Travel Essentials – TRAVEL INSURANCE

The first blog in our 'Travel Essentials' series is about Travel Insurance.

Many students still don't buy travel insurance. Some don't believe they need it! Many think… 'It will never happen to me!' Some think buying a policy is complex and confusing, or some see it as an unnecessary expense. However, it is one of the most important things a study abroad student can organise before they leave home. Travel insurance is much more than medical coverage, it's 'Accident' insurance as well. We all hope that we never have to make a claim, but you never know what is around the corner. Students, who don't purchase travel insurance, leave themselves open to potentially high costs in the event that something goes wrong.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is similar to car or home insurance. Travel insurance covers you for a wide range of potential mishaps. It will cover you in the event that you miss your flight, lose your luggage or passport, have your laptop stolen, or even if you break your leg and need to return to your home country. Before you set off, you should purchase travel insurance from an insurance company, and, depending on the policy you buy, it will cover you for any number of incidents and scenarios. Think of it as a safety net. Would you drive without car insurance? Of course not, so why would you travel without travel insurance?

What does Travel Insurance Cover and what should you look for?

Here is a list of the main things travel insurance will cover:

• Delayed or Cancelled Flights.
  
• Lost Luggage.
  
• Lost wallet or passport and in need emergency cash.
  
• Laptop or phone is stolen or damaged.
  
• Medical emergency in a foreign country and need treatment.
  
• Repatriation (Returning home)
  
• Cancellation of your trip completely and need a refund of school fees etc.
  
• Personal Liability. (If you cause an accident, it covers being sued.)
  
• It is also very important to READ the small print once you have bought a policy. It's boring and time-consuming, but you need to make sure your policy lasts for the duration of your trip, covers your destination country, and whether your provider offers 24 hour assistance.

Key points you should look for:

• What medical cover does it offer? You should be looking for coverage of £1M +. Don't skimp on the coverage!
• Coverage of personal items such as laptops, camera or expensive phone? Does your policy cover these?
• Are you staying in the same place or visiting several countries? Are you covered for each destination?
• Are you covered for high risk activities like bungee jumping?
• Think of these points when applying for your policy. It is also worth noting what the small print says about accidents occurring when alcohol or drugs are involved. Many insurance providers won't pay out on such claims.

What does Travel Insurance Cost?

A good travel insurance policy will cost less than £1 per day, which is a preferable compared to the potential costs you could face in the event of an unforeseen problem.

Travelling within Europe: What about the EHIC card?

EHIC stands for: European Health Insurance Card.
Valid in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
FREE to apply for. Click Here to Apply.
Anyone originating from an EEA or EU country can apply.

IMPORTANT!

The EHIC card entitles you to state healthcare, which is either free or at a reduced cost. Please be aware that state healthcare varies across Europe, and the EHIC doesn't pay for repatriation (getting home). If you are eligible and travelling within Europe, always have your EHIC card, however, travel insurance is highly recommended.

The EHIC card is not a substitute for travel insurance!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Simple- we recommend that everyone should buy travel insurance. Think about:
• The coverage you need.
• Apply for the EHIC card and take it with you when travelling within Europe.
• Read the small print!
• Once you have your policy, print a copy and take it with you. Include the emergency contact number in case you need to make a claim.
• We hope you don't have to use it, however accidents DO happen.

We have teamed up with Endsleigh Insurance who are a reputable insurance company in the UK. They offer a very competitive study abroad policy for outgoing UK students and they also offer an International Student policy for students coming to the UK. Both policies are competitively priced and cover most of the points raised in this blog.

If you have any questions or comments about travel insurance or the information in our blog, please email us: enquiries@accommodationengine.co.uk