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We’ve all been there, we’ve found a great holiday we’d like to go on and we’re really excited about it and then you get hit with the crashing reality of trying to get the right insurance.
It doesn’t matter if you’re travelling abroad or staying here in the UK, you always need to get some sort of holiday insurance, just to cover yourself in case there are problems with your accommodation or travel. While finding travel insurance won’t be a problem for everyone, if you’re someone with a medical condition or you use mobility aids or you’re a certain age, getting insurance can be costly and tiring. Which is why we’ve put together some tips to make the whole thing go a bit smoother. You might wonder why you would even need insurance if you’re staying in the UK, you won’t need to prove that you can pay for medical help after all, but it is important in case any of your belongings are stolen or lost in transit or if your accommodation is unable to fulfil any accessibility needs that you might have. When in doubt, always make sure you have checked out what insurance is available and if it will cover you.
The first thing to remember is that insurance providers will take the following into account: Your age, pre-existing medical conditions, where you are going and how long for. Now, you can already cut down some of the cost by staying in the UK, but here are some additional tips to help further.
Age Matters
You might find that some insurers will refuse you based purely on your age. This can happen once you reach 75, which isn’t fair. There are plenty of spritely 75 year olds and older out there. If you’re concerned that your age may be a factor, make sure to look at companies that tailor their plans exclusively for pensioners, AgeUK will be able to point you in the right direction, so speak to them for their recommendations.
Be aware of your terms and conditions
You’ve found someone who has agreed to insure you – but have they? When booking travel insurance with existing medical conditions or wanting something that will also cover any equipment you may have to take with you, be sure to thoroughly combe through the terms and conditions of the policy before you exchange any money. Some policies will only cover you for a certain amount of equipment or depending on the value of the equipment only for a percentage. There are also clauses relating to medical conditions, so make sure you are clear on what you are and what you’re not covered for before you buy.
Plan your trip before you buy insurance
You’ve gotten insurance – great! But now you’ve decided you’re going to have a go at some jet ski racing while you’re away… are you covered for that? Some policies won’t cover you for taking part in certain activities, so you either need to find a specialised insurer who will cover you or speak to your insurer to see if you need to add anything extra to your policy.
Whatever type of holiday you’re planning on and whatever kind of insurance you need, it is always better to be safer rather than sorry. Having insurance will give you peace of mind and may also save you from ending up out of pocket if you have to cancel your trip or anything unforeseen happens while you’re away. Your bank will likely offer insurance as part of your account so speak to them to see if they can help you, if not, there are a number of online providers who can offer a more specialised policy and places like AgeUK are a good place to start.
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