Travel Insurance Myths – what isn’t covered?

We have been to-ing and fro-ing on the terms of the leaving the EU and Britain is in slight chaos about the whole deal, or rather the lack of one. Regulations and rules are about to change and could cause a knock-on effect over most industries within the UK, including travel insurance.

However, with summer well on its way, people will still be taking their hard-earned holiday, in or out of the EU and now more than ever travel insurance should be considered an essential buy. Consumer awareness initiative, Travel Insurance Explained has put together some tips to make sure you are buying the right cover, this summer.

 Alcohol

It’s not uncommon for holidaymakers to enjoy an alcoholic-beverage or two while on holiday, particularly if they are going all-inclusive. But some travel insurance policies will have a zero-tolerance clause when it comes to submitting a claim following an alcohol-fuelled incident, be it medically related or loss of personal possessions. Not all policies have a zero-tolerance; many will have a varying alcohol tolerance and state the accepted amount on the policy.  This is usually measured in blood alcohol levels, which can be confusing to understand, but generally speaking it equates to four pints of lager. So, if you are planning to indulge in a few tipples, make sure you check the alcohol allowance on your travel insurance policy.

 Extreme activities

If you plan on taking part in an activity or two, make sure this is covered under your travel insurance policy. Most policies will cover a set amount of activities as standard, but those that are a little riskier may require you to buy an activity pack (Travel Insurance Explained research found 62% of travellers think all activities are covered *). Activity packs can be found in the policy wording, but if you are unsure you can speak to your travel insurance company. Most travel insurance companies will allow you to add on an activity pack whilst you are on holiday, for those spontaneous moments.

 Undeclared medical conditions

When buying a travel insurance policy, you will be asked to declare any existing medical conditions. If you need to make a medical claim on the policy, and have not declared your medical condition, your claim is likely to be denied. If you are unsure about whether your medical condition needs to be declared, always check with the insurer.

 Missed flights due to traffic

Most airport commutes involve some form of traffic, particularly if you are travelling along the dreaded M25, so it is important to always allow ample time for your journey. Generally, most travel insurance policies will only offer to cover the cost of you missing your flight if the car you are travelling in breaks down, is involved in an accident, or public transport is disrupted. There are a few travel insurance companies that will cover if you are stuck in traffic and miss your flight, providing the delay was not announced before you left.

 Brexit

According to a recent report, most travel insurance companies will not cover claims relating to Brexit. There are only very few that will, so if Brexit it a concern of yours make sure you check this on the policy wording.

 Non-travelling relatives

If a close relative, who is not travelling with you, falls ill during your holiday, it’s likely that you will want cut your trip short and come home early. Very few travel insurance policies will cover you to cancel the holiday or return home early due to a non-travelling close relative’s existing medical condition deteriorating. Policies offering this cover will also only accept claims if the condition was stable at the time you booked your holiday and/or travelled.