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Travel Insurance

Factors that affect the type of travel insurance you’ll get

Are you thinking about purchasing corporate travel insurance? If so, it’s wise to choose a policy that best covers your particular circumstances to ensure you’re adequately protected. Failure to do so can result in you paying for expenses out of pocket. To help you get the right cover, here are four factors that affect the type of travel insurance you’ll get.

1. Who are you travelling with?

There are travel insurance policies for individuals, family, friends and groups. For instance, if you’re travelling alone, consider taking solo travel insurance. Alternatively, if you’re travelling with children, you’re better off buying a family policy.

Therefore, think about who you’re travelling with and buy the cover that protects both you and your travelling buddies.

2. How often do you go away?

When speaking to your potential insurer, they’ll ask you whether you’d like to purchase a single-trip or annual policy. The former covers you for one trip every year (365) days, while the latter covers multiple trips in a year.

If you only go on vacation once a year, it’s cheaper to buy a single-trip cover, but if you travel numerous times in a year, consider annual cover.

3. Where are you travelling to?

Generally, you’ll be able to choose between:

• Worldwide travel insurance – some worldwide policies exclude the USA, Canada and the Caribbean because of the higher medical costs, so look out for that.
• European travel insurance

It’s vital to remember that if you travel to a destination against the advice of FCDO, your policy is likely to be void.

4. Why you’re travelling

The purpose of your travel significantly affects the type of insurance coverage you get. For example, if you’re travelling for business, you need business travel insurance, as a standard policy won’t cover certain circumstances unique to your trip. If you’re travelling for leisure, then a standard policy is sufficient enough to cover any emergencies.

Compare different types of travel insurance

You can use Compare Insurance to compare travel insurance from different providers, including policies, what’s covered and what’s not and the costs of each policy. We make comparisons easy by listing insurers side by side.

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Travel Insurance

4 common backpacker travel insurance questions answered

If you’re thinking about purchasing backpacker travel insurance, you probably have numerous questions and concerns about what it covers and whether it’s worth consideration. To keep you informed, we’ve answered four commonly asked questions about backpacker travel insurance below.

1. What is backpacker insurance?

This type of cover is specially designed for individuals who plan to travel for longer periods, often to multiple destinations/countries in one trip. Unlike a standard travel insurance policy, backpacker insurance offers additional features and benefits, guaranteeing your backpacking itinerary is fully covered.

2. Why should I get a backpacker insurance policy?

If you’re planning to go away for several months at a time, you should consider purchasing backpacker travel insurance. Since it’s known as extended trip insurance, it’s sure to cover you on longer trips abroad.

A comprehensive backpacker insurance policy gives you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered if something happens to you, your possessions or plans.

3. What’s covered with backpacker travel insurance?

Backpacker travel insurance covers you against numerous travelling risks, emergencies and accidents, including:

• Lost or stolen baggage
• Trip cancellation
• Damage to personal items
• Medical costs
• Personal liability

Some policies can also include cover for winter sports and extreme sports, but it’s wise to get a separate policy for these two. All in all, always check your policy and read in between the fine print to see what’s covered and what’s not.

4. Can I get backpacker travel insurance with an existing condition?

Having a medical condition doesn’t mean you won’t find cover. It only means your premiums will be pricier as you have to buy add-ons.

So, if you have a pre-existing condition, tell your insurer about it so that they can advise you accordingly. If you lie about it, your policy will be deemed void when you get a medical emergency abroad that’s linked to your medical situation.

Comparing backpacker travel insurance quotes

Use our tools and resources here at Compare Insurance to compare single trip features, prices and policies from various providers. You can then choose a policy that works for you based on your budget, travel itinerary and what you’re doing.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance tips for solo travellers

Travelling alone is a great way to discover new opportunities and get time to yourself away from friends, family and other obligations. Unfortunately, solo travel presents a set of unique challenges that warrant a comprehensive solo axa schengen insurance to ensure your safety and security.

But, what exactly is solo travel insurance?

Picture this: You’re hiking on a mountain far away from home, and you lose gear or get injured. Without solo travel insurance, you’re responsible for this and anything else that goes wrong, which puts a dent in your pocket.

On the other hand, with the right policy, you can claim your expenses back, giving you peace of mind knowing you’re covered throughout your trip.

Tips for buying the right policy

Solo travel insurance can cover a wide variety of situations, from baggage loss to trip cancellation. However, not all policies cover the same emergencies or to the same degree, so you need to do your due diligence to ensure you get cover that meets your solo travelling needs.

To help you make the right decision, here are four tips for buying solo travel insurance.

