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Travel Insurance if things go wrong
Why Travel Insurance?
For peace of mind before and during your holiday you may want to have adequate insurance cover. Some people may rely upon the small amount of insurance that are offered by premium credit cards provided that the whole trip is paid for using the credit card. Others may have chosen to book insurance with their holiday tour operator or business trip agent. Whatever make sure that the policy covers the following items:
Cancellation of, or cutting short, your holiday or business trip.
Illness or injury while you are away.
Loss or theft of your belongings.
Delayed or missed connection.
Liability for accidents to others.
You should disclose full details of any illness of a permanent or recurring nature. The insurers may want a doctor's note certifying that you are fit to travel. If you are ill or injured while abroad, keep all doctor's, chemist's and hospital bills to support your claim.
Many insurers provide a 24 hour emergency service. Take the number and a copy of the policy with you.
Travel insurance policies come in many term lengths, ranging from the specific length of your trip such as a short break all the way up to annual coverage for the most frequent travellers. Different policies will cover different amounts of loss and expense and will inevitably have exceptions and deductibles.
Not all travel insurance policies are appropriate for all forms of travel, however. An annual policy may be too much coverage for a couple going to the Costa del Sol for two weeks each year; similarly, an annual policy renewed without investigation may not cover longer periods of travel or certain activities, such as skiing or scuba diving. Family policies may exclude children once they reach a certain age.
The best advice is to seek out a specialist broker and compare premiums against the cover offered.
Medical Cover with Form E111 within the European Union
If you are travelling to a European Country, you can take along a Form E111 which will entitle you to free or discounted emergency medical care. You can pick up a Form E111 from a Post Office. Children in your party will need their own form. To get an E111 you will need to quote your National Insurance or NHS number. Form E111 is no substitute for travel insurance, so it is advisable to take out travel insurance as well. Travel insurance will cover you for expenses, such as repartiation, which the E111 does not cover.
There may be extra expenses that insurance cover would meet and which E111 would not, such as repatriation. Travel insurance will also cover you in the countries where the E111 does not apply.
The European Union Countries are
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvis, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain(but not the Canary Islands), Sweden, United Kingdom(but not the Channel Islands).
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