10 Travel Insurance Tips You Need To Know Before Booking
If you are planning a trip abroad, you need travel insurance! Check out my top tips to make sure you have the cover you need.
Booking a holiday is exciting, but booking travel insurance is not. The problem is that when we are booking flights, hotels and planning excursions, the last thing we want to think about is lost luggage, flight cancellations or medical emergencies. As a result, travel insurance is often left until the last minute or forgotten altogether. However, it is one of the most important purchases you will make before you travel.
My advice is simple: as soon as you book a flight or holiday, buy travel insurance. Better still, take out an annual policy and renew it each year. I would never travel without travel insurance, and I genuinely do not understand why anyone would travel without it. Considering annual policies can cost less than €20, it is likely to be the cheapest part of your holiday and could be the most valuable.
I appreciate that I travel more than the average person, but I have claimed on my holiday insurance many times. I have been reimbursed for lost luggage on two occasions, claimed for countless doctors’ visits with my children while on holiday, and received compensation after a flight cancellation left us stranded for 24 hours. In fact, when my children were younger, the money we got back for doctors’ visits in holiday resorts was often more than the cost of our annual travel insurance policy!
I have listed my top 10 tips for booking travel insurance below to help you choose the right insurance policy and ensure you are adequately covered for that holiday you are so looking forward to!
1. Take out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip
When you book your holiday, take out your travel insurance at the same time. Not only will you have one less thing to think about, but you will also benefit from cancellation cover from an early stage. This means that if an unforeseen event, such as an illness or injury, prevents you from travelling, you may be able to recover some or all of your costs.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving travel insurance until just before departure. Most travel insurance policies have moratoriums in place so you will only be covered seven (or possibly longer) days after you have taken out your policy.
At the time of writing this piece, there is a war in the Middle East, an ebola outbreak in Africa and extreme heat and wildfires in many parts of the globe. If you book travel insurance while these have already occurred you will not be covered for repatriation or cancellation.
While the level of cover and terms vary between insurers, and wars or natural disasters may not be covered anyway, buying your policy early can provide protection for the period between booking and travelling. It is always worth checking the policy details, but arranging your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip is generally the best way to ensure you have the widest possible cover.
2. Compare travel insurance cover before you book
It is always a good idea to shop around, and travel insurance is no exception. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition, take regular medication, or are looking for travel insurance over 70 years of age. Cover, exclusions and premiums can vary significantly between providers, so always compare holiday insurance before you book.
Top Tip: If you have private health insurance, contact your provider to find out what overseas medical cover is included in your policy. They may also be able to explain how your existing cover works alongside travel insurance and highlight any gaps you may need to fill.
3. Don’t always book cheapest travel insurance
The cheapest travel insurance policy is not always the best value. When comparing policies, it is important to look beyond the headline price and compare the level of cover offered. One policy may have a higher excess if you need to make a claim, while another may include benefits such as travel disruption cover, gadget cover or winter sports cover as standard.
Before purchasing, take a few minutes to check the key policy features, including medical cover limits, cancellation cover, baggage cover and any exclusions. A slightly more expensive policy may offer significantly better protection if something goes wrong.
Top Tip: Some banks and credit card providers include complimentary travel insurance as a perk. However, the level of cover can vary greatly, and in some cases if only covers you when you are travelling, and not when you arrive at your destination. Always read the terms and conditions carefully and check exactly what is covered before you travel.
4. If you have an EHIC, you still need travel insurance in Europe
While I strongly recommend getting an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), it should never be viewed as a replacement for travel insurance. An EHIC allows you to access state-provided healthcare that becomes medically necessary during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, but its benefits are often misunderstood.
An EHIC does not cover many of the costs that can arise when travelling. It will not pay for repatriation to Ireland if you need to be flown home for medical treatment, nor will it cover lost baggage, travel delays, holiday cancellations or other common travel mishaps.
It is also important to remember that the EHIC only entitles you to healthcare on the same basis as a resident of the country you are visiting. In some countries, residents are required to contribute towards the cost of medical treatment, hospital stays or prescriptions. This means you could still face significant out-of-pocket expenses if you rely solely on an EHIC.
