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Health Insurance Travel Insurance

What does Brexit mean for travel insurance and healthcare in Europe?

The last 12 months have been dominated by COVID-19, and due to the global pandemic stopping people from being able to travel abroad, the ramifications associated with Brexit are yet to be experienced – or indeed acknowledged – by many people.

With the vaccine rollout going well, and with COVID-19 cases going down by the day, it seems likely that holidays will be on the agenda shortly, so what do you need to know? What impact has Brexit had and will it impact your ability to obtain health cover?

The GHIC

At the beginning of January 2021, the Government declared that all UK citizens would be able to apply for a scheme known as the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which was created and subsequently launched as part of the post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU.

Previously, UK citizens were able to access a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though this is now being phased out entirely. However, while the cards are somewhat similar, there are certain limitations that you should be aware of. While the EHIC made a point of not only covering the EU but also other European nations such as Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, the GHIC will not cover these non-EU countries (other than the UK).

To apply for a free GHIC card, simply follow this link to the NHS’s dedicated application page.

What the GHIC covers

The GHIC, just like the EHIC, has been designed to ensure those who are travelling abroad have access to care for one-off emergency medical issues, routine care for pregnant women, as well as treatment for any ongoing chronic illnesses.

Venturing further afield

The UK Government is currently in the process of finalising agreements with a host of other European countries that are not covered by the GHIC (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland). These will likely be finalised in the coming weeks, but for the time being, Norway has confirmed that UK passport holders will be able to get emergency health insurance simply by showing their passport. The other countries have not signed off on any such deal.

When it comes to heading outside of Europe, the UK already has agreements in place in principal with a host of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia. With regard to the remainder of the countries in the world, talks are currently ongoing, and it is expected that some kind of deal will be in place by the summer of 2021.

Take a look at our insurance comparison website today to find a business travel insurance policy that suits your needs.

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Travel Insurance

Tips for finding the best travel insurance deals

If you’re going on holiday abroad, you need travel insurance. Many people put off purchasing travel insurance because they think it is expensive and that they are unlikely to use it. However, travel insurance is an essential part of any foreign holiday – you shouldn’t leave home without it!

To help you find some better deals, here are some of our tips on getting cheap travel insurance.

Use comparison websites

Comparison websites, like our own, will help you find the best deals out there. You’ll be able to compare different deals and find the most suitable company for you.

Decide on the cover that you need before looking

Make sure that you write down exactly what you want your insurance to cover and look at all of these aspects in detail. For example, cover for an electronic item might have a big excess, so it may not actually cover your phone. If you have a really good idea of what cover you will need, it will make looking at our price comparison website much easier!

Think about eliminating some activities

You may be tempted to purchase cover for certain ‘risky’ activities. These could include SCUBA diving, skydiving, or mountain biking. Carefully look at what sports are included in this insurance bracket, and think about if you will really be doing them. If the answer is probably not, then you could eliminate them from your insurance package and get a cheaper deal. However, if you are not covered for them, this means that you will not get any medical help if you change your mind and decide to do any adventure sports.

Consider what you are already insured for

Your valuables may already be insured under home or contents insurance, or the home and contents insurance of someone that you live with. Make sure that you have a good understanding of what is already covered before you decide to buy.

If you are savvy and only insure what you need, you will be able to get a much cheaper seniors travel insurance! If you’re going on holiday, you need insurance, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

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Travel Insurance

What are the most common travel insurance claims?

Travel insurance is an essential pre-trip investment for any traveller. Travel insurance can help you pay for unexpected things that happen that would otherwise leave you largely out of pocket. But what are the most common travel insurance claims? Let’s take a look in this article!

The most common claims are for the following:

1) Flight delays

2) Cancellations of flights or accommodation

3) Medical costs

4) Lost or stolen baggage

A whopping 93% of travel insurance claims are for one of the above. Let’s explore in a little more detail…

Trip cancellation and delays

The most common reason for claiming on aib travel insurance tends to be trip cancellation or abandonment, with around 40% of claims being related to this.

Trip cancellation could come from the customer’s end or the supplier’s end – for example, if an airline goes bankrupt, they would subsequently cancel their customers’ trips.

