The days are getting warmer and the summer holidays are getting closer. We all look forward to our summer breaks but there’s always the chance of our travel plans getting disrupted. Greater passenger numbers across Europe meant that some airports were overwhelmed, last year, leading to flight delays and missed connections. So, what can we do?
Make sure you get insured
Travel insurance protects you and your family from a range of risks when you travel. Whether you just buy it for just one holiday (single trip insurance) or to cover you for a whole year of travel (multi-trip insurance).
What type of cover does travel insurance normally provide?
Travel insurance provides cover in six main areas – medical expenses, personal liability, personal accident, cancellation and curtailment, delayed and missed departures, and money and belongings. This often includes:
- Trip cancellation or curtailment due to circumstances beyond your control
- Delayed or missed departure
- Emergency medical treatment abroad and/or repatriation expenses if you fall ill or become injured while abroad
- Loss, damage, or delayed arrival of your personal possessions
- Loss or theft of money
- Replacing a lost passport
- Legal expenses and personal liability cover in the event of you injuring a third party or damaging their property as a result of an accident
- A fixed payment if you suffer permanent disability or death.
Watch the excess and any restrictions
Each section of your policy may be subject to specified limits, excesses and exclusions. So, when you’re choosing travel insurance, it’s important to not only compare the cost of cover but also the level of cover being offered.
Existing cover from your health insurance
Some Irish health insurers may cover your medical costs, including your medical treatment, if you fall ill while travelling abroad. So, if you have health insurance, contact your provider and check your policy to see what you are covered for, before you buy travel insurance.
Hire car insurance
If you’re planning to hire a car, your car hire provider might want to sell you car hire excess insurance when you go to pick up your rental car. But you might get better value if you buy car hire excess insurance, in advance, from an insurer instead.
So, if you want fewer things to worry about when you travel this summer, get the right level of travel insurance.