1. Consider your activities

Will you go snorkelling, snowboarding, swimming or will you stay in your hotel basking by the poolside? Insurers may not cover certain activities because they’re high risk, and even if they do, you’ll have to pay more.

So, know what you’re going to do during your trip and be sure to ask your potential provider whether it’s covered in your policy.

2. Compare quotes

Never buy the first solo travel insurance policy that comes your way. You may not get the right cover for your needs, and you may be paying more than you have to. Instead, compare quotes from various providers and look at what’s covered and what’s not to make sure you get the best value for your money.

3. Why are you travelling?

Lastly, consider why you’re travelling. Is it for business, leisure, adventure or are you going on a backpacking experience? All these require different policies so that you’re covered throughout your trip.

Feel free to use our comparison tool to purchase solo travel insurance for children that suits your needs.

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Travel Insurance

Everything you need to know about specialist travel insurance

It’s no secret that having travel insurance is vital when travelling abroad as it provides you with a financial safety net against a myriad of risks. Unfortunately, at times, the standard travel insurance policy isn’t enough to protect you from accidents and emergencies. Here’s where specialist travel insurance comes in.

What is specialist travel insurance?

A specialist travel policy covers you from situations that a standard travel insurance policy doesn’t cover. It’s usually provided by dedicated insurers who offer tailored insurance solutions to meet the unique needs of a traveller.

Although specialist travel insurance can be expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment for people whose travel needs are unconventional, e.g., you have to travel against FCDO advice for business purposes.

When should I get specialist travel insurance?

Choosing between a standard travel insurance policy and a specialist cover can be difficult as you never really know the risks you’ll face on a trip. To give you an idea of when you might need it, we’ve compiled three situations below that warrant a specialist insurance policy.

1. You have pre-existing medical conditions

Insurers rarely cover pre-existing medical conditions as it places you at a higher risk of injury, illness and even death. But, with a specialist insurance policy, you’ll be covered for medical emergencies, even those related to COVID, giving you peace of mind if you’re travelling with a medical condition.

Just be sure to check what medical conditions your provider covers because there may be exclusions on certain diseases.

2. Extreme winter sports

If you plan to go heli-skiing, glacier climbing or perform any other dangerous winter sports that are deemed extreme and not standard, you’ll need specialist insurance. Due to the high-risk nature of these sports, your standard policy may not cover them, forcing you to pay for expenses out of pocket.

3. Travelling against FCDO advice

If you plan to travel to a country that’s red-listed (not government-approved), you need to buy specialist insurance to cover you against various risks, including theft, vandalism, medical emergencies and lost baggage.

Ready to find your ideal cover?

Use our tools and resources today to find the perfect specialist annual holiday insurance for your trip.

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Travel Insurance

4 travel insurance mistakes that could cost you a lot of money

If you’re planning a trip abroad, travel insurance is essential. Unfortunately, there are several pitfalls you’ll need to avoid falling into if you want to avoid problems later on.

Here are some of the key mistakes to avoid:

Not checking the small print.

Like any form of insurance, the small print matters. Many people pick out their travel insurance based on the big claims in the advertising campaigns… or worse, they go purely by price and just assume they are covered for everything!

Make sure you take the time and effort to check what is (or isn’t) covered by your plan. And, of course, if you have a pre-existing condition that you need cover for, make sure that it’s specified within the cover.

Make sure you’re covered in the event of Covid-19

In 2021, this is unavoidable. Will you be covered if a new Covid-19 breakout were to affect your holiday? Most people know to check this in terms of the holiday itself, but you need to do the same checks for your insurance.

Even nearly two years after the start of the pandemic, policies still vary as to what they’ll cover in the event of a Covid-19 problem. Some will just cover testing, but not treatment, while others cover neither. Some cover both.

It’s also worth remembering that some policies will change their Covid-19 cover depending on where you’re travelling to, so take this into account.

Get the date from before you travel

A lot of people understandably date their insurance from the day they arrive at their destination. This makes sense. Unfortunately, it can leave you liable if anything happens on the journey itself.

The last thing you want is to catch sickness of some kind, or injure yourself while on the way to your destination, and find you still have to pay up because your insurance doesn’t kick in until you arrive!

Be thorough with your documentation

There are two common reasons people are unable to claim on their travel insurance:

• They do not fill in their initial applications accurately
• They do not keep a record of all documents provided

If you are not completely honest and accurate when you initially apply for cover, it’s unlikely your claim will be paid. Be meticulous.

Once you have your cover, be sure to make copies of every document your chosen provider gives you and take them on your trip. Then, if you do have a medical issue and are treated, keep a full record of every document given to you by the healthcare provider.

Different insurers will ask to see different documents from your trip for verification, so keep everything. Even documents you wouldn’t expect to be important, such as your travel itinerary, could be requested. Don’t throw anything away!

