Monday, September 24, 2012

Travel insurance ? the myths exposed | Focus | Breaking Travel News

There are plenty of myths about travel insurance and they partly explain why some people don?t think it?s worth buying. But arranging travel insurance should be as vital a part of your holiday preparations as booking a flight and finding the right hotel.

Here we reveal the truth behind the myths and show why travel insurance isn?t such a bad idea after all.

?I don?t need it?
A 2011 survey carried out by the travel agents? association ABTA found that 20% of Brits didn?t take out insurance before going on holiday. Some may have forgotten in the rush to pack their bags but others probably thought there was little or no chance of them falling ill, having an accident, causing someone else injury or of having their possessions stolen. But these things can happen and if you don?t have a policy to cover you, you?ll have nothing to fall back on but your own resources.

?The embassy will bail me out?
The helpful people at the British embassy or consulate may be able to offer you advice but they won?t pick up your hospital bills or buy you a ticket to fly home if the worst happens ? however dramatic your story. Without insurance, the bills will have to be paid out of your own pocket.

?My belongings don?t add up to much?
People tend to underestimate the value of what they?re carrying and think they won?t cost much to replace. But just add up the value of what you?ve got in your suitcase and you?ll soon find the opposite. A fancy digital camera, a couple of designer outfits for a night out, a Kindle and iPod, expensive perfumes or aftershaves and so on could all go missing with the rest of your luggage.

?My home insurance policy will cover my belongings?
Some home insurance policies will cover your belongings if you?re on holiday in the UK, others if you?re abroad. But don?t assume yours will. And remember that cover for lost and stolen belongings makes up just one part of a travel insurance policy.

?The European health card will pay my medical bills?
The 2011 ABTA survey revealed that 17% of people thought that the European Health Insurance Card would cover all their medical bills if they were injured or taken ill in Europe. But while the card does entitle you to some free treatment, don?t assume it will pay for everything. What?s free in the UK may not be free abroad and other treatment may only be available at reduced cost. Also, the card will not pay for your repatriation to the UK if you need or want treatment back at a British hospital.

?A tour operator will take pity on me?
If you?ve bought a package holiday, tour operators have a duty of care towards you and will ensure you can get home in the event of a crisis. Whether it?s a volcanic ash cloud or an airline going bust, they will make arrangements to get you back and cover the cost. If you?re travelling independently, you?ve got no tour operator to fall back on. More and more travel insurance policies now provide independent traveller cover for these situations as standard.

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Source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/focus/article/travel-insurance-the-myths-exposed/

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