Travel Insurance
Each year, we see reports issued by The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and other well-known organisations which show that the numbers of people who don’t buy travel insurance are rising.
And there are many, many other travellers who decide to buy it just before they go away.
If there’s one thing you do when you book your well-deserved and much-longed-for holiday, it’s take out adequate travel insurance when you book your holiday.
We know that travel insurance isn’t the most exciting purchase you’ll ever make, and that many people think, “I’ll be fine. It’ll never happen to me.“ But the fact is, accidents and issues do happen to people, all the time. And another fact is, if you need it and you don’t have it, you could be in real financial dire straits.
It may be that you think that insurance is too expensive.
You might think that the UK Government will cover your costs if you fall ill or have an accident abroad.
You might think that all you need is the European EHIC card will cover you for any medical emergencies.
You might not have thought about what happens to the money you have paid for your break if you fall ill and can’t travel, if you are made redundant and can no longer afford to go, or if you are delayed getting to the airport because of an accident on the motorway and miss your flight.
Insurance covers you for those unexpected things that just might happen before your holiday, which mean you have to cancel. It covers you for medical bills – and let’s be honest, it’s well-documented that destinations such as the USA charge huge amounts for even the most basic medical care. While the UK Government’s Foreign Office will provide you with emergency assistance, they will never give you money for medical bills. And the EHIC card only entitles you to the same benefits as a resident of that country, which could still mean you pay for treatment. It’s not an alternative to travel insurance, just an added extra – it won’t cover for things like emergency dental treatment or an air ambulance home to the UK.
Of course, exclusions will apply, especially if you are taking part in dangerous sports or have drunk excessive amounts of alcohol. It pays to read the small print on your policy, but wouldn’t you rather be safe in the knowledge that you’ll have a safety net if anything untoward happens?
Not buying insurance at the time you book your holiday is a false economy. When you do buy it, make sure the policy covers you for everything you’ll need – some policies, including those given free with credit cards, may not have the level of cover required.
As the UK’s leading independent travel group, Barrhead Travel offers insurance at extremely competitive rates, and the cover is excellent too. You’ll be asked by our travel consultants as to whether you would like to buy insurance when you book your trip – please don’t put it off! We have annual insurance policies available too, for frequent travellers. Be sure to book your insurance in store at any of our branches, or give us a call on 0800 804 8666, as soon as you book your holiday – you’ll be covered straight away!