Frequently Asked Questions

Here are no-nonsense answers to the burning questions on most sensible travellers' minds...

1. Do I really need travel insurance?

Most definitely.

No-one is immune to ill health, and the medical bit of your travel insurance is the most important of all.

The last place you want to fall ill/have an accident is when you're far from home.

2. But I'm fit as a fiddle.

Why go to the extra expense of getting travel medical insurance?

Suppose you go down with, say, something as simple as tonsillitis.

Let's ignore the agony (it is agonising, even if it appears to most people as a child's complaint).

At the end of the day, over-the-counter drugs are extortionate abroad.

(Come to think of it, they're extortionate at home too - so why should abroad be any different???)

Just remember that the money you put aside for holiday treats could end up being siphoned away in the local drugstore instead.

OK forget about tonsillitis.

Instead, think about Delhi Belly.

Are you really so street-wise that you know which local restaurants to avoid?

Serious food poisoning could result in hospitalisation.

Who's going to pay for your treatment then, if you don't already have emergency health cover under your travel insurance policy ...?

3. Yes. You need tell about medical conditions?

Yes. The majority of policies sold by tour operators don't cover people with pre-existing medical conditions or ailments.

So it's unlikely that your policy will come good if you have to cancel or cut short your holiday if you fall ill because of something you were already suffering from before you left home.

You must tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical condition before you go.

The same goes for any dependents who are travelling with you.

They won't be covered if they have to make a claim as a direct result of their condition.

Nor will you, if you have to cut short your holiday because of it.

4. Pre-existing medical conditions mean...

If you - or someone travelling with you - can answer yes to any of the following questions, then there's a pre-existing medical condition, and you'll have to declare it to your insurer.

1. Conditions might include: diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, cancer, HIV Aids and other illnesses that might increase the risk of a claim being made on your insurer.
2. Have you been in hospital in the last 12 months as an emergency or day care patient?
3. Are you taking any prescribed medication?
4. Are you or anyone travelling with you awaiting test results following an in-patient stay or a visit to a medical practitioner?
5. Is there anyone in your immediate family whose ill health could prevent you from travelling or cut short your holiday?
6. If any of these answers are YES you need to tell your insurer.

They'll refer you to their medical screening agency, who can advise whether your condition or medication is covered.
More...

5. Can I get cover if I'm pregnant?

Yes, as long as you're not travelling against your doctor's advice and are 28 weeks pregnant or less at the beginning of, or during your trip, or 24 weeks pregnant in the case of a known multiple pregnancy. Different insurers place different restrictions on travelling while pregnant. So check the small print.

You should be covered if cancelling or cutting short your trip is medically necessary and the pregnancy was confirmed after the date your travel tickets/confirmation of booking was issued or the start date of your policy.

6. What if I have an emergency abroad?

Although it might not seem like it at the time, the vast majority of emergencies aren't real emergencies.

A dodgy stomach or sprained wrists aren't emergencies.

Ask your tour operator/hotel for advice - most hotels have a resident GP.

You'll have to pay for the cost of minor treatment yourself and, depending on the excess, claim when you get home.

Serious

For serious medical conditions, the hospital treating you will contact the 24-hour emergency company (listed in your travel insurance documents) who in turn will verify your policy and take over negotiations.

Contact the 24-hour emergency services before any claim to make sure that you're properly covered.

A lot of hospitals abroad are privately run and your insurance may not cover treatment unless it's agreed in advance.

Not always easy, we know, especially if you're lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Just make sure the people you're travelling with know the score if something untoward happens.

7. How much for health cover for 2-weeks?

It all depends on your own personal circumstance. Just remember ...

• Don't go by price alone.
• A dearer policy doesn't necessarily meant it's a better deal.
• Always read the small print before you sign up.
• It's always best to know exactly where you stand before you sign up rather than find you're not covered when the you-know-what hits the fan.
• When you have to start to plan for a medical emergency, it's already too late.

8. Where do travel insurance premiums go?

Pooling Of Risk

Into 1 big pot. If you do need to claim, this is where the dosh comes from it.

It may seem unfair if you're as fit as a fiddle and never, ever make a claim for something it turns out you didn't need after all.

But it's called pooling of risk, and it's what makes the insurance world go round, protecting the unlucky among us - around 1 million Brits a year - from stumping up large sums of cash, or running up credit card debt when they should be enjoying their holidays.