Do you have Travel Insurance?

rocktron

Do you have Travel Insurance, and do you allow it automatically roll on from year to year, or do you insure for general cover for worldwide travel as and when needed?

How much do you pay per annum?

benmurray85

I have mine through my bank account. It’s actually really good cover and is one of the things that is well worth it in those “premium current account” things. 

Handsome_Chris

I have travel insurance too. It comes with my bank account. 

Jalapeno

Ditto. Bank Account.

Handsome_Chris

This thread is kicking ass.  I have absolutely no idea where it's going to go!

thomasross20

I like the bank account travel insurance thing. I only have a 123 account, though.

I have other travel insurance. Only take it as and when needed.

Phil_aka_Pip

I've never had any. If I go to germany for the company, should I get some?

benmurray85

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I've never had any. If I go to germany for the company, should I get some?

You’d be best placed asking your employer if you’re covered for travelling with work? I would assume if they operate in other countries then their employers liability will be extended to include this. Not sure how you’d manage if you were injured or needed to claim following something in your spare time whilst you were away. The thing with insurance is “you don’t need it until you need it” 

i prefer to have the peace of mind having the cover in place. 

RaymondLin

I buy mine from AA travel, depending on the year whether I include cover for the US.  It’s around £40 for the year.

Guitar_Slinger

We buy short-term policies when travelling.

munckee

Most travel insurance will exclude work trips, if you travel with your company they should arrange travel insurance.  Their Employers Liability cover will usually automatically cover you unless you are manually working in which case they will need to specifically agree it.

General rule of thumb is if you make more than one foreign trip a year you are probably better off getting an annual travel policy.

Most have exclusions that incidents that are 'attributable' to alcohol are excluded as one poor chap who fell from a balcony after a few pints found out to his enormous cost.

Phil_aka_Pip

I've just applied for an EHIC, on the advice of a colleague who's coming with me.

Wolfetone

I get one off travel insurance for non-European travel. In the next two months I have USA, New Zealand and Russia. Those will have insurance. In April I have France once and Germany twice. I don't bother with insurance on those

peteri

Your employer should supply travel insurance for business trips, as stated above normal domestic doesn't usually cover it.

EHIC is useful, but that just means you get the same level of health cover as local EU citizens.

Although a recent experience in a German dentist didn't hold that - many locals will not like the extra paperwork.

My travel insurance comes with my Natwest bank account, and is very good - surprisingly so in fact (having had to use it twice).

rocktron

The reason I am asking is that my Travel Insurance is due for renewal.

My current policy is with Virgin for £193.52.
My renewal quote with Virgin is £210.43. 

Usually, if I don't reply to their letter advising that my renewal is due, they automatically deduct the money from my bank for the following year's cover.

The company I work work offered reduced Travel Insurance rates with a company they deal with as part of their Employees' Benefits Package. This is about less than half as with Virgin. Alas, I did not realize they did this and did not register in time.  

 

crunchman

@rocktron we pay less than that for our bank account.  I'm pretty sure we get breakdown cover with that as well.  We also get to reduce/avoid fees on using cards abroad.

We actually claimed on the travel insurance last year when we had to cancel a UK holiday when my wife's nan died.

crunchman

One other thought: you do need to read the small print.  I climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago, and I had to get a specialist policy that covered high altitude.

When I was looking into that though, there were a lot of things that were considered "dangerous" that weren't covered by basic policies.  For example, if you go on holiday and see a jet ski for hire, most policies won't cover you if you come a cropper on it.  Some of them might not even cover you if you hire a moped locally and injure yourself on it.

Fretwired

crunchman said:

One other thought: you do need to read the small print.  I climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago, and I had to get a specialist policy that covered high altitude.

When I was looking into that though, there were a lot of things that were considered "dangerous" that weren't covered by basic policies.  For example, if you go on holiday and see a jet ski for hire, most policies won't cover you if you come a cropper on it.  Some of them might not even cover you if you hire a moped locally and injure yourself on it.

^^

This.

Read the small print. Most 'free' policies aren't worth it. I tend to buy a trip specific policy depending on where I'm going and what I will be doing.

benmurray85

Fretwired said:

crunchman said:

One other thought: you do need to read the small print.  I climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago, and I had to get a specialist policy that covered high altitude.

When I was looking into that though, there were a lot of things that were considered "dangerous" that weren't covered by basic policies.  For example, if you go on holiday and see a jet ski for hire, most policies won't cover you if you come a cropper on it.  Some of them might not even cover you if you hire a moped locally and injure yourself on it.

^^

This.

Read the small print. Most 'free' policies aren't worth it. I tend to buy a trip specific policy depending on where I'm going and what I will be doing.

Seconded/Thirded. Although I’ve made “normal” claims under the policy and had no probs at all a few years back I went to China to do The Great Wall Marathon and they wouldn’t cover me as it was deemed I was “competing” even though I was a glorified fun runner but hey ho. I get that they will look to mitigate losses where necessary. I still say that if it’s standard family style holiday/breaks you should really look at what your bank can offer. It will be cheaper than that Virgin renewal. 

scrumhalf

I've had an annual policy for many years. The travel insurance offered by my bank is nowhere near sufficiently comprehensive for my needs.

I will rarely renew with the same insurers, they tend to take it for granted that you'll renew automatically and they'll sting you. Be prepared to argue the toss.

ronnyb

Wouldn't go abroad without it. Some years ago my in laws went on a motoring holiday to Europe and the father in law was taken to hospital with a collapsed lung. After his treatment he was flown home in an air ambulance and the car was brought back by a courier firm. I forget the total cost exactly but it was tens of thousands. Last year went with the wife to USA and she forget to take enough Thyroxine (she has had her thyroid removed). It's only available on prescription and just to see a doctor to get a prescription was $150.