At this time of year, many of us are turning our thoughts to our holidays. It’s one way to get through the last dreary days of winter: something to look forward to. And in these cost-conscious times, we know it’s wise to book early because there may not be many bargains available later.
When you have bagged your flight, ferry crossing, hotel, flat or villa, do give some serious thought to your travel insurance. If you go away throughout the year, it pays to buy an annual policy which will cover you for anything from a weekend break in a British country cottage to the exotic holiday of a lifetime in another hemisphere.
For people who make one major excursion a year, single-trip insurance is perfect. The BIBA travel insurance we offer you at 50plus allows you to specify the destination and duration of the holiday, so that you only pay for what you need in terms of cover: for example, if you are intending to visit the USA, you will need a higher level of medical insurance than you would in Europe. You can also insure as a couple, a family, or an intrepid single traveller.
Although we hope nothing untoward happens while you are enjoying your well-earned break, the reassurance of having proper medical insurance is unparalleled. Most countries will provide emergency help of some sort, but there may well be a cost. Even in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will only provide whatever local entitlements there are. This may be free treatment; or there may be a co-payment system; or it may be necessary to pay and then seek reimbursement on your return. There is no provision at all for repatriation: for serious injuries, you might need an air ambulance, or a medically-qualified escort on a scheduled flight, with ambulances either end.
Older travellers also present an increased level of risk when it comes to travel health insurance. If you buy your travel insurance at the supermarket checkout, on the airport concourse or even as part of your banking package, you will probably only be covered for any new condition which arises. If you have a pre-existing problem, it will be excluded – and that could be very expensive indeed in some holiday destinations. BIBA travel insurance allows the traveller a simple telephone medical screening process which enables the insurer to assess the risk and offer a higher level of excess on pre-existing medical conditions, if necessary. In some cases and for some destinations, the insurer may choose not to accept the risk at all. If this is the case, you have the choice of opting to pay for any medical care yourself, or rethinking your destination, and you can choose accordingly.
If you would like to take out annual or single-trip travel insurance, call us on 0800 195 8002, or click here to go to our online travel insurance page.
