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Travel Insurance

The ultimate guide to travel insurance for seniors

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Many seniors venture into travelling after retirement to explore the world. Unfortunately, most don’t consider purchasing travel insurance to protect them from the risks of international travel. This forces them to pay for damages out-of-pocket. Keep reading to find out more about cheap annual travel insurance for seniors.

Why do you need travel insurance if you’re older?

If you’re over 65 years old, you already know you’re more at risk, particularly when it comes to your health. Whether you’re in fantastic shape or are an experienced traveller, you never know what can happen and having insurance gives you something to fall back on.

For instance, older people are at a higher risk of experiencing a fall, resulting in minor issues like bruises to severe complications like broken bones. Both require medical treatment or hospitalization, which can be expensive abroad if you don’t have travel insurance.

Similarly, most seniors are vulnerable to viruses and diseases as their immune system isn’t as strong as a younger individual. So, if you fall ill before your trip and have to cancel, you want to have insurance to reimburse you for your flight and booking expenses. Alternatively, if you fall during your trip, insurance can quickly cover your treatment.

How to find affordable senior travel insurance

Since older people are at a higher risk of health problems, their policies tend to be quite expensive. That’s why many opt to forgo it altogether. However, it’s not worth risking your life or finances by travelling uninsured.

You can get affordable senior travel insurance if you look hard enough. First, start by comparing quotes from different providers. Ask what’s included in each policy and what’s not; you don’t want surprises while on your trip.

Second, consider purchasing additional coverage for exclusions like adventurous sports and cancelling for any reason. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, consult with your potential insurer to determine how they may or may not cover it. If they don’t, you’ll need to purchase a waiver for pre-existing health conditions.

Are you ready to buy your senior travel insurance? If so, use Compare Insurance today to compare quotes and find the right provider.

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Travel Insurance

What you need to know about group travel insurance

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It’s no secret that travelling with a group of friends or family is more fun than travelling alone. However, during your trip, you want to know that your travelling buddies are insured in case of an emergency. Here’s where group travel insurance deals comes in.

Keep reading to find out more about group travel insurance and how you can purchase it.

What exactly is group travel insurance?

Group insurance works the same way as an individual plan. It covers the costs for any medical emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and unplanned events, such as bad weather.

Group travel insurance covers anyone, whether you’re of the same blood or not, as long as you’re on tour at the same time. It’s a great way to save money because instead of everyone purchasing individual policies, you get one cover for the entire troop.

How many people can be insured under a group policy?

Generally, group insurance can cover up to twelve people under one policy, including a mix of kids and adults or adults alone. Just ensure everyone you travel with is named in the policy.

If you’re travelling in larger groups, you’ll need to consult with your insurer to find the best rates for your policy. Alternatively, you can shop around and compare quotes for covering larger groups from different providers.

What does group insurance cover?

A typical policy should cover medical emergencies, lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings, trip cancellation and baggage, money and legal expenses.

It’s advisable to check for exclusions to know what’s not covered. For instance, most insurers don’t cover risky or adventurous sports such as skydiving.

How much does group insurance cost?

The cost largely depends on how comprehensive your cover is. For instance, if you purchase additional coverage such as the Cancel for Any Reason policy, expect to pay more.

The best way to find out how much your policy costs is to get quotes from providers. They’ll require you to answer different questions before giving you an accurate estimate for your policy.

If you want to compare group travel insurance from different providers, use Compare Insurance today. We can help you find the right group policy.

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Travel Insurance

5 things your travel insurance policy won’t cover

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It’s normal to assume you’re well insured for all aspects of your trip after purchasing travel insurance. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Insurance policies are usually full of loopholes with exclusions stated in the fine print, but they’re nonetheless confusing. Here are five things multi trip insurance policies don’t normally cover.

1. Dental care

Travel insurance policies don’t cover the expenses for routine dental care. However, in some rare cases, they can cover dental trauma, but only for sound natural teeth. So, if your teeth have an active disease or cavity and they get chipped, don’t expect your insurer to cover you.

2. Losses due to mental or emotional disorders

If, during your trip, you suffer losses as a result of a mental or emotional disorder such as depression, don’t anticipate reimbursement from your insurer. Most policies don’t cover any claims involving mental or emotional conditions.

3. Risky activities and sports

While insurers cover injuries resulting from sporting activities, most exclude losses caused by adventurous and risky sports such as rafting, snowboarding and scuba diving.

