5 Travel Insurance Questions You Find Truthful Answers Nowhere

There are plenty of travel insurance questions and answers in the Internet. The most frequent questions travellers ask are about pre-existing medical conditions, Annual Multi Trip and Single Trip travel insurance, covers for elderly people, backpackers and so on. You can find detailed answers to such popular questions in the Internet. However, as it always happens, there are some topics everyone tries not to bring up as well as there are some questions that everyone tries not to answer.

What is the best travel insurance deal?

There is no such a deal although many insurers will say there is. Nothing is perfect. Travel insurance included. Ideally, the perfect travel insurance should be reliable, low-budget and decent. Let’s face it. Can you imagine buying a cheap suit of high quality at a reliable seller? It is just impossible combination. Yes, you can manage to buy low-budget travel insurance at a reliable insurer and be covered for a few risks. Yes, you also can buy reliable and decent policy but it will not be cheap. Finally, yes, you can buy low-budget and decent cover but you take the risk of getting into accident that is not covered due to poor range of covers. Therefore, whatever you choose you may combine a maximum 2 out of 3 ingredients of aperfect travel insurance recipe. Unfortunately, you will have to sacrifice either your money or the quality of policy or reliability.

Why is it so difficult for elderly people to buy reasonable travel insurance?

We have to admit that risk is the reason for this. Unfortunately, things don’t work so well as people mature and many seniors have to undergo medical tests and are taking medication for various medical conditions. Statistics show that people aged 75 to 84 are nearly three times more likely to make a claim than someone aged 55. Also, the cost of each claim increases with age. Therefore, it is inevitable that premiums will eventually have to rise and a higher excess applied.

However, this is far better than elderly people finding themselves uninsurable resulting in a greater risk of them travelling without adequate travel insurance cover and leaving themselves at risk of financial ruin if they fall ill abroad. If you have a Pre-Existing Medical Condition, irrespective of your age you can either accept that the policy will not cover you for claims related to that particular condition or ask to include additional cover for an extra premium.

Read more: Top 12 Travel Insurance Questions Answered

Why are your prices so low?

Actually, prices depend on insurer. For instance, you can find the policy from one insurer costing £80 and the same plan from the other insurer costing £50. Actually everything depends on dozens of different factors such as number of insured accidents, maximum payouts, restrictions, excess levels etc. For example, you have found two similar policies from two different insurers. Coverage level is the same, restrictions are the same but the price differs.

If you dig into details you will see that they offer different excess levels. The cheaper option includes excess level three times higher than the more expensive option. This will result in less risk covered because you will have to cover all minor expenses yourself. If the first insurer provides excess of £150 and the second one - £50, all accidents between £50 and £150 won’t be covered by the first insurer. Besides, you will get less payout if an expensive accident occurs. In most cases price difference between policy costs is less than difference in excesses. If you save £15 on a policy you will receive £100 less for accident.

How can I be guaranteed that my claim will be resolved?

• You can’t be. You should be aware that sometimes it takes long to process data and receive money back. Here are some tips how to get what you have paid for:
• Be very persistent especially if you know you are right and they should give you money back.
• Be aware of what you purchase, read small print and ask all questions beforehand.
• If you don’t get any news from your insurer, remind them about your claim from time to time. Unfortunately, some insurance companies delay claims knowing that many policyholders will simply give up.
• Imagine that claim is like life – to get a result you should try all your best. You can see some people fighting till the end and some lose heart even not trying.
• All in all, don’t throw your money away!

What the EHIC actually covers and does not cover?

It is one of the most frequently asked questions: why should I bother with Travel Insurance if I have an EHIC and am only travelling to UK or other EU countries? To give the most detailed and truthful answer let’s point out what exactly is covered by EHIC and what’s not. But you should be aware that in several EU countries, some hospitals and clinics will refuse to acknowledge the EHIC!

What EHIC covers as follows:

• most (but not all) medical treatment that becomes necessary during your stay because of either illness or an accident,
• routine maternity care, (provided the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth),
• the provision of oxygen,
• renal dialysis and routine medical care
• you may receive free medical treatment

What EHIC does not cover as follows:

• the costs of private healthcare or services that are not part of the state healthcare system;
• the costs of being brought back to your home country (repatriation by air or road) when you are fit to travel;
• the cost for going abroad to specifically receive treatment (including going abroad to give birth);
• the cost of your relatives flying out (and back), their accommodation etc. in the event of your illness or injury;
• the cost for cancelling or cutting short your holiday because you or your travelling companion in unwell;
• the cost of any private medical healthcare;
• the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts etc.;
• the cost for the additional costs involved if your passport (and other property) is lost, stolen or damaged;
• the cost for your baggage in case it gets put on the wrong flight, or it is lost or stolen;
• the cost of your delayed flight because of bad weather, industrial action or breakdown of your aircraft, train or ship;
• the cost of your missed flight because of delay in public transport, or the vehicle taking you to the airport breaks down;
• In addition, the EHIC card may not be used in some regions, as there may be no state provided healthcare available.

Read more: EHIC? Good But Not That Good!