Top 4 travel insurance mistakes you need to avoid

Arranging travel insurance should be an essential part of any trip’s preparation. However, you need to watch out for these common mistakes that many people make when it comes to this travel essential.

Leaving it too late

Unfortunately, many people simply don’t book their travel insurance until the day or so before they leave. It’s almost an afterthought for many travellers!

Remember, if you book your insurance at the same time you book your holiday, you’ll often be covered if your holiday is cancelled, or if you’re taken ill and you’re unable to actually make the journey.

This could save you a lot of money, so it’s worth getting the admin done early.

Not checking what your travel insurance actually covers

It’s surprising how many people think that ‘travel insurance’ covers any and all eventualities!

As with any kind of insurance, you need to take the time to ensure that you’ll be covered for everything you require.

For instance, some insurance won’t cover work trips, only leisure holidays. Others might not cover you for certain locations, or for longer periods.

Make sure you do your homework here; you don’t want to wind up with the wrong cover.

Avoiding talking about pre-existing conditions

It’s understandable that people don’t always want to declare pre-existing health conditions, as they can add a decent amount of money to your premium.

However, it’s a false economy. You’re simply much more likely to get refused a payout if anything happens to you and your insurer discovers you didn’t disclose any issues.

And you might be surprised how mild some ‘pre-existing’ conditions are considered to be. Even ongoing conditions such as hypothyroidism, depression and anxiety can all be classed as issues you need to disclose.

Remember, it might make your insurance premium a little more expensive, but the alternative is much worse.

Ignoring the details and the small print

Alright, no-one enjoys reading small print. But when it comes to travel insurance, it’s simply something you can’t afford to miss doing.

You need to understand specifically what you’re covered for and if there are any loopholes in place you need to be aware of. It’s no good finding these things out when it’s too late.