Some policies further exempt activities involving bodily contact. This means if you get injured playing football, you’ll end up paying for your injuries out of pocket.

4. Travel for medical procedures

If your primary reason for travelling to another country is to receive medical treatment, your travel insurance policy won’t cover you. This is because issues and complications might arise, and covering them can be risky and expensive.

5. Pre-existing conditions

Travel insurance providers usually steer clear of clients with pre-existing conditions. So, if you have a known illness between 60 and 180 days before the commencement of your policy, don’t expect compensation for any medical treatment when you travel. However, you can buy an add-on cover for your current illness.

Bottom line

Although travel insurers have several exclusions, you can bypass them by purchasing additional coverage or by searching for a provider that covers them. Start by comparing quotes from different providers and remember to ask questions about what’s included and what’s not.

To help with your comparison, use Compare Insurance today. We’ll provide you with comprehensive information on travel insurance, ensuring you find one that suits your needs.

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Travel Insurance

4 types of travel insurance coverage

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The hardest part of purchasing travel insurance is knowing which type of plan to choose. You’ll find a wide selection of protection plans from various providers at different costs, making the process hectic and overwhelming. To help you decide, here are four of the most common types of coverage.

1. Travel medical insurance

This plan covers expenses for medical emergencies such as accidents, evacuations and repatriations. For example, if you get injured while horseback riding, a travel medical insurance plan pays for transporting you to the nearest hospital.

When purchasing travel medical insurance, it’s vital to ask your provider what’s covered. Some insurers don’t cover certain recreational activities, especially adventure or competitive sports.

2. Trip cancellation, interruption and delay

Most companies don’t offer refunds on prepaid services, and this is where a trip cancellation policy comes in handy. Generally, this cover reimburses you for non-refundable expenses for reasons outlined in your policy.

For instance, if you have to cancel a trip due to illness and this is a covered reason, you’ll get back the full amount for any booked flights or accommodation. Other trip cancellation reasons providers will cover include:

• The death or illness of a family member who’s not travelling with you
• Natural disasters, e.g., if your flight gets delayed due to harsh weather

However, you can get additional coverage by purchasing the Cancel for Any Reason policy at an extra cost.

3. Baggage and personal belongings

This cover reimburses you for personal belongings and baggage that’s stolen, lost or damaged during your trip. Although your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may cover personal belongings while you’re travelling, it may not provide the right level of coverage.

You’re better off purchasing personal belongings coverage to cushion yourself from financial losses during your trip.

4. Rental car coverage

If you plan on renting a vehicle during your trip, it’s advisable to get rental car coverage. This will cover any repairs if your car gets damaged in a wreck, natural disaster, or by vandals.

Unfortunately, your rental car coverage may not include liability insurance, which covers the damage caused to other cars and medical treatment for other injured parties. So ask your insurer what they cover.

Search Compare Insurance today to find the right international travel medical insurance plan for you.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance tips for travelling in a pandemic

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The past few months have been difficult for the travel industry and travellers alike, but now that there are signs that the world is once again opening up to travel, you will need to keep up to date with the latest rules on annual travel insurance plans in a post-pandemic world.

Choose your destination carefully

When it comes to travel insurance there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the destination you choose and the itinerary you opt for will play a considerable role in shaping how much travel insurance you will need. The secret to lowering your travel insurance costs is to only take out cover for what you might need. Try to ignore those add-ons that will increase your premium but will be of no benefit to you whatsoever.

Your credit card provider may already cover you for some expenses

You may be surprised to find out that you have already signed up for some complimentary travel insurance coverage when signed up for a new credit card. Such things as travel interruption insurance or trip cancellation cover are two of the most common types of travel insurance perks that some credit card companies provide. Contact your credit card provider and ask what travel insurance perks are included with your account, and if you are covered for certain eventualities then these are things you don’t have to add to your travel insurance policy.

Don’t imagine your travel insurance policy will cover a pandemic

A large proportion of travel insurance policies rule out coverage of pandemics, with these seen as being a foreseeable event, which means you won’t be refunded for your outlays. However, there are still plenty of good travel insurance plans that will not exclude Covid-19 as a reason for your trip being cancelled.

