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Travel InsuranceWhen To Get Travel Insurance
If you're travelling abroad for any reason, or embarking on extreme activities in the UK, travel insurance is a must. Even if you plan everything perfectly things can still go wrong. Your flights may be cancelled, tours cut short, your luggage, money or paperwork may be stolen, or worst of all you or your family could suffer a medical emergency.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has published a case study that highlights the need for travel insurance;
“I'm a medical student and 18 months ago I went travelling to Tanzania with one of my friends. We had both prepared thoroughly, taking out full insurance and were both equipped with medical kits. While we were abroad I became very ill and dehydrated and was unable to drink due to a kidney infection.
“I was taken to a small hospital in the mountains but was still unable to drink or keep any water down. I then had to be taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Nairobi where I stayed for four days.
“Eventually I was taken back to England and had my flight upgraded so that I was more comfortable. I am incredibly relieved that I was prepared and had taken out travel insurance which covered my air ambulance to Nairobi and my transportation home, otherwise this traumatic experience would have cost me in the region of £50,000 to £100,000.”
Emergency travel in the case of health problems could cost you thousands, and medical care in other countries may not be free.
The five locations injury is most likely to occur are on roads, on the beach, in hotels, in remote locations and on the ski slopes.
Even if your holiday will be considered relatively safe, you should still find suitable (less expensive) travel insurance cover for your journey. Many travel insurance packages are available to you – it pays to shop around and find a policy that suits your needs. The cost of your policy will depend on the activities you plan to undertake.
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