Travel Insurance Options - What to Pick and What to Skip!
MORE TH>N travel insurance is flexible and comprehensive, but all of these options can take some time to sort through. Do you need a policy with a high value of cover should you cancel a trip? What factors would determine if you need Personal Baggage cover?
This article will help you decide which options are most important to you and which you may be able to skip on.
Cancellation
Cancellation coverage can protect the value of your trip, up to a certain level, should you have an unexpected cancellation. The tricky part is that 'unexpected' means that you can never ahead of time whether this option will be one you will use.
Instead of thinking in terms of whether you may end up cancelling a trip or not, evaluate cancellation options based on the number of times you travel and the average value of your trip.
The more you travel, the more likely something will come up to cause an unexpected cancellation. If you are a frequent traveller, it would be wise to purchase cover with a high cancellation value and low excess. The same holds true if you travel infrequently, but take very expensive trips.
If you are an infrequent traveller, or take trips with a low purchase price, then you can likely get by with a lower level of cancellation cover.
Personal Baggage
Personal Baggage cover is an additional option that can be added to any of MORE TH>N's three policy levels. This cover provides assistance if your personal baggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. Or if your effects are stolen from a locked room or vehicle.
You can never predict when a loss or theft will occur, so the way to determine what level of personal baggage cover you need is to consider the value of the items with which you travel. If you carry only inexpensive items then economy cover of up £500 may be all that you need. However, if you intend to carry valuables, then adding personal baggage cover to a premier plan will offer greater assurance.
Emergency Medical Expenses
It is unpleasant to think about, but there is always a chance that you may fall ill, whether you are at home or travelling. So, it is important that you are protected while you are away. You can never know when illness will strike; instead, evaluate this option based on where you are travelling and the likely length of your visit.
Some countries are known for excessively high medical costs; on some trips you may be exposed to more dangers than on others; the longer you are away, the more likely an illness could strike. These are all factors to consider when you are thinking about the level of cover to purchase.
When it comes down to it, this is the most important feature that your policy will offer, so you should purchase the one with the highest level of medical cover possible. Remember, that more pre-existing conditions will not be covered and that you should consider whether funeral and body repatriation are covered.
Some Options that You May be Able to Skip
There are several options that are excellent for some travellers, but insignificant for others. Here are some that may not apply to you . . .
- Kennel/Cattery fees. This option is only important if you have a pet and even then only if your animal will be boarded during your time away or if you miss your original return date
- Winter Sports Options. Never been on skis in your life and have no intention of starting? Then this is likely an option you can skip
- Golf Cover Option. Like Winter Sports Cover, unless you are a golfer or intend to become one during your holiday, there is no reason why you should consider this option.
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