For more insurance tips and advice, contact our single trip medical travel insurance experts today.

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Travel Insurance

Common winter sports insurance exclusions

If you’re planning on travelling this winter, it’s advisable to purchase a winter sports travel insurance policy to protect you from a range of financial risks and liabilities. However, simply because you’re purchasing travel insurance for winter sports doesn’t mean you’ll be covered when partaking in all kinds of snow-related activities. There are some exclusions to look out for, including:

1. Extreme winter sports

Generally, all winter sports are classified as dangerous and risky. That’s why your basic travel insurance policy doesn’t cover them, and you have to buy additional cover – winter sports insurance.

However, insurers regard some winter sports as extremely dangerous as the likelihood of getting injured or damaging equipment is high. This includes snowmobiling and tobogganing. It’s vital to ask your travel insurance provider what winter sports they cover and whether you can add any extra sports.

2. Staying off-piste

Insurers are in the business of making money, so they’ll do everything in their power to ensure they don’t pay your claims, including only covering you when you’re on-piste. Therefore, if you get injured or damage property while off-piste, you won’t be covered.

Another rule your travel insurance provider might stipulate is having to wear protective gear such as a helmet to be covered.

3. Travelling against the advice of the FCDO

If you travel to a destination that the FCDO advises against travel to, your winter sports policy will likely be null and void. Fortunately, you can bypass this by purchasing specialist travel insurance.

However, it’s wise to follow guidelines as there may be a forecast winter storm or blizzard that puts your health and safety at risk.

4. Unattended equipment

It’s no secret that equipment for winter sports can be expensive to purchase and maintain. From ski boots and windproof jackets to snowboards and skis, these items cost an arm and a leg. While your provider may cover equipment loss, damage and theft, they may exclude unattended stolen or lost equipment.

Not all policies offer the same level of cover, and the only way to know the exclusions in your policies is by reading in between the fine print. You can use our tools to compare exclusions and read the terms and policies from different providers.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for business travellers

As a business traveller, you have different needs and concerns than the average vacationer. Luckily for you, business travel insurance can help fill in the gaps and worries, giving you peace of mind throughout your trip. Keep reading to learn more about business travel insurance and why you need it.

What’s business travel insurance?

Business travel insurance covers you when you travel abroad for business purposes. Depending on your policy, it can cover anything from lost or damaged business equipment to medical expenses and trip cancellation.

Although business travel insurance is designed for corporate employees, any business traveller can use it, e.g., self-employed individuals. As long as you’re travelling for business and not leisure purposes, you can purchase a policy to protect you financially.

Why do you need business travel insurance?

If you’re a business individual who takes multiple or single business trips every year, a comprehensive business travel insurance policy provides appropriate and effective support and protection. For instance, if you’re injured while abroad, it’ll pay for your medical expenses so that you’re not responsible for substantial costs.

Additionally, if you travel with expensive equipment, such as laptops and tablets, purchasing cover ensures you’re protected from damage, loss and theft.

All in all, business travel insurance minimizes your financial risk and liability, allowing you to focus on what’s important – conducting business.

Does travel insurance cover business trips?

Never assume your policy for vacationing abroad will come through for you when you travel for business. This is because the typical travel insurance policy doesn’t cover business trips. Why? Business travellers have a different set of concerns, so you’ll have to buy a separate travel insurance policy for your business travels.

What can business travel insurance cover?

Business travel insurance policies are available in various options, but the five primary categories your policy should cover include:

• Trip cancellation
• Medical coverage and evacuation
• Baggage
• Corporate equipment loss and damage
• Other personal loss

Remember, you can always get more coverage by purchasing add-ons.

Use our tools and resources here at Compare Insurance to find your ideal business travel insurance policy. You can compare quotes from different providers to find the right cover at a competitive price to find the best travel insurance companies.

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Travel Insurance

What to do before you travel

If you haven’t travelled in a while, you might find some things have changed because of the pandemic. This makes it vital to start your travel preparations early to avoid last-minute rushes and stress. Below, we’ve created a pre-travel checklist to help you eliminate worry and stress before your trip.

1. Buy travel insurance

If you don’t have travel insurance, now’s the time to research different providers and compare various quotes and policies. The typical travel insurance policy covers emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation and lost luggage.

However, you might need additional cover, depending on where you’re travelling to and the activities you’ll partake in. For instance, if you go sky diving, consider getting a dangerous sports waiver.

Alternatively, if you already have travel insurance, you may want to update it to meet your current travelling needs.

