For a holiday or a one off business trip, single-trip travel insurance will provide pre-travel, en route and emergency cover and assistance. It serves as a safeguard to ensure that travellers are covered for a range of events which, though unlikely, can be very difficult to handle and often costly when away from home in a foreign country. Single-trip travel insurance will leave you free to enjoy your holiday or concentrate on work, whichever may be reason for travelling.
Typical inclusions
Actual benefits and inclusions will vary depending on the insurer and the policy, so you should obtain a quote and read the policy wording in full before applying for cover. Single-trip travel insurance will typically provide cover for a wide range of benefits, each up to a set maximum limit. Where travellers would like to increase the maximum level of cover, it is often possible to do so for an additional loading. Benefits and cover are likely to include a combination of the following:
- Cancellation fees and lost deposits
- Medical, dental and hospital expenses
- Luggage & equipment
- Emergency assistance
- Accidental death or disability
- Liability for damage to property, injury or death
- Rental vehicle excess cover
General exclusions
Insurers invariably also specify general exclusions which will not be covered under the travel insurance policy. Again, it is essential that travellers read the policy wording in full so that they are aware of any exclusions that may apply and how these exclusions are likely to affect them. Single-trip policy exclusions may include claims arising from:
- Failure to comply with the duty of disclosure
- Acting illegally or irresponsibly
- Existing medical conditions
- Some extreme sports
- Hunting, rock climbing
- Parachuting, base jumping or sky diving
Existing medical conditions
Policies often specify a number of existing medical conditions that are automatically covered by the travel insurance. Where an existing medical condition is not listed as automatically covered, it may be necessary to apply for an assessment for cover. If accepted, a loading will generally apply. It is also possible to apply for single-trip travel insurance without cover for an known existing medical condition, and in this situation the traveller would be covered for everything contained in the policy wording with the exception of any claims relating to the existing medical condition. |
