Travel Insurance - avoiding disasters!

15th April 2011

It's that time of year again when you start looking around for your perfect summer holiday. Everyone shops around looking for that great deal, but the one thing that most people either forget or leave to the last minute is travel insurance.

With the combination of natural disasters, financial troubles of major tour operators and airlines, and the prevalence of non-refundable airline tickets, purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself against unforeseen events is important.

Thomas, Carroll can offer you a variety of options around travel insurance. At Thomas, Carroll we are also able to offer comprehensive insurance for an array of pre-existing medical conditions, often at no extra charge.

Premiums start as little as £14 for students, teachers and young people between the ages of 18 and 25.

Which kind of travel insurance is right for you?

There are several different types of travel insurance policies available, ranging from trip cancellation to emergency medical evacuation. Make sure you know exactly what your policy covers before you purchase anything. The types of insurance available are:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: covers you if unforeseen events cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip. In general, this coverage is meant for illness, injury or death suffered by you or a member of your immediate family. Extended Public Liability
• Medical insurance: encompasses several types of coverage. Emergency medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of transportation if a qualified physician determines that you must be evacuated for treatment to the nearest medical facility or to the UK (if it's warranted), due to a physical injury or sickness
• Baggage loss and delay: cover protects you in the event that your luggage is lost, delayed or stolen.
• Flight delay or cancellation insurance: typically pays for accommodations, meals and new travel arrangements once you've been delayed a certain amount of time.
• Travel document protection kicks in to help you replace a passport or other travel documents when they're lost or stolen.

Annual Insurance

If you travel many times a year (particularly internationally), it may be more economical to purchase annual insurance instead of individual policies for each trip. Annual insurance may also be a good idea if you regularly travel to developing countries, even if it's only a few times a year.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

The problem of obtaining travel insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions can seem a daunting prospect. More and more policies are becoming available via the internet but those who apply often find such sites to be overbearing or unclear in how their cover will react in the event of the unexpected..

As a preferred travel insurance provider to some of the UK's leading cruise agents we have a wealth of experience in reviewing such medical problems and have direct access to a panel of insurers who can help. Screening medical conditions is straightforward, discreet and confidential.

Existing Insurance Cover

If you're asking yourself whether you need to buy travel insurance for an upcoming trip, first look at the insurance policies you already have to see what they will cover. Some health insurance policies will cover medical emergencies overseas while others will not. Many household contents policies cover baggage loss. Also, many credit card companies (particularly gold cards) offer their members baggage loss, international medical assistance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance if they simply charge their airline tickets on their credit card or for a small additional fee..

It is certainly worth having a review of what you currently have and ensure that you are adequately covered for your trip. .

Purchase your travel insurance today

Purchase online| call us on 02920 887733 | email: gareth.williams@thomas-carroll.co.uk