COVID has significantly changed the way we travel, and there’s no doubt that there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to travel insurance in a post-pandemic world. If you’ve started looking into travel insurance for your next overseas trip no doubt you’ve had more questions than answers – so in this article we’re going to cover some of the basics when it comes to travel insurance, as well as giving you the key questions you need to be asking your travel insurance provider.

Here are some of the top questions we’re recommending you ask to avoid confusion next time you travel.

1. What am I covered for?

It may sound like a basic question, but it’s essential you understand what your insurance actually covers. Insurers are consistently changing their terms as more countries continue to open their borders, and new covers are being introduced each week. So here’s a quick list of different covers for you to consider:

• Medical Expenses
• Covid related cover
  Overseas emergency dental expenses 
• Additional expenses / cancellation costs 
• Luggage and travel documents
• Camera or video camera 
• Laptop or tablet computer 
• Delayed luggage 
• Money 
• Rental Vehicle insurance excess 
• Travel delay 
• Resumption of Journey 
• Missed connections 
• Special events needing curtailment
• Hospital incidentals 
• Disability 
• Accidental death 
• Legal expenses 
• Personal liability

It’s also a good idea to discuss the nature if your travel with your insurance broker. It’s likely you’ll need a different policy if you’re planning an adventure holiday (think paragliding in Chile or snowboarding the Swiss Alps) than if you’re travelling for business. Policies you buy online will often contain exclusions for dangerous activities (such as off-piste skiing), playing sports or racing – even if it’s just at an amateur level or if you’re working while traveling. So make sure you talk to your broker so they can explore some possible solutions for you.

2. Covid?

There are so many questions that arise when considering how Covid could affect your travel plans. For example, what happens if you get diagnosed with Covid while you’re on holiday? What happens if someone in your family gets it and you need to travel back home? Different insurers will have different policies, so it’s a great idea to discuss these kinds of questions with your insurance broker so you know what you’re covered for when it comes to Covid.

3. When should I take out travel insurance?

A common mistake we see is people organising travel insurance a few days before they’re about to start their holiday. We advise our clients to take out insurance as soon as you know you’re going to travel, and not to leave it until the last minute.

If something happens and you’re not able to travel you’ll want to be insured, especially if you’ve got expensive flights and hotels booked. Having the right insurance in place from the very beginning means you can be covered for those last minute emergencies, but leaving it too late could be a rather costly mistake.

4. What if I travel a lot?

If you’re a regular traveller you should ask your insurance broker about an annual policy. This saves you the hassle of having to organise insurance for each trip, and means you can travel with the confidence you’re covered every time.

5. What if I’m travelling for a long time?

It’s important your insurer knows how long you’re planning to travel for, as there are different covers for different lengths of time. It is good to understand the purpose of travel too, whether it’s leisure, business or an OE. Generally, cover has a maximum duration of time you can be covered for until your return home – your broker can explore options based on your circumstances.

6. Do I need to take out specific insurance if I’m going on cruise?

Travel insurance for cruises has changed a lot since the pandemic. Many insurance covers that were automatic no longer apply when it comes to cruises, so you’ll definitely need to tell your insurer if you’re planning to join a cruise.

7. What if I have an existing medical condition?

If you have an existing medical condition that you want covered for your travel you’ll need to get it approved by the insurer for any insurance coverage to apply. For example, if you’re taking medication for a specific condition, make sure your insurer knows so that you can have cover for any issues relating to that condition. For this example you’ll likely be required to complete a health assessment which will determine whether your cover is approved or not.

8. What type of insurance should I get?

With so many different insurers and covers out there it can be confusing to know what kind of cover you should get. The short answer is we always recommend our clients take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy. This is going to provide you with the most cover and give you the most value should something unforeseen interfere with your travel plans. However, if you have issues with any expensive items you have travelling with you i.e. hearing aids, jewellery, sports equipment, you may need to pay an additional premium as a specified item to be covered for the full value of the item(s) and as agreed by the insurer.

9. What to do if you have trouble while travelling

If you do have an emergency or need help while travelling you should call the Emergency Assistance Company which will be detailed in your policy. These are specialist companies who work alongside the insurer and can assist you with advice, support and can help make arrangement for things like medical events, pre-approve payments, emergency transportation or replacing your passport. The call is often free where it can be.

Keeping receipts and/or taking photos of all the new items you buy while travelling is also a great idea. If they are lost, damaged or stolen they will act as proof you owned them and make any claim to support in an assessment a lot easier. If you do have items stolen you should report this to the local police and get a copy of the report and or report number.

If you’d like to find out more about what AIB Group can do for you when it comes to travel insurance, please contact your AIB Group Insurance Broker to seek further details and request a quote. You can also contact us on 0800 237 747 (request a personal or business travel Insurance broker) or you can email Shona on [email protected].