Packing your bags and heading overseas on holiday is one of life’s great pleasures. Travel and holidays are designed to educate, energise and enrich you life. Before you leave, make sure you have selected travel insurance that will allow you to enjoy peace of mind and full cover, should the unexpected happen.
The tips below will help you choose travel insurance that’s right for you.
Shop around
There are countless options when it comes to travel insurance. It pays to shop around. Always get several quotes and compare the cost and service between dealing directly with an insurance company as opposed to using an agent.
If you are travelling with your family or in a group, ask if there is any benefit to buying travel insurance as a group.
If you travel regularly, it may be cheaper or more convenient to buy annual or multi trip insurance.
Read the policy carefully
This seems like a basic, but make absolutely sure you know what you are covered for and what you need to do should you have to make a claim.
Generally, you’ll want cover for medical expenses, lost or stolen possessions and flight cancellations. But think, too, about other areas like delayed baggage, personal liability, accidental death, lost travel documents and hire car insurance.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, will that be covered?
Are any unusual circumstances covered – high danger sports, specialist equipment you may be travelling with the medical cover/evacuations in remote locations?
Check the excess and how the policy works
What will the excess be if you do need to make a claim? Will you have access to that money while you are overseas?
If you need to claim on your travel insurance while you are overseas, will you have to meet the expenses yourself and then wait to be reimbursed by the insurer at a later date? Or will the insurer pay directly?
Duration of cover
You’ll cover your time away, of course. But what if you have to cancel your trip unexpectedly? Cancellation-only travel insurance can help you here. If you change the duration of your trip in any way, make sure you change your travel insurance at the same time.
Get recommendations from experienced travellers
Does your insurer have a good reputation? Ask friends and colleagues who have had to use their travel insurance about their experience. You can never be too informed!