However, trip abandonment could refer to when someone is unable to make a trip. This could be for a variety of reasons, including personal illness or illness of a relative, bereavement, moving jobs, or personal financial issues.

Illness or injury

Illness is the next most common claim, and many people consider this to be the most important thing to be insured for. This is because falling ill overseas, or having a bad injury, can result in bills of up to a million Dirhams or more.

And claiming for illness and injury is fairly common, although generally medical bills are less expensive. Still, having travel insurance for medical reasons is essential for peace of mind.

Lost or stolen baggage

Lost or stolen baggage is another common travel insurance claim. These are sometimes contested, especially if the baggage was not reported missing in time or left unattended.

There is also usually an excess, and some people find that the contents of their baggage are worth less than the excess, therefore they may not bother claiming.

There are many other things that you can claim on insurance for, but these are the main ones. As discussed, it’s important to have travel insurance not just so your holiday is covered if you need to cancel or if your airline or accommodation cancels, but so you are covered if you get ill overseas. Click here to find the right schengen visa insurance for you.

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Travel Insurance

Travel checklist: things to do before going on a trip

Are you planning a trip abroad at some point in the future? We bet that you’ll want a holiday somewhere soon! If that’s the case, make sure that you refer to this travel checklist for some useful tips of things to remember.

Pack appropriately for the destination

Of course, everyone packs their case before a trip, but try to do some research into the destination that you’re visiting and make sure that your case is full of appropriate attire and gear for the destination! For example, if you are going trekking in the jungle, you will want to make sure that you have mosquito spray. or if you’re going backpacking get backpacker travel insurance But if you are visiting the UK, you should pack an umbrella!

Pay all bills that you need to before going away

Nobody wants to have to negotiate an unpaid bill while on holiday. Ensure that any outstanding bills are already paid before you get on the plane and try to pay some in advance if possible. Make a detailed list of when your electricity, gas, water and internet bills are due, so you don’t forget any.

Turn all plugs in your house off

Make sure that you turn off anything that you can before going on holidays, such as plugs and lights. You will obviously need to keep some things, like your refrigerator, plugged in, but everything else should be turned off completely and not just left on standby. This will help you save some money on your insurance policy.

Keep updated with current affairs at your destination

This has become more important since COVID began, but it’s always a good idea to keep updated with current affairs before travelling somewhere because they can affect your entry requirements. In the lead up to your trip, check for any incidents of note or any border changes. If you do see anything worrying, contact your airline.

Make sure that you have insurance

Every time you go travelling abroad, you should have travel insurance. You can compare travel insurance plans and find the best one for you here.

If you’re looking for a travel insurance policy that works for you, get in touch with our team at Compare Insurance today.

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Travel Insurance

Is it safe to travel abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic?

We’ve been living with Covid for over a year now. Life as we know it has changed a lot, and many of us are wondering if we could sneak away for a holiday. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about travelling abroad during Covid-19.

Testing and quarantining is important

Most countries require you to take a test and quarantine before entering. This is really important – you need to make sure that you aren’t bringing any new strains of the virus into another country, or infecting people that you see on the way. If you do decide to travel, make sure that you take at least two tests and quarantine when you arrive.

Be aware of travel restrictions

Travel restrictions could change at any minute, and your travel insurance may not cover them. For example, travellers from the UAE must now quarantine for two weeks in UK hotels at their own cost. If you travel during the pandemic, you should be prepared to face random quarantines and extra costs which you may not get refunded for, especially flight cancellation insurance.

Know the risks of you catching Covid

Covid does disproportionately affect the old and people with underlying conditions. However, people who are young and fit have still become gravely ill due to this virus. If you can’t afford to pay for potential hospitalisation abroad, make sure that you find a travel insurance provider who has Covid cover (there aren’t many of them, but you can use our schengen insurance tool to look for them). If you aren’t insured and can’t afford to pay out of pocket, then you shouldn’t be thinking about travelling.

Plan your destination wisely

Some countries are in a bad situation due to the Covid pandemic, so tourism is the last thing on their mind, while other countries are concerned about the loss of tourism as an income source. If you must travel, choose a country that is dealing with the pandemic well, and that wants to welcome tourists back.

