If you're a premium customer with a bank or credit card company, then chances are that you'll already have travel insurance included. This is particularly likely if you're paying a monthly fee for your banking. Make sure you check this out with your bank and read the small print of the deal ? it might not be valid outside of the EU or if you have special circumstances, but a phone call should clear this up. If you don't have a policy already, then it really pays to shop around. It's easier to do now thanks to the web ? all you really need to do is key ?travel insurance? into a search engine, flick a few of the results and enter your requirements. Price comparison websites are particularly useful, so if you filter through a couple of these then you'll be on the right track.
Any Special Circumstances?
Be careful if you or anyone in your travelling party has special circumstances ? it's possible that prices will be higher as a consequence. Special circumstances include a history of serious illness, pregnancy or being over 65 ? all of which present higher risks for insurers. Specialist insurers such as SAGA may be able to help you here, but should you not be able to find a decent quote, you may be able to forego your clause about any history of illness ? just remember it'll be on your head should anything go wrong. Also if you are travelling in the EU, make sure you have an EHIC card. This will provide you with the same amount of cover as a citizen of the country you are visiting, which will mean you will get free or discounted treatment should you fall ill or be injured.
Know What You Need
When booking a holiday, it's quite easy to be sold a travel insurance policy that over covers you. For instance, you could be asked to upgrade to a platinum policy, which might offer ?200 million worth of medical cover ? but when would you actually need such an excessive amount of cover? In essence, it's incredibly unlikely. You're never really going to need more than ?2 million worth of medical cover, while for personal liability (damage to other people and their property) ?1 million should be enough, and ?1,500 for baggage. Meanwhile, also make sure you have cover for cancellation and delays; there's nothing more soul destroying than getting excited for your dream holiday, only to find you can't go for reasons out of your control and yet you still have to fork out for it.
