Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has urged people planning holidays to do one thing as soon as they book their getaway.
This is the peak time of the year for booking holidays and the public has been warned to get travel insurance immediately upon confirming their plans.
Martin Lewis said on his website: “Heartbreakingly, each year one or more people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer or other serious conditions usually ask me about their holiday, as they can no longer go and the airline/hotel won’t give them a refund (as the ticket isn’t faulty).
“I suggest they contact their travel insurer, as that’s a key gap it’s designed to cover, and then they say they haven’t got around to getting it yet. It’s a painful moment.
“Half the point of travel insurance is to protect you if things happen beforehand that stop you going, so delay and you’re not getting all its value. Get it ASAB.”
The Money Saving Expert discussed the two main kind of policies – annual and single-trip, which can cost as little as £10.
If you’ll go away at least twice, even just for weekends, annual cover usually works out cheapest, Mr Lewis said. It covers virtually all trips away, though often has a duration limit (eg. 30 days per trip).
Lewis’ recommended annual policies were Coverwide, Leisure Grand Flexi, Admiral and A to Z for under-65s and Admiral, Leisure Grand, Avanti, and Staysure for over-65s. Prices start at £11 for under-65s and £38 for over-66s.
The single-trip policies he recommended were Coverwise, Leisure Guard Flexi, and CoverForYou for under-65s and Coverwise, Leisure Guard Flexi, Avanti, Admiral, and Staysure for over-66s. Prices start at £7 for under-65s and £26 for over-66s.
For those with pre-existing conditions, the Money Saving Expert has a designated guide to travel insurance.
The guide worked for reader Terence, who said he was originally quoted £1,273 due to his cancer diagnosis but found insirance for £77 with Lewis’ advice.
Martin Lewis added some other advise: to add winter sports add-ons to insurance when going skiing and to ensure you have an in-date European Health Insurance Card or Global Health Insurance Card when travelling.
