Whether you’re setting off for a short family break or trekking around the globe, it’s easy to forget certain things. Some people forget their passports. Some people forget to take enough clothes. But most people forget to arrange insurance. And some people don’t even think you need to get travel insurance for your travels. Well, here are four of the main reasons why you need to get holiday insurance before you travel anywhere:
Overseas medical expenses
This is probably the most important reason for getting decent cover. Getting ill or injured at home may be traumatic but, thanks to the NHS, you don’t have to pay for your treatment.
It’s a different story if you’re abroad, however. If you’re travelling within the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to free or reduced cost healthcare, but it doesn’t always cover all the costs. And if you’re outside of the EU, all the costs would be down to you to pay. Overseas hospital bills can easily run into the thousands; a sum which is sure to cause financial ruin. With a decent holiday insurance policy, any medical costs will be covered in part or in full.
Medical repatriation costs
If your illness or injury is so serious that you’re unable to continue on your trip, you will need to be returned home as soon as possible. This is called medical repatriation and the costs can often reach into the hundreds of thousands. Recent research found that most claims for medical repatriation cost more than £25,000, which is more than most people
earn in a year! A good policy will cover these costs in full.
Trip cancellation
Having to cancel your trip because of unforeseen circumstances is bad enough without it costing you money. If you’re not able to travel, you’ll often end up losing the money you’ve already paid for flights, accommodation and any pre-paid excursions. With decent insurance cover, you’ll be able to recoup the costs you’ve paid.
Loss, damage or theft of your personal items
We all like to take a few gadgets away with us, and whether this is a laptop, camera or just an MP3 player, they’re liable to damage, loss or theft. Not only is it an inconvenience if one of your personal possessions gets lost, stolen or damaged, but it can also be costly. Most holiday insurance policies usually include cover for replacing any personal items. However,
they usually have a single article limit so make sure you check this before you buy. You’ll often be given the chance to increase this limit if it doesn’t provide enough cover.
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