachuting. Certain common sports may fall into this category (e.g. canoeing, athletics, basketball, scuba diving, judo and karate).
When choosing a travel insurance policy there are a number of considerations you must take into account in addition to cost. A travel insurance policy should cover, at least the following:
- Cancellation of, or cutting short, your holiday
- Illness or injury while you are away
- Loss or theft of your belongings
- Delayed or missed connection
- Liability for accidents to others
Pre-existing Medical conditions
It is always a good idea to speak to the insurers to check whether they will include your medical condition on the policy. If you don't do this, and you require medical treatment because of one of your conditions, you could end up facing a massive bill for your treatment. If you are staying in the EU, get an E111 form from your local Post Office; it will entitle you to some free treatment in Europe.
Sports and Activities
Some sports and activities are excluded from standard schemes, so it is always a good idea to check whether something you want to do on your holiday is covered before you do it. If you are planning to go skiing/ snowboarding etc is important to ensure your policy offers winter sports cover.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, make sure there is adequate cover and that you are below any limit on the number of weeks pregnant you can be for cover to be valid.
Age limitations
All policies have age limits, so if you buy an annual policy, always ensure you will not be over the age limit by the end of the policy.
Valuables
Always check the conditions of a policy regarding where valuables should be kept, as a claim for valuables not kept in a safe place as defined by your policy may not be covered.
Claim settlement limitations
There are always limits to what an insurer will pay for each claim. Check these carefully when you buy your policy, and ensure you have sufficient cover for things like personal baggage and cancellation, as some policies don't include these at all. It is always worth noting that an insurer will not pay for a claim which has arisen due to you taking non prescription drugs or being under the influence of alcohol.
Which Destination?
Insurers will not provide insurance if you are travelling to a country where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have advised against travel. For advice on countries not to travel to and for global information prior to travel visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel. It is recommended that when buying a policy, you must be covered for the following:
| Medical Expenses | £5 million |
| Personal Liability | £1 million |
| Cancellation | £3,00 |
| Baggage | £1,500 |
| Cash | £250 |
You're not legally obliged to take out travel insurance before going abroad, contrary to the advice of some travel agents, but it makes good sense to protect yourself in case you are injured, fall ill, lose your passport or travelling money, become the victim of a robbery, or are forced to cancel your holiday. Policies can be found easily and cheaply, too - so there's little excuse not to buy one.
One Last Thing
Always take a copy of your insurance details with you on holiday, along with the numbers of any emergency help lines your insurer operates.
And fill in an E111 form. It is not a substitute for travel insurances, but could prove to be a welcome addition to it by entitling you, as a UK citizen, to free or cheap emergency medical treatment in all EU countries. The form is available from the Post Office and will be valid for as long as you remain resident in the UK
Travel Insurance E111 Forms
What is an E111 form?
This is a form, which entitles you to free or reduced health care costs when visiting a European Union (EU) country.
Do I need this as well as Travel Insurance?
Many travel insurance policies are only valid if you have an E111 form when travelling to an EU country.
Changes to the E111 form.
As a result of recent changes to European law a new E111 form has been introduced to replace the old one. If you are planning to travel to one of these countries during 2005 you should apply for the new E111, as the old ones are only valid until 31st December 2004. The main difference between the old and the new form is that the new form is now issued on an individual, as opposed to family, basis.
However, you will only need to complete one application form in order to receive E111s for you, your spouse/partner and children. The new E111 form will be valid until 31st December 2005. The second major change is that during the course of 2005 the UK will be adopting the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This will be automatically issued to those who apply for the new E111 form and tick the box to receive the new card.
Where can I get an E111 form?
The new E111 form and the booklet " Health Advice for Travellers" can be obtained from the Post Office. Forms are also available to download from the Department of Health's website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/travellers