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Advance purchase of travel insurance advised

Brits who have already begun booking summer holidays are advised to purchase single trip travel insurance early as well.

Up to 15 million travellers begin hunting for cheap travel deals in January, making it the busiest time of year for travel agencies. However, many of these travellers will leave travel insurance to the last minute, if even bothering at all.

An esure Travel Insurance poll indicates that around 20% of travellers neglect to purchase travel insurance. The study also showed that 48% of travellers do not check for weather advisories, and 47% do not check for Foreign Office warnings. At a time when exotic destinations are gaining popularity, it is highly advised to check these factors in advance.

Perry Wilson from InsureandGo travel insurance company advised holidaymakers not to think of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as a full insurance plan.

"When you break a leg when you go abroad, you may well be covered under the EHIC for the basic medical emergency, but you will not be covered for rescue off the ski slopes and ambulances," Wilson said. "The problem is that when you have a broken leg, you're not going to be allowed on the plane unless you've arranged with the airline to either have a second seat or go business class. So even something like a broken leg, or a broken ankle, can cost you thousands of pounds."

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Zoe Westof Editorial

09/01/2008