7 Common Mistakes People Make With Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is an essential purchase when you go away on holiday. If you are just going on one trip this year, a single trip holiday insurance policy is invaluable. However, even if you do remember to take out a policy, there are a number of common mistakes many travellers make. Don't be one of them – here are seven mistakes to avoid.

1. Not informing the insurer about pre-existing conditions

This is one of the biggest problems when it comes to buying single trip holiday insurance. Every insurer will have a different description of what constitutes a pre-existing condition, but in general it is a medical condition you already know about before buying your policy.

A pre-existing condition could cause health problems when you are abroad, which affects the insurer's decision of whether to provide you with a policy. If you don't declare a condition, you could find that you end up without cover if you require medical attention. So if you are unsure, always check with your insurer beforehand - and always be honest about any conditions you may have.

2. Failing to get cover for the events you need

All single trip holiday insurance policies are slightly different. Some will include events such as cancellation, and some will not. You need to ensure you have the right events for your holiday, so don't just assume that everything is covered.

3. Failing to get cover for activities

You may assume that all sports activities are covered on your policy, but this is rarely the case. Scuba diving, bungee jumping and other activities with a higher risk factor are often not covered and you may need to purchase cover for these separately.

4. Assuming your valuables are covered

If you are travelling with valuables, don't assume they are automatically covered. They may well be, but check the policy details first to make sure. Even if they are covered, they may have a maximum claim per item, which could be lower than the value, so make sure you know what is covered.

5. Forgetting about the excess

If you do need to make a claim, you will often have to pay an excess. This is usually the first £50 or so of any claim, but the excess varies from policy to policy. You may even be able to pay less for your premium in return for a higher excess, so check the options when you purchase.

6. Buying a policy for everyone separately when family cover is available

If you're going on a family holiday, you may be able to buy one policy to cover everyone. If you buy each policy separately it could well end up costing more, so always check to find out whether there is a family policy available.

7. Choosing the cheapest policy you can find

Everyone likes a bargain, but when it comes to covering yourself make sure you find the most suitable policy for you - which may well not be the cheapest. Don't just go on price alone or you may find that you do not end up with the cover you need.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to buying a single trip holiday insurance policy, so make sure you avoid the above mistakes. Spend some time looking for a suitable policy that is just right for you.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Insuremore. We provide low cost travel insurance and offer a range of policies including single trip holiday insurance, annual, multi-trip and family cover. For all your travel cover needs, Insuremore can help you in the quickest and most cost-efficient way.