Another way to circumvent the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak ruining your vacation is to opt for a policy that provides “cancel for any reason” coverage. This kind of plan will reimburse the non-refundable and prepaid portion of your vacation should you need to cancel for whatever reason. However, this type of policy usually needs to be brought within two to three weeks of your initial trip payment and is often more costly. Also, check the small print as your policy may require you to cancel no later than 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

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Travel Insurance

5 circumstances that may prevent travel insurance from covering you

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Travel insurance is crucial whether you are travelling for work or leisure, but there are some cases when your insurance policy will not cover you. Although what is included and excluded from your cover ultimately depends on your specific emirates travel insurance, some circumstances can prevent you from making a claim.

If your expenses stem from a pre-existing condition

Pre-existing medical conditions are some of the common reasons for the denial of travel insurance claims. Insurance companies define a pre-existing condition as an illness, injury, disorder, or medical condition that prompted the insured person to seek treatment or take medication 60 to 180 days before buying a travel insurance policy. To find out whether your travel policy covers pre-existing conditions, read through the Description of Coverage to determine what is and is not covered by your insurance provider.

Participating in high-risk sports and activities

If you have an adventurous spirit and plan on participating in sports like parasailing, bungee jumping, white water rafting, etc., then you may not be allowed to claim in case of injuries, equipment loss, or personal financial losses. To protect yourself, ensure that your travel insurance policy covers all the activities you’ll be engaging in.

Travelling against government advice

The government releases travel alerts every so often, warning its citizens against travelling to areas with civil unrest, inclement weather, security matters, and disease. Therefore, if you decide to travel to a specific country despite a warning from the government, your travel insurance provider will not cover you at that destination. Pay attention to government warnings via their travel advisory website to ensure that you are not travelling to high-risk destinations.

Participating in self-harm incidents

Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol will render your travel insurance null and void. If you must indulge in alcohol consumption, ensure that you get a designated driver to avoid harming yourself and others.

Cancelling your trip before departure

While most travel insurance policies cover travel delay and travel interruption, they do not cover trip cancellation. Your insurance provider may fail to approve your claim if you change your mind about travelling.

To find the best travel insurance policy for you, visit our website and get travel insurance today.

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Health Insurance Travel Insurance

Countries that require you to have travel medical insurance

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The world is slowly returning to a state of normalcy, with more and more countries opening up their borders to tourists. However, before you pack your bags, you’ll need to get travel health insurance. Here is a list of countries that require travel health insurance.

Schengen Area

To explore Europe, you may need to obtain a Schengen Visa. This is a visa that citizens from certain countries need to carry in order to enter the 26 European states of the Schengen area. To apply for this visa, you must provide proof of travel medical insurance covering hospitalisation, medical emergencies and repatriation in case of death. The policy must remain valid for your entire stay and have a minimum coverage of at least thirty thousand Euros.

Brazil

If you are going to be visiting Brazil by air for up to 90 days, you will be required to purchase a travel medical insurance policy that is valid in Brazil. All travellers must present proof of insurance before boarding, failure of which can result in denial into the country by Brazilian authorities. This requirement came about mid last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and may only be temporary.

Thailand

Before planning your trip to Thailand, you must confirm your eligibility with your local Thai embassy. If eligible, the next step will be to obtain a certificate of entry. One of the requirements for this certificate is to provide proof of a travel health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 and emergency medical insurance. This is because any medical costs incurred in Thailand are charged to your medical insurance.

United Arab Emirates

Travellers age 12 and older wishing to visit Dubai and any other cities in the UAE need to provide valid travel insurance covering international healthcare during the entire duration of their stay. You will also be required to provide Covid-19 test results taken no more than 96 hours before your arrival. This requirement applies to all visitors regardless of whether you need a UAE visa or not.

To find the prices on travel insurance, use our website to compare prices and sports travel insurance.

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Travel Insurance

4 must-have travel insurance plans

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Travel insurance is a must-have when planning for a trip. It protects you financially in case of medical emergencies, cancelled flights, and any other unexpected situations. It comes with several plans for you to choose from, depending on your needs, and in today’s blog post, we will be looking at different plans to help you make a well-informed decision.

Travel medical insurance

Your regular cheap medical travel insurance cover does not protect you when travelling abroad, so the only way to protect yourself from any health risks while on your trip is to take out a travel medical insurance policy. It covers any medical, dental, and evacuation costs incurred during your travels. You can purchase travel medical insurance for a single trip or multiple trips over a certain period.

Travel accident insurance

Sometimes your travel plans can take a turn for the worse, causing you to lose your eyesight, mobility, or even your life. If you are a frequent world traveller who visits risky regions, this insurance plan will cover any unexpected losses that occur during your trips. It will pay you or your beneficiary if you are seriously injured or lose your life while travelling. When shopping for travel accident insurance, ensure that you and your beneficiary read and understand the policy’s conditions and exclusions.