Use PPE

It goes without saying that, if you travel, you should wear a mask at all times in public places and keep your hands sanitised.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance Travel Insurance

Do I need insurance for domestic travel?

Are you going on holiday in the UAE? If you’re not leaving the country, you may be tempted to skip travel insurance. However, you should still make sure that you are covered for other eventualities. Here’s why you need domestic travel insurance.

Your health insurance will cover health issues

If you fall ill abroad, you need travel insurance to access healthcare. This isn’t the case if you’re staying within the UAE as long as you have adequate UAE medical insurance policy (if you don’t, be sure to check out our health insurance comparison tool and purchase insurance – it’s essential that you have it!).

You may need insurance for stolen luggage

There are virtually zero domestic flights in the UAE (and the few that do exist are very expensive!), so if you are travelling by bus, it may be prudent to take out insurance that covers your possessions. You may also want to cover your possessions for theft from your hotel room. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a travel insurance policy – you could take out separate contents insurance for your luggage.

Don’t forget car insurance

Most people travel around the UAE by car. Whether you are using your own car or a hired vehicle, make sure that you have comprehensive car insurance to cover any breakdowns or accidents.

Travel insurance may cover delays or cancellations

Travel insurance may be useful if you experience any bus delays or cancellations, or any issues with your hotel. However, bus journeys are generally too cheap to warrant taking out insurance for, and hotels normally have their own kind of insurance policies in place. While travel insurance when venturing abroad is always a good idea, in the UAE you may be able to get away with separate insurance policies.

You will likely already have health insurance and car insurance (if you are driving your own vehicle), so you could pay separately to have your luggage insured and make sure that everything is secure at your hotel. This will probably help you save money rather than taking out a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

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Travel Insurance

Best places to visit near the UAE

Are you looking for some weekend breaks to take from the UAE? The small nation benefits from excellent air links to other countries in the Middle East and beyond. Here are some easy and inexpensive weekend breaks that you can take from Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Before booking, remember to purchase worldwide travel insurance – you can use our comparison tool to find the best deal for your short break.

Qatar

Qatar is a tiny nation to the north-west of the UAE. It’s only a short flight, so you can easily visit just for a day or two. Qatar is one of the richest nations on the planet, so it’s a great place to visit for luxury travellers. Some of the best things to do in Doha, its capital, include visits to the Katara Cultural Village, the Barzan Towers, and a trip out of the city to see the desert.

Oman

Oman neighbours the UAE and can be reached by air or road. Muscat is a thriving city that is very welcoming to tourists, and the surrounding nature of Oman is absolutely epic. Don’t miss the many Wadis, including Wadi Shab, the Omani Desert, and the epic Sultan Qaboos Mosque.

Istanbul

Turkey is a large country, but Istanbul is well connected to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Istanbul sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and is a deeply historic city, making it one of the best places in the world to explore. Don’t miss the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, as well as views from the Galata Tower. Be sure to take a walk around Taksim, the new district of Istanbul, and try some delicious Turkish food!

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is a short flight from the UAE and is a popular tourist destination for travellers. It’s very authentic and is a great place to visit if you want to enjoy a completely different culture. The city is beautiful – make sure you take a cable car up to see the amazing views – and the Georgian countryside is marvellous too.

There are lots of places to visit near the UAE, but it is crucial that you compare holiday insurance whenever you go abroad – no matter for how short a time it is! Search our policies today to find the best deal for you.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance Travel Insurance

2 things you should avoid doing when buying insurance

When buying insurance, from covering your car to covering yourself abroad, it’s very important that we take the time to truly look into what we are purchasing. Many of us get into the habit of just trying to get it over and done with, especially when getting insurance is something we absolutely have to do.

However, insurance isn’t just something that we buy for peace of mind or because we have to. No, it’s something that we, unfortunately, might have to make a claim on and it’s vital that we choose correctly should that unwanted circumstance arrive.

So here are two things we should avoid doing when buying insurance:

1. Always going for the cheapest option

While this is very tempting, it can seriously backfire when making a claim. Many insurance companies offer similar cover at a fraction of the price to others and when this is the case, it’s only natural to go for the cheaper choice.

