How to get adequate cover at affordable prices
There is no legal obligation to take out travel insurance before you go abroad, despite what some travel agents may tell you, but protecting yourself against cancellation, injury, illness, losing your passport or holiday money is an excellent idea and is not as expensive as you might think. An annual policy can start from about £20.
Insurance that won’t cost a packet
If you travel abroad more than once a year an annual policy could be a better (and cheaper) option than one-off cover. With a yearly policy, some insurers will cover you for trips in the UK as well.
Cheap is good but …
The insurance you take out should be adequate for the type of holiday you are going on. Some insurance providers limit the number of children covered by a single policy (usually two children), while others cover all under-16s.
Adrenalin junkies should remember that some providers will not cover extreme sports such as heli-skiing or bungee jumping. You may have to pay an extra premium. Also, some insurers restrict the number of times a traveller can indulge in his or her extreme sport (this may mean just a couple of bungee jumps off Plettenberg Bay in South Africa), although most include a certain amount of winter sports cover in all their policies.
For more information on travel insurance, and to find out in a flash how best to avoid trouble, check out the Foreign and Commonwealth office website at fco.gov.uk.
Remember to find out …
How much the excess is and whether it applies to one amount per claim or for each part of a claim. Make sure you check the limit on individual items. You may need higher limits if you are bringing the family jewels. Shop around and get several quotes before committing your cash. Is airline failure covered? What about insurance against volcanic ash clouds?
The best things in life are free (or at least your taxes have paid for them)
Get yourself (and each member of your family) an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), available from www.ehic.org.uk.
This free card entitles UK residents to discounted or free health care in an European Union country as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The EHIC is valid for up to five years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, due to illness or an accident. The card gives access to state-provided medical treatment only, and you’ll be treated on the same basis as an “insured” person living in the country you are visiting. Remember that this might not cover all the things you’d expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. You may have to make a contribution towards the cost of your care and claim it once you are back on your feet. Check your destination on the NHS’s indispensable country-by-country guide.
The EHIC also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness, but it won’t cover you if getting medical treatment is the main purpose of your trip. Comprehensive private insurance for visits to all countries is advisable, regardless of whether or not you are covered by your EHIC.
Your EHIC should cover you for routine maternity care while you are away, but if you are going to an EEA country or Switzerland specifically to have your baby, you will need a S2 (formerly E112) form.