Think of the EHIC as a useful supplement to travel insurance, not an alternative. For complete peace of mind, you should always travel with both.
5. Honesty is always the best policy!
It is essential that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions and any regular medication you are taking when applying for travel insurance.. Depending on the outcome, you may be offered cover subject to additional terms or an extra premium.
Whatever the circumstances, it is vital to be completely honest when applying for travel insurance, even if you think a condition is minor or unrelated to your trip. Failing to disclose a medical condition could invalidate your policy and leave you personally liable for medical expenses, cancellation costs or repatriation fees.
6. Choose Cover That Matches Your Holiday
Don’t make the mistake of booking a yearly travel insurance policy for €17.95 and think you are covered for everything. The cheaper policies tend to be priced for travel within Europe and for people with private health insurance.
Cruise connection, ski insurance and worldwide cover will incur extra charges and always check the excess on each claim. I usually pay extra for a policy with zero excess because I travel so frequently and usually make at least one claim per year.
Top Tip: It is vital you check the maximum amount payable in case of cancellation. If you have booked a honeymoon or family holiday in the Maldives and paid €10,000 for the privilege, you may be shocked to learn that the maximum cover for cancellation on a basic travel insurance policy is only €2,000.
7. Add on travel disruption cover
Most insurance policies will not cover you for natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires or volcano eruptions, or for airline strikes. However, if you add on Travel disruption cover, you may be covered for additional expenses if your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours, even due to the reasons that are excluded from regular policies.
You can sometimes claim back expenses due to flooding, strikes, earthquakes, or if you are advised against travel to a specific country due to unrest, however, it is important to check Ts & Cs as not all travel disruption offers the same level of cover.
8. Beware of misleading advertising
I have seen many companies offering travel insurance from Ireland advertising insurance to cover transiting in Dubai or Doha, despite the government advising against non-essential travel to the region. This is particularly frustrating for me as I am due to travel to Vietnam via the Doha. Don’t be misled by headlines like CRUCIAL TRANSIT COVER VIA UAE HUBS INCLUDED, because it does not cover you for anything pertaining to the war. When you read the small print you are likely to find:
As with all policies, no cover is available for claims arising directly or indirectly from war, acts of war, armed conflict, military action, civil unrest, terrorism, government intervention or any other event excluded under the policy.
You wil be covered you if you have an accident in Dubai airport, but how likely is that?
9. Take out car hire excess Insurance if hiring a car
Did you know there was a travel insurance that will save you a small fortune if hiring a car abroad? Most car rental companies include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) as standard. While this provides cover if the car is damaged or stolen, it usually comes with a hefty excess that you would have to pay in the event of a claim. Depending on the rental company and the type of vehicle, this excess can range from €1,000 to €3,000 or even more.
If you have ever felt pressured at a car hire desk to take out additional insurance, you are not alone. Rental companies will often offer excess protection to reduce or eliminate this liability, but it can be expensive. I was recently quoted €16 per day in Fuerteventura, and rates of €15 to €30 per day are common across many European destinations.
A much cheaper alternative is to take out a standalone car hire excess insurance policy before you travel. I have used Carhireexcess.ie for years and found it to be excellent value. Policies start from €2.99 per day, while annual European cover is available from €48.99.
Having this cover in place means you can confidently decline the expensive excess protection offered at the rental desk and potentially save hundreds of euro.
Top Tip: Always check the policy terms and conditions carefully before purchasing. Certain vehicle types, including luxury cars and some seven-seater vehicles, may not be covered.
Read: 12 top tips for renting a car abroad
10. Bring your travel insurance policy with you
Before you travel, take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with your policy and the cover it provides. Keep a copy of your travel insurance documents with you, either in printed form or saved on your phone, so they are easily accessible if needed.
It is also a good idea to save your insurer’s Emergency Assistance Service number in your phone before you depart. If you need urgent medical treatment abroad or require assistance during an emergency, having this number readily available can save valuable time. You will usually find the Emergency Assistance Service contact details in the policy wording section of your insurance documents.
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of this post, it is vital to check policy details before booking as cover can change at any time. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you. Read more in my privacy policy.
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