Consider the type of holiday you are going on and the amount of risk. Illustration: Jamie Wignall Money hacks How to get a good deal on travel insurance The lowdown on how much cover you need, global health insurance card and Covid-19 factors

The type of cover you need depends largely on three factors: where you are going, how long you are going for and who you are travelling with. For most standard policies you will be asked if you are travelling within Europe or beyond.

Before you pay for a policy, check to see how the insurer is classifying this. Some European insurance will include certain countries outside the continent, for instance, while worldwide cover can include or exclude travel to the US. Make sure your policy includes the country you are travelling to.

Consider how many trips you plan to make. Annual cover tends to be the best value if you are travelling more than twice in a year. Single trip cover may make more financial sense if you are only planning to head away once or twice. Annual cover is not designed for a gap year – there is usually a limit on the length of each trip. If you plan to travel for more than 30 days at a time you will need to seek out a specialist policy.

If you are travelling with a partner or with your family, you could save money by covering everyone under the same policy. However, if one member of your party needs specialist cover because of existing medical conditions or their age, it might be more cost effective to cover them separately.

Consider the type of holiday you are going on, too. Skiing in the French Alps carries a lot more risk to health than sitting on a beach in Spain for a week. Your policy will need to be comprehensive enough to cover the danger – and may cost more as a result.

Heading to Europe? Have your European health insurance card (Ehic) or global health insurance card (Ghic) to hand, both of which are free to apply for via the NHS website. These offer you access to medically necessary healthcare for free, or at the cost paid by residents of the country you are in.

The ‘G’ or global version of this insurance came in after Brexit and is the one you need if you are a UK citizen travelling in Europe. The Ehic is for non-UK citizens who live in the country, or students and some state pensioners living in the EU.

Work out how much cover you need

When looking at prices make sure you are comparing like with like, and pay attention to the excess. This is what you’ll pay towards what your insurer will pay out to you in compensation. Ensure you are able to afford the excess in the event that you do have to claim.

Only the best policies will include cover for cancellations down to changes in Foreign Office advice because of Covid-19 and lockdown rules. If your holiday or flight is cancelled, bear in mind that insurers will only pay out for money you can’t claim back in other ways. Contact your accommodation and transport providers for refunds first before you give them a call.

If you are booking through a travel agent, you may also be offered insurance as part of the package. If your agent tries to make you buy from it, however, or increases the cost of your holiday if you turn it down, it is breaking the law. You can contact Citizens Advice for further information on how to make a complaint.

Source: The Guardian

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