If you’re thinking of travelling again, getting the right financial coverage can make all the difference.
Travel insurance is there to help protect you from falling ill, getting injured, your flight being cancelled or even being robbed while on holiday.
There are lots of different travel insurance providers and packages on offer though, so what should you be looking for in a travel insurance deal?
In this article we will cover:
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance protects you from the consequences of unforeseen or emergency situations while on holiday.
The right deals should protect you from theft, illness, injury, holiday cancellation and if you need to return from your holiday early in case of an emergency.
Moreover, some travel insurance providers offer additional protection for you in cases where you test positive for Covid before flying out, and if you have to isolate or return early after contracting the virus while on holiday.
What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance providers will offer a range of different insurance policies that cover different parts of your holiday.
The exact coverage will depend on the specifics of the insurance policy, so when you’re shopping for the right deals, make sure you pay close attention to what each policy protects against and what will trigger an insurance pay out.
As standard, the following should be covered:
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Holiday cancellations
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Illness, injury and medical costs while abroad
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Holiday curtailment
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Theft and loss of belongings
Some policies may go further than this, reimbursing you in case of sporting injury – as with winter sports travel insurance – or in some situations where catching Covid means you can’t travel or have to return early.
Does travel insurance cover Covid?
Some insurance providers will protect you from certain Covid-related issues, but there are conditions attached.
Most policies will refund you if you need to isolate before your holiday as well as covering the costs of needing medical treatment and extending your holiday if you develop symptoms while abroad.
Policies will typically not help you in cases where you have travelled to a country on the UK government’s ‘red list’, against government guidance or in case you decide you don’t want to travel.
Some travel insurance policies do offer some protection when it comes to Covid, however it’s important to be entirely clear on what is and isn’t covered.
As long as you are travelling within government guidance, there are some protections available to you.
What travel insurance do I need?
The right travel insurance for you will depend on who you are, where you’re travelling, whether you have pre-existing medical conditions or potentially even what you intend to do while on holiday.
There are dozens of available insurance policies that are there to give you peace of mind while you travel.
It is best to cover yourself with some of the most common travel insurance offers, such as:
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Single trip travel insurance: This covers your emergency needs for a single trip in the near future.
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Annual multi-trip insurance: Multi-trip insurance covers the journeys you make over the course of a year – regardless of how many trips you make.
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Winter sports travel insurance: Winter sports insurance specifically accounts for winter sports and the injuries you might incur while skiing, snowboarding or sledding.
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Sports travel insurance: As with winter sports travel, this package covers most sporting-driven injuries.
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Backpacker travel insurance: Covering most sports, lost valuables and injuries, this type of policy is for travellers looking to see the world.
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Family travel insurance: A family policy typically covers one or two adults at the same address, along with one child who lives with them. Some packages may offer coverage of more children. It’s important that families protect themselves with the right insurance information, so be thorough on the specifics of each policy offered to you.
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Group travel insurance: Effectively the same as a single trip insurance deal, group travel insurance covers a group’s journey. Some age exclusions may apply.
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Over 65s travel insurance: Over 65s can find it harder to get covered, so this insurance deal does exactly that.
Do you need travel insurance before booking a holiday?
There’s no obligation to buy any kind of travel insurance before booking a holiday, however there is a strong case for protecting yourself against unforeseen circumstances.
Looking ahead, while the slow signs of a return to normal for the travel sector will continue across the year, a lot can and likely will change very quickly.
Even taking out a simple travel insurance policy will protect you in case your flights are cancelled, you can’t go or have to return early due to Covid.
So, while there is no legal obligation, having an insurance deal will certainly help protect you and your money.
Do I need special travel insurance when pregnant?
If you’re travelling while pregnant, you might decide to take out an insurance policy that covers your pregnancy.
While most standard offerings won’t ask about a pregnancy and don’t treat it as a medical condition, most policies will likely only protect you in case of complications with your birth – not with routine births or treatment.
Some policies might also only offer protection up to a certain time of your pregnancy, for example up to 38 weeks.
What happens if you don’t declare medical conditions for travel insurance?
You need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions before applying for travel insurance, as some conditions will exempt your from being eligible for coverage.
If you have high cholesterol, cancer, have had a heart attack or a stroke, or even if you have asthma, you must declare it.
Failure to declare any medical conditions will disqualify you from any coverage.
You would be forced to pay for any costs incurred yourself.
Where can you buy travel insurance from?
There are a wide range of insurance lenders that can offer an insurance deal that suits your needs.
You should shop around on comparison websites, consult a personal financial adviser and do your own research into the policies that suit you.
Remember that different lenders will offer protection against different things and these won’t always carry between lenders.
Be thorough and clear on what each insurance policy offers to you.
Find a financial adviser that suits you
Travel is still fraught with risk and uncertainty after the Covid-19 pandemic, and although many of us are planning our holidays for the coming year already, it’s important to also get thinking about finding and securing the right insurance.
A personal financial adviser can help get the right deal for you.
From forward planning to price comparisons, find an adviser on Unbiased.