However, sometimes policies are much cheaper for a reason and it’s usually because they have a lot less to offer you. While going for the cheapest option may feel great when paying, if you do need to make a claim the chances are it’s going to cost you much more if you opted for a policy with a lot less cover.

2. Sticking to the same provider

Top 10 cheapest car insurance companies often give incentives to customers so that they renew any type of insurance cover with them rather than a competitor. This, coupled with the ease of renewing rather than switching, means that many of us choose to stay with the same provider when we could be much better off elsewhere.

From better cover to slightly cheaper rates, another company could offer you everything you’ve previously had and more. While it may be a hassle to set yourself up with a completely new company, this shouldn’t outweigh the potential benefits of doing so.

Buying insurance isn’t the most exciting thing in the world but in many cases, it is necessary and it’s because of this that we should take the time to really look into what it is we are buying. Avoiding the top two points can be a great start.

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Travel Insurance

Fun activities that your travel insurance can cover

Are you an adventurer? Whether you’re into diving, trekking, or mountain biking, there are plenty of places all over the world that will have trails, dives and tracks that will suit your needs. If your ideal holiday includes some of these activities, read on for more inspiration!

Remember that all of these activities are often classed as ‘extreme’ on family travel insurance policies, so make sure your travel insurance covers them for a worry-free trip.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is a popular past-time all over the world. We have some great spots in the UAE for diving, but other amazing locations include Australia (the Great Barrier Reef and the Ningaloo Reef), Indonesia, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Many people love diving when they are on holiday – it’s something out of the ordinary, and it’s a great chance to try a new skill. Make sure that your insurance policy covers scuba diving before you take to the water, however, and read the small print. You may find that you are only covered for dives up to a certain depth, or with other conditions.

Rock climbing

Some destinations are epic for rock climbing. Think the Scottish Highlands, Krabi in Southern Thailand, or Yosemite National Park in California. It’s a really fun activity that can help you see more of the natural landscape of the place that you are holidaying in. However, rock climbing is often an add on to your travel insurance, due to its hazardous nature, so make sure that you’re covered before strapping on the ropes!

Skydiving

Skydiving is on many people’s bucket list. Some of the best places in the world to skydive include Byron Bay in Australia and diving over The Palm islands right here in the UAE!

Tandem skydives are the most common type, and while these are a popular holiday activity, they aren’t actually covered on many insurance policies. Make sure that you check before you take to the sky – while skydiving is very safe, accidents have happened and it is always better to be sure.

If you are planning on doing any potentially hazardous activities on your holiday, make sure that you check your travel insurance policy first. Then you can relax and enjoy!

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Travel Insurance

Surprising things that travel insurance DOES cover

If you’re going on a trip, purchasing travel insurance is an absolute must. Single trip travel insurance helps you go away with peace of mind, knowing that any issues that come up won’t leave you out of pocket. Most people buy travel insurance to help them in case of any medical concerns, or if their trip gets cancelled. But there are some surprising things that are included in travel insurance policies.

Note: This is not the case for all policies, so do read the information carefully before purchasing your insurance.

Illness of a travel companion

If you’ve booked a trip with somebody and they are taken ill and can no longer go on holiday, you can likely get your money back. After all, if you’ve booked a romantic trip for two in the Maldives, you aren’t going to want to go on your own while your partner is ill, right? Most insurance policies will offer a full refund for the whole party even if only one is sick.

Losing a job

If you lose your job, don’t fret – you might not have to spend big bucks on an expensive holiday. Some travel insurance providers cover redundancies in their policies, as well as if you are required to work and can no longer take holiday time. Check with your provider, and confirm if you think that there may be any risk of you losing your job.

Pet medical expenses

If you are travelling with your pet, you might not need to fork out for expensive pet-only insurance. Some insurance packages have add ons just for pets. This will cover costs like pet illness when away, as well as pet return if something happens to you while you are abroad.

Renting a car

If you’ve ever rented a car abroad, you’ll know that they often try to upsell you to their car insurance. Often, this is very costly – and you might not need it. Travel insurance often covers damage to rental cars up to a certain amount.

If you think you might require assistance in any of these forms, give your travel insurance policy a thorough read and see if it will cover you – if it doesn’t, get in contact with your provider to enquire about upgrading.

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