2. Visit your doctor

It’s always a good idea to get a check-up before your trip to ensure you’re in good health and have all your prescriptions. This can also help with medical claims if your travel insurance provider refuses to reimburse you citing pre-existing medical conditions. You’ll have a trail of paper showing you were in good health before travelling.

Additionally, you may need to get certain vaccinations before your trip, but this depends on where you’re going.

3. Passports and visas

Make sure you have all the necessary visas, and your passport is valid. It’s wise to check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting as certain areas require your passport to be valid for a set period, e.g., three or six months.

4. Research your destination

Researching your destination goes a long way in helping you plan your trip, including purchasing your travel insurance. For instance, if you’re travelling to expensive shopping destinations such as Dubai, you’ll need a baggage cover to protect you in the event of theft or luggage loss.

You can easily search for travel advice for the country you’re visiting online.

Compare quotes and policies

Compare Insurance eases the process of looking for a reliable group travel insurance provider by allowing you to compare quotes and policies in one click. Just enter your details and find your ideal insurer today.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for winter sports

Are you currently planning your winter vacation? If so, you’ve probably already researched the snow conditions and the latest kit for skiing. However, have you dedicated time to getting your winter sports travel insurance right? Keep reading to learn more about travel insurance for winter sports.

What is winter sports travel insurance?

Generally, winter sports travel insurance is an add-on that you purchase on your policy to cover you from a wide range of snow-related activity risks. For instance, if you go snowboarding, buying a winter sports policy ensures you’re covered in the event of an accident or injury.

Winter sports travel insurance is essential as it gives you peace of mind knowing you’re protected when taking part in snow-related activities.

Remember, you’re more likely to incur an injury while skiing than you are while reading a book by the poolside. So, it’s imperative to get this add-on before your next winter vacation.

Why don’t insurers offer it as a standard policy?

Travel insurance companies base their premiums and policies on the risk involved. Therefore, the riskier it is to cover you, the higher your premiums.

Unfortunately, most insurers tend to stay away from covering dangerous and high risks activities, including winter sports, to avoid liabilities and financial losses. But, they’ll require you to purchase it at an additional cost to make even.

It’s vital to note that while a winter sports policy might make your insurance expensive, it’s worthwhile. It offers a financial safety net if you need to claim for lost equipment, medical expenses, accidents on slopes, and more.

What do winter sports policies cover?

A reliable winter sports travel insurance policy should include the following:

• Medical expenses following an accident
• The damage or loss of personal or hired winter sports equipment
• Loss of lift passes
• Avalanches and piste closures – this allows you to be reimbursed for the part of the trip you lose

Winter sports exclusions

Insurers don’t offer the same level of winter sports cover, so check carefully what yours does and doesn’t cover. For instance, it’s normal to find providers excluding extreme winter sports like snowmobiling.

You can use our tools here at Compare Insurance to compare policies and exclusions from various providers to see your travel insurance cost.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance terms to know

If you’re about to purchase travel insurance, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with the commonly used terms. This way, you understand the terms of your policy and know exactly what it covers. Here’s a list of standard travel insurance terms you’re likely to see in your policy.

1. Accident

In travel insurance lingo, an accident is an unexpected circumstance or event without deliberate intent. For example, if you lose luggage during your trip, that’s an accident, which can be covered in your insurance policy.

However, it’s essential to note that some providers only cover the bare minimum for accidents, e.g., they may only cover the loss of clothing items and not valuable luggage unless you get additional cover.

2. Accumulation limit

This is the maximum amount payable by your provider in respect of any one accident. If the accumulation limit is exceeded, the amount is distributed on a proportional basis to all the persons listed in your policy.

3. Beneficiary

In the event you pass, your beneficiary is the individual who becomes eligible to receive payment as stipulated in your retirement plan, will, life insurance policy, trust, annuity or other contract, unless you demand otherwise.

4. Cancel For Any Reason

This means you can cancel without giving any reason. However, you need to provide proof of health, weather, family or political emergency to justify the reimbursement and cancellation of trip costs.

5. Dangerous Sports Waiver

Most travel insurance policies don’t cover you for high-risk activities such as winter sports (snowboarding) or riding a motorcycle. So, purchasing a dangerous sports waiver as an add-on waives such sports, covering them in the event of injury.

6. Total number of travel days

This is the maximum number of days insured under your travel insurance policy. It’s vital to enter the correct number of days you’ll be travelling when purchasing your cover so that you’re covered throughout your trip.

7. Lapse

If you fail to pay the required renewal premium, your provider terminates your policy. This is known as a lapse.

It’s imperative to ask your provider to clarify any terms in your policy that you don’t understand to avoid surprises.

Feel free to use our tools and resources today to find your ideal travel insurance provider and buy travel insurance today.

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