Travellers in the dark on insurance

One in eight people have no idea what to expect in a standard travel insurance policy, according to new research from MoneyExpert.com.

The independent financial comparison website is warning travellers that not knowing what you’re covered for could mean losing out when you need to claim, or not knowing when to claim in the first place.

The figures show that 12% of GB adults are in the dark on what would be included in their standard policy, from the amount of medical cover they’re likely to be entitled to, to whether they’re insured or not if they lose their passport. This may well be the cause of the high number of claims rejected by travel insurers.

Sean Gardner, Chief Executive of MoneyExpert.com, said: “With people travelling to increasingly exotic destinations and keen to do ever more adventurous activities while abroad, it’s a worry that many don’t understand what they’ll be covered for.

“Obviously a white water rafting holiday poses more of a risk than a beach holiday in Spain so it’s vital that people consider exactly what activities they’re going to be doing, and then choose their policy accordingly. If they don’t they risk a serious pay out should something go wrong.

“With the huge number of providers out there, particularly online, there’s no excuse for opting for a policy that doesn’t cover every eventuality.”

Features people least expect to find as standard in a travel insurance policy

Emergency assistance in case of kidnapping (54%)
Compensation if you have to cancel trip (38%)
Evacuation from a disaster zone (39%)
Accommodation if flight delayed (36%)
Lost passport cover (35%)

The research also shows that 34% of people wouldn’t expect to get a refund on a late or cancelled flight, train, or ferry. However, with only 3% of policies not offering at least some compensation for any such problem there’s a real possibility that many holiday makers are not making the most of their cover.

Sean Gardner continued: “With so many things that can go wrong it’s often difficult to appreciate how far you’re covered, but unless you make the effort you may find yourself losing out on money that should be yours.”