Baggage and personal items loss

This insurance plan provides reimbursement for damaged, lost, or stolen baggage, as well as other personal items. It covers your entire trip and not just flight-related activities. The baggage and personal items insurance policy is a must-have if you carry high-value items such as fine jewellery or expensive equipment.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance

Flight delays are not uncommon when travelling. They can be caused by an airline labour strike, health emergencies, or bad weather. Whatever the reason for the delay is, you must be well prepared for these circumstances. Travel delay insurance covers both accommodation and meal costs while you wait for your flight.

To find the price for travel accident insurance, use Compare Insurance today.

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Travel Insurance

Common travel insurance mistakes people make

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When it comes to taking out long stay travel insurance, many of us simply don’t get it right! Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when they need this type of insurance.

Not taking it out in the first place

Taking a risk and skipping getting travel insurance is a big no-no that should simply never happen. Even if you’re only going overseas for a weekend, to somewhere you’ve been before, or visiting friends and family, if something goes amiss on your trip, it could end up costing a small fortune without insurance in place.

Not declaring a medical condition

Failure to declare a pre-existing medical condition on your insurance form might save you a few pounds on your insurance premium, but it’s not worth taking the risk if you need medical treatment for this condition while you’re away. You won’t be covered and you’ll end up footing the bill yourself.

Buying single-trip policies if you’re a frequent traveller

If you travel a lot, buying a single-trip insurance policy each time you go away could prove to be a false economy. Get yourself organised and look into buying a multi-trip annual policy, which could save you money in the long term.

Not checking destination cover

There’s no point taking out travel insurance if it doesn’t cover you for the destination(s) you’re heading to, so make sure the policy extends to all the places you intend to go to on your travels. Some policies are for a single country only, while others cover a region or continent. It’s especially important you take out the correct policy if you’re embarking on a round-the-world trip.

Opting for the cheapest policy

No matter what type of insurance you take out, whether it be car insurance, medical insurance or travel insurance, comparing prices is always a good idea to make sure you’re getting the best deal. But, don’t think that the cheapest price is always the most favourable option to go for. In some cases, the cheapest policy could see you paying extra excess if you make a claim, or it may not even cover you for all the aspects you need. With this in mind, always read the small print when weighing up your options.

Our travel insurance comparison website will help you find the right baggage insurance for you, ensuring no mistakes need to be made.

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Travel Insurance

5 signs you need travel insurance

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Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, purchasing international travel health insurance can give you peace of mind throughout your stay. Unfortunately, many travellers forgo insurance, resulting in significant losses. If you’re on the fence about buying travel insurance, here are five signs you need it.

1) You’re travelling internationally

Travel doesn’t always go as planned. You might lose your wallet, fall ill, or get mugged, making insurance a necessity to cover you against any additional costs or losses if something goes wrong.

2) You’re worried you might get sick

Getting the flu or a cold while travelling can be many people’s worst nightmare. These conditions can not only make the trip uncomfortable, but they can also result in significant financial losses if medical treatments are required. Fortunately, most travel insurance policies cover emergency medical treatments, ensuring you can get free medical care.

3) You’re travelling with valuable luggage

Travelling to a new destination with luggage has many risks, including theft, burglary, and vandalism. If you’re carrying important documents, expensive gadgets, designer clothes, or cash with you, consider purchasing travel insurance to cover your possessions.

You’ll feel safer knowing you can be reimbursed if your items get lost or stolen.

4) You plan to partake in adventurous activities

Mountain climbing, sky diving, white-water rafting, zip-lining, and kayaking are part of holiday travel. While these outdoor activities are fun, they are dangerous and can lead to severe and life-threatening injuries that require medical attention, making insurance crucial.

However, you’ll need to pay extra for your cover as most insurers exclude certain activities in basic insurance policies.

5) You booked non-refundable flights and hotels

Life happens, and you may need to cancel an upcoming flight to tend to other vital matters. If you purchased a non-refundable hotel stay or flight, you could stay at home, but you won’t get your money back. Luckily, insurance covers non-refundable trip deposits, cushioning you from such losses.

Travelling locally or abroad can be stressful, but with the best international travel insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing you’re covered if things don’t go as planned. We can help you find insurance cover that suits you today. All you have to do is use our handy comparison tools.

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