AIBU to think that its madness not to book travel insurance as soon as you book a holiday?

[CwtchesCuddles]

So many people seem to leave sorting out insurance until its too late! If you have a holiday coming up have you got insurance cover already? If not why not?

@gillyginger

Yes thankfully! Only a few weeks ago though after putting claim in in October. They also paid my out of pocket expenses and not just like for like for what I paid, which I was pleased about as we rebooked with another operator and still went on holiday in September.

People think bad things will never happen to them. The likelihood is that it will be something you never ever imagined. For the sake of a small percentage. Too proud to think they are human and may not have thought of everything and that things that happen to ordinary people won't happen to them.

Not really madness no...depends how you define that word.

I have an annual policy with my bank account.
I had booked a holiday last year and paid for all travel and accommodation. Then I became ill and had to cancel everything.
If I had waited to get insurance just before travelling I would have lost around £1500.
It is really important to buy your insurance at the time of booking, if you don't have an annual policy.

Insurance is a gamble, you’re gambling on something going wrong and getting a payment

I’ve purchased holiday insurance for a year as I went to USA last year several times and wouldn’t want to be stuck without medical insurance

In Europe I’ve been treated and used my E111 and paid €20

With belongings and holiday cancellations etc it’s different though, you can take the risk if you choose, it’s not illegal not to gamble on that

I just have annual

Insurance is a gamble, you’re gambling on something going wrong and getting a payment

It is, IF, you have the resources/funds if things go wrong when you don't have insurance. If you don't have resources, then it's total stupidity.

I.e. if you have an accident abroad an need airlifting home. If you don't have enough in the bank (or means of borrowing it), you're stuffed without insurance. That's completely different from a gamble as most people don't gamble what they don't have or can't afford to lose.

Many businesses and people "self insure" in lots of different ways. I.e. some businesses face such high insurance premiums, they don't bother with non legally required insurance and "self insure" - but part of that is ensuring they have enough funds in case the worst happens.

Same in the home. When we bought our home, we made a decision not to buy any extended warranties for electrical/kitchen goods and "self insure" instead. We took the approach that on balance, we'd only need to replace/repair one item per year, which would be cheaper than paying for extended warranties on every item every year. As it turns out, it was a wise decision. But we knew we had enough funds to buy 2/3/4 new applicances/items each year if we had to, so we didn't "need" insurance.

A couple of years ago, unusually for us, we booked 2 very expensive holidays, many months in advance (October for the following Summer) - a cruise and a USA holiday. We never normally book so far in advance. We paid for the flights, deposit for the cruise (a couple of grand I think), full payment for USA hotels, airport car parking, car hire abroad, hotel abroad day before/after the cruise. Ran to many thousands of pounds.

Literally a few weeks later, OH diagnosed with cancer. So had to cancel the lot. Travel insurance paid out very quickly with no argument/hassle etc - all they wanted was claim form, proof of payments and doctor's certificate. If we'd had waited even a few weeks to buy the insurance, we'd have been stuffed.

In Europe I’ve been treated and used my E111 and paid €20

Well it depends what happens to you and where you are. For example in France, you may need to pay for some treatment up front and then claim it back. And not all care is necessarily covered so for example, some treatment you can only claim 70 - 80% back. You'd also have to pay a daily room fee in hospital which wouldnt be covered by an EHIC.

The other reason I'd always have insurance even in Europe is in case of loss of luggage. Try being in temperatures of -17 wearing just the clothes you sat in on the plane....

We get it with our bank account.

the EHIC (for now) gives you the same treatment rights as locals. Not everywhere provides free treatment.

and yes, so many gofundmes for the stupid who thought they had worked out all the risks and didn't. Or who stuffed up their insurance due to not reading the not small print. Plenty of examples yet people still do it.

Insurance is a gamble, you’re gambling on something going wrong and getting a payment

NOT buying insurance is the gamble; you're gambling on something NOT going wrong and therefore not needing to get a payment to cover you in the face of potentially life-changing events and the resulting bills.

For a very small premium, e.g. as low as a few pounds on a one-week holiday to Europe, you are providing security for yourself and family in the event of something going wrong either before your holiday or during it.

The EHIC card only provides treatment at the same level as that provided to citizens of the country in which you fall ill or are injured - it does not always cover the cost of ambulance transport (or even helicopter transport), nor the cost of rescue, or repatriation, nor of rehab once you get back to the UK. All of these can add up to several thousands of pounds - if you don't buy the insurance, you're gambling that you won't need these.

Travel insurance covers other events too. As many have posted, it covers if you if you cannot make the trip due to illness or accident.

It also covers you for public liability. Imagine that you are about to cross the street and forget that traffic is coming from the other side of the road to what you are used to in the UK. You inadvertently step out in front of a cyclist, who swerves and crashes into a bollard, breaking his leg and fracturing his skull. You risk being sued for causing the accident and the impact on the cyclist's life (loss of earnings, permanent damage to his leg that prevents him from cycling, playing sports etc in the future, his medical bills and so on) which could run into many thousands of pounds, as might your legal bills. And this works both ways - travel insurance covers your legal and medical bills and supports you should you be the victim of someone else's actions.

I'm another one who is a firm believer in booking travel insurance at the same time as I book the holiday.
It's just all part and parcel of organising the trip IMHO.
Sometimes things happen, not necessarily to you, but they have implications for you.
Eg. Few years ago, girl pal and I booked a European city short break for a long weekend.
Flights, hotel etc all paid for.
Some months later, she is diagnosed with breast cancer and will be in the middle of treatment on the dates we were due to be away.
I'm fine. My health is as good as it ever was. I'm fit to travel....but, my insurance reimbursed all my costs, minus the excess, as my trip had been booked with her.
We were insured with 2 different companies.
So, yes, get insurance the day you book the trip.