Travel Insurance

There are two main types of travel insurance policy:

Annual multi-trip travel insurance.

This covers all trips during a year for a one-off fee, within a set maximum number of days away (usually between 30 and 60). Trips are mostly defined as business or travel overseas (even a day trip), or more than two consecutive nights away in the UK at prepaid accommodation starting the moment you leave until the moment you return.

Winter sports may be included, usually for a limited number of days, though do check it covers equipment and any more unusual sporting pursuits.

Single trip travel insurance.

This has been given a bad name due to over-expensive travel agents’ policies. Actually, it can be good value, just a few pounds for a week away.

The rough rule of thumb for this is:

If you go away more than two times a year, including weekend breaks, you're better off with an annual policy.

What to cover

A limit of £2,000,000 for medical expenses should be adequate.

Personal liability cover, which pays out if you damage other people or their property, should be £1 million; and also ensure there’s cover for cancellations and curtailments, luggage and possessions possibly including lost cash, legal expenses and delay.

Annual Policy Picking

Family insurance is cheaper. Combined insurance for a couple or family usually costs less as the risks increase more with ‘each trip’ than 'each person'.

Europe-only cover is cheaper. If you’re unlikely to venture further afield, pick European only cover.

Don’t trust credit card insurance

There’s a lot of confusion about credit card travel insurance. Often it’s actually only travel accident insurance, which only covers accidents had while in a train, plane or hire car paid for on the card, so never think this means you're covered. 

A few platinum cards do genuinely offer free travel insurance, though the cover levels are usually poor and usually you must pay both the deposit and full holiday cost on the card or you’ll fall foul of their conditions.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has replaced the old E111 card and entitles the holder to free or discounted medical treatment in any EU country plus Switzerland.

It isn’t a substitute for travel insurance, as medical cover can be very limited and it won’t cover repatriation costs or lost money, baggage or cancellation. However it’s a useful safety net and travel insurers often request it; meaning you mightn't need to pay an excess when claiming.

At Brown Bevan we deal with leading insurers in the travel insurance market offering comprehensive cover at competitive premiums.