PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THE WORLD
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What to look for:
One of the most important things that you can possibly buy and need whilst travelling is travel insurance.
While a lot of people think ‘I’m healthy, I don’t need travel insurance. I won’t get sick,’ travel insurance is something you absolutely need on the road. You never know what could happen, and most health plans don’t cover you overseas.
It is much more than just medical protection. It covers you when your camera breaks, your flight is canceled, a family member dies and you have to come home, lose a bag, or something is stolen. It’s all-purpose emergency coverage and is the single most important thing you should get but hope to never have to use. And, as it only costs a few pounds or dollars a day, you’re foolish not to get it.
Travel insurance has more than proved its worth many, many times. It’s the kind of thing you will be very thankful for when you need it but hope you never do. After all, you don’t want to end up like my friend who didn’t have insurance when her computer was stolen and had to pay out of pocket for a new one. It is also one of the most complex and confusing aspects of trip planning. With the myriad of plans and companies out there, people can easily get confused about what they should get and why.
A great policy will always include the following provisions:
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Cover most countries in the world
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Some coverage for your electronics (and have the option for a higher coverage limit)
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Cover injury and sudden illnesses
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Twenty-four hour emergency services and help (you don’t want to call to be told to call back later)
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Cover lost, damaged or stolen possessions like jewelry, baggage, documents, cameras, etc.
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Cancellations such as hotel bookings, flight, and other transportation bookings if you have a sudden illness, death in the family, or some other emergency
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Emergencies, strife in the country visited, etc., that cause you to head home early
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Should include personal accident coverage
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Have financial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you are stuck in another country
Providers:
There are numerous travel insurers out there but which one should you go for? I used Travel Supermarket to compare the best prices online as well as the best policies for me.
The best one that stood out by far was:
Their best policy for me was £237.93 (2016) and includes: £2500 cancellation, £10m Medical Expenses, £1000 baggage, £500 personal money, 79 sports and activities, and 199 countries amongst other things.
This worked out at least £200-300 cheaper than popular insurance companies such as STA Travel, True Traveller and World Nomads. This was without any of the add ons so I can only imagine how much more expensive that would have been had I gone through them. It is always worth scouting around though to find the best deal.
Travel insurance is a Plan B. Don’t be penny wise but pound foolish. Get the insurance! Find a company that works for you and be covered. Life is full of accidents. Don’t end up spending all your money on some emergency because you didn’t want to spend a few hundred to be covered!
UPDATE
After having travelled for over a year now, their insurance policy was one of the best. It protected me in all types of scenarios and they were always super fast at reply to me, sometimes almost instantaneously which was fantastic.
I honestly cannot recommend this company enough for insuring yourself on your travels.
To be prepared is a safe traveller
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