Travel Insurance - Best Policies?
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Travel Insurance - Best Policies?
Hi Folks,
It's come to that time of the year where I need to renew my travel insurance policy. Over the years I've generally found that most policies offer similar coverage, no matter how much you pay, so I've generally gone for a compromise between low price and low excess. On the rare occasions where I've needed to make a claim, I've found the whole process to be so tedious and time consuming that I've never seen it through to the point of receiving compensation
This year, I've decided to see if I can find a decent policy which genuinely meets my needs. I travel pretty often so something which will cover delays and missed departures would probably be useful (I often do multi modal trips, e.g. Flight-long distance Train-Flight. It generally works but there is ample scope for things to go wrong!). I have decent camera equipment so something with a low excess and no limit on the value of goods would also be desirable. These are my main requirements.
A separate requirement is coverage in areas where FCO advises against travel. I am coming to the end of postgraduate education and envisage travelling to, and writing about, unstable countries (in the next twelve months I expect to find myself in Ukraine, Egypt, Northern Pakistan and Jordan amongst other destinations). This will be on a quasi self-employed basis. Are there any policies that would cover such travel or will I require a dedicated insurance policy?
Does anyone have any brokers or providers that they would recommend? Google has not been helpful in this endeavour.
Thanks in advance
It's come to that time of the year where I need to renew my travel insurance policy. Over the years I've generally found that most policies offer similar coverage, no matter how much you pay, so I've generally gone for a compromise between low price and low excess. On the rare occasions where I've needed to make a claim, I've found the whole process to be so tedious and time consuming that I've never seen it through to the point of receiving compensation
This year, I've decided to see if I can find a decent policy which genuinely meets my needs. I travel pretty often so something which will cover delays and missed departures would probably be useful (I often do multi modal trips, e.g. Flight-long distance Train-Flight. It generally works but there is ample scope for things to go wrong!). I have decent camera equipment so something with a low excess and no limit on the value of goods would also be desirable. These are my main requirements.
A separate requirement is coverage in areas where FCO advises against travel. I am coming to the end of postgraduate education and envisage travelling to, and writing about, unstable countries (in the next twelve months I expect to find myself in Ukraine, Egypt, Northern Pakistan and Jordan amongst other destinations). This will be on a quasi self-employed basis. Are there any policies that would cover such travel or will I require a dedicated insurance policy?
Does anyone have any brokers or providers that they would recommend? Google has not been helpful in this endeavour.
Thanks in advance
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Sorry - England. Was about to write UK, but the distinction might become significant in a few months
Find one that does not have a terrorism exclusion.
(Quite an important thing in this day and age, I'm sure you'll agree !)
At the moment, I know of only one, operated by Tokio Marine (happens to be the BIBA recommended policy too !) ... from their website :
The key benefits of this product include:
• Independent travel for all insureds under one policy
• No terrorism exclusion
• £10m standard medical cover
• Children under a family policy are covered up to the age of 23 if still in full time education, even if not residing at the same address
• Many hazardous activities (eg scuba diving) are covered as standard
• Single excess applies per family, per incident
• Infants aged under 4 years are covered for free on an adult policy
• Adults can be covered up to the age of 85 on a single trip policy, 75 on an annual multi-trip policy
• Up to 45 days any one trip, with unlimited trips on an annual multi-trip policy (31 days for person aged 71 years and over)
• Up to the maximum age for winter sports
• Option to increase from 45 days to 60 days stay on annual multi-trip policy for persons aged under 71 years
• Pre-existing medical conditions can be covered, subject to medical screening
• Cover for financial failure of airline or other end supplier not forming part of a package holiday
• Independent travel for all insureds under one policy
• No terrorism exclusion
• £10m standard medical cover
• Children under a family policy are covered up to the age of 23 if still in full time education, even if not residing at the same address
• Many hazardous activities (eg scuba diving) are covered as standard
• Single excess applies per family, per incident
• Infants aged under 4 years are covered for free on an adult policy
• Adults can be covered up to the age of 85 on a single trip policy, 75 on an annual multi-trip policy
• Up to 45 days any one trip, with unlimited trips on an annual multi-trip policy (31 days for person aged 71 years and over)
• Up to the maximum age for winter sports
• Option to increase from 45 days to 60 days stay on annual multi-trip policy for persons aged under 71 years
• Pre-existing medical conditions can be covered, subject to medical screening
• Cover for financial failure of airline or other end supplier not forming part of a package holiday
A separate requirement is coverage in areas where FCO advises against travel.
Does anyone have any brokers or providers that they would recommend?
Last edited by mixture; 9th May 2014 at 20:53.
The policy you mention sounds wonderful. Is it only available for purchase by UK residents ... and if so, could anyone kindly recommend something similar for those of us living in France? Many thanks in advance.
I would definitely be looking at a specialist policy, including kidnap insurance just incase. By travelling to countries against FCO advice you will invalidate most of the "tick the box while booking your flight" policies.
Insurance is still available but the cost may put you off a bit.
Insurance is still available but the cost may put you off a bit.
