Travel insurance needs closer scrutiny

Holiday makers and travellers are not being choosy enough when they buy travel insurance, Insurancewide.com said today.

As new Post Office research reveals that one in three claims by winter sports enthusiasts are for medical bills, Insurancewide.com’s James Harrison cautions consumers to examine what they are buying more closely to avoid being underinsured or claim rejection.

“Cheap travel insurance is not hard to find but consumers need to understand where to look and what they’re looking for. Too many holiday makers are buying travel insurance as a last minute thought without knowing what cover they actually need and without paying attention to what’s excluded from the policy. Winter sports enthusiasts in particular must be careful not to assume that they have complete cover, so relying on the free policy you get with your bank account package or credit card insurance, for example, will not necessarily protect you.

“A good winter sports travel insurance policy should include cover for skiing or boarding, piste closure, ski equipment, medical costs including rescue and repatriation, your liability to others and your luggage. Your policy should include a minimum of £2 million for medical expenses and £1 million for personal liability.

“What’s more, people still do not realise that travel agents often charge well over the odds for a standard policy that contains little relevance to the individual holidaymaker’s needs. Savvy travellers will take a few minutes online to compare who offers what across the market before making a choice.

“Always compare policies on a like-for-like basis and be aware that most travel insurance policies will not cover you for pre-existing medical conditions or any claim that results from being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

In the event of claim

If you have an accident, contact your insurer immediately and make sure you retain all your receipts as evidence of what you are claiming for. Typically, policies list what the insurer needs from you in the event of making of claim and you must comply if you want to increase your chance of recouping your costs.”