Often people don’t think about their travel insurance policy until they need to make a claim on it – which is all well and good if you have selected the perfect policy and are dealing with a company that just loves to hand out money. Sound likely? Probably not. Making sure you have the right cover is only half the story when it comes to getting money out of the provider, so here are a few simple things to do before you even leave on your holiday, which can make all the difference if the worst were to happen.
Check you aren’t already covered
Although travel insurance is much cheaper than it used to be, there’s no use over-insuring yourself. Check with your spouse that you aren’t already covered by a valid policy before you buy a new one. Did you already buy annual cover or multi-year policy and forget? Does your home insurance come with built in travel cover? Do you have a credit card or membership with a company that includes travel insurance? No? Then compare the cheapest options online and save yourself some money.
Buy a suitable policy
Make sure you are selecting a policy that covers the specific type of trip you are taking. If you are going to be engaging in extreme sports, a regular policy won’t cover you. There are also some destinations that require increased cover. There’s no point buying cover if it’s not going to count if something goes wrong, so choose carefully.
Double check requirements
Make sure you check the fine print on the policy. It may come with terms and conditions such as up-to-date travel injections or exclusions for travel to certain destinations during extreme weather conditions. Make sure you know exactly what you will be covered for. Also ensure you have the correct visas for your destinations as you probably won’t be covered from your return flight if you are denied entry at the border.
Copy your travel documents
Make sure you take a copy of the policy with you with all the emergency phone numbers you might need. Also make two copies of all your travel documents, including your passport, visa information, credit card details (and emergency numbers), etc. Either carry one paper copy with you (separate from the originals) and leave one copy at home, or store a digital copy in an online folder. This can help you access the right help if/when you need it.
Photograph your valuables
It’s a good idea to leave your best jewels at home, but if you are taking expensive cameras, iPads, phones, laptops with you, make sure you have photographed them before you leave, and keep the photos at home with the receipts or proof of purchase. This can help establish the value of anything that gets lost or stolen, and help when it comes to making a claim. Also be sure to check what your policy specifies if something is stolen – you may have to have a local police report in order to make a claim when you get home.
{Image: Highways Agency}
It may come with terms and conditions such as
up-to-date travel injections or exclusions for travel to certain
destinations during extreme weather conditions. Make sure you know
exactly what you will be covered for. Also ensure you have the correct
visas for your destinations as you probably won’t be covered from your
return flight if you are denied entry at the border.