Travel Insurance Tips for Air Travellers
Many people fly internationally without adequate travel insurance coverage. Here are 12 tips to consider when buying and using travel insurance.1. Shop around for a quote...
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Get a few travel insurance quotations from different companies. Usually travel agents offer a bad deal so never purchase insurance directly with your flight until you have checked the market. Beware, some airlines are also now including an extra insurance charge when you try to book a flight. Use insurance aggregator websites which can generate quotes from multiple sources.
2. Single trip or multi trip
If you plan to travel more than one time in the coming year it may be prudent to purchase a multi-trip annual insurance which can be very cost-effective. Check how long you are allowed to stay away each trip - usually this is 1 - 2 months.
3. Adequate medical coverage
If you plan on travelling to the US or Canada, you should have adequate medical coverage of at least £2m and preferably £5m. Medical treatment in the US can be very expensive. For other parts of the world you should be insured at the very minimum to a level of £1m. Citizens of the EU should also apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles them to basic free emergency treatment in most countries of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
4. Liability
Check the policy for personal liability cover in the event that you accidentally injure someone. Also, see if you are covered for any expenses should you have to make any legal claims.
5. Hazardous Sports
If you plan to undertake any hazardous or extreme activities you will have to pay an extra premium. If not, don't buy a policy with this extra coverage.
6. Medical Conditions
You should declare any relevant pre-existing medical conditions - otherwise, if anything happened to you related to the condition, you could invalidate the whole policy.
7. Unsafe Countries
Check the fine print to see if you are covered for travel to certain countries and regions that have been declared unsafe to visit. Keep up-to-date with travel advisories such as those issued by the UK Foreign Office.
8. Theft / Loss / Damage
Does your travel insurance policy cover loss or theft of luggage, personal items, cash and passports? If you have any valuables it is always useful to have a photographic record to use in a claim as evidence of ownership. Should you experience a theft then quickly notify the local police and get a written report. If your check-in baggage gets damaged en-route, notify the airline immediately - they may give you a replacement bag on-the-spot.
9. Travel Cancellation
Are you covered for any cancellation of your trip, or any travel delays?
10. Documents
Take your travel insurance policy with you on your travels. Make a separate note of the policy number and the 24 hour emergency assistance telephone number. You should also have separate copies of your passport and any important documents. Some people scan their documents and upload them to a memory stick or web email program to give them easy access should something go wrong.
11. Receipts
If you need to see a doctor or purchase any medical supplies, make sure to get any receipts.
12. Repatriation
Find out from the insurance company if they will supply a trained nurse to accompany you if you have a serious condition or injury. Notify the airline to see they can meet your travel needs.
In summary, you should not risk travelling without insurance. You should always do your homework before purchasing any type of travel insurance
Air Travel Articles & Resources > General Flying Tips > Travel Insurance Tips
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