Travel Insurance

Whether you are flying, driving, or sailing, proper travel insurance is as essential as a valid passport. No one likes to think that things will go wrong but, unfortunately, sometimes they do. You could miss your flight or ferry, lose your baggage or money, or, perhaps worst of all, become ill or injured while you are abroad. Travel insurance can help you deal with these emergencies. For many people it enables them to continue their holidays, and those that have to curtail their holidays because of illness or injury, are given peace of mind knowing that they will receive the treatment they need and if necessary be brought home.

Arranging your travel insurance

Your travel agent may recommend a particular insurance company to provide your travel insurance or, the option to accept the Tour Providers own insurance as detailed in their brochure. However, you are not obliged to accept the cover they offer and substantial savings can be made by making your own arrangements. Here at John Lane Insurance we are normally able to offer a tailor made package for your own requirements at very competitive premiums. Whatever insurance policy you decide to buy, you should carefully examine the benefits and levels of cover that are offered.

Does the policy provide the cover you need?

Price is not always the best criterion, as some providers will trim benefits to reduce premiums. Bear in mind that most policies have an age limit for their standard cover, although they may offer cover for those over this age for an increased premium. You should make sure that every member of your family or party is covered. If you are a more frequent traveller you can probably save money by taking out an annual travel insurance policy, which start as low as £60-70 a year for an individual although this type of policy is not commonly available to mature travellers .

Cover for illness

Most policies will cover you for any emergency medical treatment you need when you are abroad. This is not the same as private medical insurance. Check the levels of cover and other benefits that are included. Can someone stay with you, for example? Is there a daily cash payment while in hospital abroad? Is there a medical advice line you can call if you are concerned about health matters? The policies we offer normally include a 24 hour emergency help line available from anywhere in the world.

Reciprocal medical care

The UK has reciprocal arrangements with other members of the EU, and a number of other countries, entitling you to free, or reduced-cost, emergency medical treatment. To qualify, you need form E111, obtainable from post offices. There is also a booklet telling you how to obtain treatment in each country. Countries not covered by these arrangements often have little or no free health service, and the private healthcare they provide can be very expensive. You may also have to pay at the time and get your money back later. Some policies we offer will waiver the policy excess where the E111 is used in participating Countries.

Medical repatriation

If your condition cannot be treated locally or is likely to last for more than a few days, most policies we offer will provide cover for bringing you home. This can be extremely expensive, so make sure your cover is adequate for the place you intend to visit.

Existing medical conditions

If you have an existing medical condition, it maybe catered for if you are able to comply with a simple health declaration incorporated within the policy wording. Even if you do not comply, a simple phone call to a medical referral centre may well reveal that you are acceptable at normal terms or whether some of the standard cover will not be included. We will advise you how to proceed should you not be sure whether or not your condition should be referred. You may be required to fill in a medical questionnaire.

Holiday cancellation or curtailment

In the case of cancellation, most insurers will cover your loss in line with your booking conditions-subject to the overall limit of the benefit and any policy excess. In the event of you having to end your holiday unexpectedly, the benefit is likely to be the value of the unused part of your holiday, plus the extra cost of getting you and possibly members of your party home as well.

Loss of baggage, money, or possessions

It is worth checking your household insurance to make sure that you are not already covered for loss of baggage, money, or other personal possessions. Some travel policies offer the option to exclude these items. You do not want to pay twice to insure the same thing! If you lose money or personal possessions, then you may be required to report this to the police within a certain time limit.

Making a claim

All insurance policies will have a procedure for making a claim. Make yourself aware of this procedure before you leave. There will be telephone numbers to contact and specific requirements needed to support your claim. If you fail to comply with these requirements fully, including the time limits, then your claim may be invalidated. If you are sure your policy covers your claim and you have complied with all the requirements, then your claim should be met without any difficulty. Make sure you keep copies of all correspondence and a record of all the telephone calls you make. Once again, we will be pleased to assist and advise you during this process if required.

Policy excess

There will almost always be an excess amount shown against the benefit limits in your policy. This is the amount that you will have to pay yourself before receiving compensation from the insurance company. Excesses of £50 for each type of benefit are not uncommon. Some policies allow you to insure against having to pay this initial amount.

Dangerous sports and other exclusions

All policies contain exclusions. These may cover such things as dangerous sports and undeclared existing medical conditions, amongst others. Once again, you should read these carefully before you leave. In some cases it may be possible to arrange specific insurance cover for an extra premium if it is excluded from the standard policy.

Complaints procedures

In the event that you have a problem then you should follow the complaints procedure as outlined in our terms of business.