Travel Insurance

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Birroc

Registered User
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Flying to Spain with the kids for 1 week. Haven't been abroad in years. Whats the story with travel insurance these days? I am not even sure what it covers. Is it worth it and where are the best deals?
 
I generally get annual european travel insurance. Allianz.ie were the most competitive last time out
 
Someone here is going to think I work for Ace insurance, but I don't. I find them good. See [broken link removed] It's worth taking insurance imo, unless it prohibitively expensive. Cover from travel agents tends to be dearer too.
 
But why exactly do I need travel insurance? VHI cover the family in Spain for all in-patient emergencies. Its a one hop flight so the bags will hardly go missing. We're bringing very little in terms of posessions (intend to buy clothes there) - and we are staying with friends.
So what else will travel insurance provide?
 
What if something happens to one of you, and you need to stay in Spain? They are too ill to fly home on a standard flight and need medical repatriation? That is expensive. Also, travel insurance has a third party liability built into it normally so if you cause an accident you will be covered legally.

Never say never with baggage - it can go missing wherever! Colleagues have had bags go AWOL flying Belfast to Manchester.
 
Travel insurance also covers repatriation of people and (worst case scenario) bodies. These are huge expenses. If you don't want an annual policy you can still pick up a one trip with someone like getcover.com for around €20 for a week in Europe.
 
With VHI you can add on annual travel insurance for €49 - i think children may be covered for free if they are on the VHI policy.
 
flossie said:
What if something happens to one of you, and you need to stay in Spain? They are too ill to fly home on a standard flight and need medical repatriation? That is expensive.
Click to expand...

VHI already cover inpatient in Spain to 100,000 and medical repriation to 2,000,000 with no extra cost.
 
do ace actuallly cover all pre-existing conditions? their website is vague in that all it says is its asks you to confirm the following...I would like to know if anyone has had experience of claiming for pre-exist conditions with them?
Medical Conditions

Q - I have a medical condition, can I be covered?
A - Before you buy a policy, we ask you to confirm that you are NOT
  • receiving or on a waiting list for treatment in a hospital or nursing home
  • travelling against the advice of a medically qualified doctor
  • travelling for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment
  • travelling after being given a terminal prognosis
If you can confirm these and the other statements we ask you to confirm, you can buy our cover online.....
 
We use justcover.ie. They include ash cover and their travel insurance covers the personal accident insurance of car rental...so no need to get that if you rent a car. Cost about 80 for the year including ski/USA/ash....
 
jonq74 said:
do ace actuallly cover all pre-existing conditions? their website is vague in that all it says is its asks you to confirm the following...I would like to know if anyone has had experience of claiming for pre-exist conditions with them?
Medical Conditions

Q - I have a medical condition, can I be covered?

A - Before you buy a policy, we ask you to confirm that you are NOT
  • receiving or on a waiting list for treatment in a hospital or nursing home
  • travelling against the advice of a medically qualified doctor
  • travelling for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment
  • travelling after being given a terminal prognosis
If you can confirm these and the other statements we ask you to confirm, you can buy our cover online.....
Click to expand...

When i took out my travel insurance a few years ago to spend a year travelling, i disclosed my pre-existing conditions (quite complex eye conditions that need immediate tratment if flare up) as well as back injury. I felt I couldn't afford to take the risk of not being covered. I had to pay an additional premium (if i remember correctly it was about 10 - 15% of the base premium) but all conditions would be covered as normal if i needed treatment and i just claim in the same way as i would with anything else. The conditions were named on my insurance certificate, and i had reference numbers of those i spoke with etc. Luckily I was OK (i am allowed to carry medication for my eyes if i am away from a reputable ophthalmic hospital, and i get the names of specialists to contact if i go away) so didn't need to rely on it.

Again, i just don't think it's worth the risk if you have travel insurance not to disclose anything. I have heard stories (can't verify if they are true or not) that people haven't disclosed medical conditions, have gone to get treatment for somethign else and the pre-existing condition has been found out - resulting in failure to pay for the original claim, even though it had nothing to do with pre-existing conditions.

I know some travel insurance companies will let you buy the policy with the wording along the lines of 'by purchasing this policy you agree that any pre-existing conditions will not be covered, as well as anything that may be as a result of the condition'.
 
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