Travel insurance advice

[Noideawhatimdoing40]

Posting in here for traffic. Taking my family on our first holiday abroad and I’ve literally no idea what to do in all aspects 🙈 I’ve found where we want to go so plan on booking asap but I was hoping for advice on travel insurance-the only thing I know to do is sort it when I book the holiday (Martin Lewis says to do this) any tips would be gratefully received. Do I declare that my son had autism and learning difficulties? And any other health conditions we all have. Thanks!

Yes, book it right after you’ve booked the holiday.

Yes, health conditions must be declared, as well as medications. I’m unsure about the learning difficulties, perhaps someone more knowledgeable will comment on that. I wouldn’t think it necessary, unless your child is taking any medication for them? In which case absolutely declare it.

Check the type of coverage you have and what the deductible is.

Also make sure to check what’s the cover for those things you’d be most likely to use - lost / delayed baggage, cancellation, travel delay, etc.

If going to Europe, healthcare isn’t so expensive and usually covered by the EHIC / GHIC anyway (check you’ve got these too). If going further afield, health coverage becomes much more important and you want a big figure included in your insurance - I have something like $20 million for the US, but this wouldn’t be necessary in Europe for example.

Go on a comparison website as a starting point and you'll be asked the relevant questions or directed to call for assistance if yu have complex medical needs.

If you book via an airline or tour operator they will often offer travel insurance as an optional extra. Otherwise your household insurer or bank may have policies. Deckare anything which may imoact on your health and get ghic catds (free) fir basuc energebcy care in Europe, akthough you may still have to pay if licals woukd and fir meducines.

I worked for Staysure travel insurance for 4 years. Do declare the learning disabilities. It won’t make the cover any more expensive.

If your children are over 18 they have to go on a separate policy not a family policy.

Don’t miss out any medical conditions or the reason you take any medication. Find out the reason you take any medication. Some people say their tablets are “for their heart,” that’s not a medical condition. You have to know the exact name of each condition as it’s written on your medical records. The agent can’t guess what your medication is for so don’t give the names of any medicines.

The medical side is HUGELY important believe me. If you haven’t declared a tiny thing the underwriter will try and link it to you falling and breaking your leg on hols and say you aren’t covered. Alcohol related accidents on hols won’t be covered.

Take pics of your valuables. Don’t leave valuables in a car (not even in the boot) or in the plane hold. If stolen they won’t be covered.

Do read the T&Cs. They are long and boring but they’ll be things not covered you won’t realise until you read.

Always chose a 5* defacto rated cover.

What you need is

Airline failure so you can get home
Repatriation - getting your body home if you die
Medical care - expensive in Europe - £1000 for 4 hours treatment and a fit to fly certificate - nothing broken - it’s expensive.
After that it’s basic lost passports (take photos) lost luggage - keep a spare set in your hand luggage

Everything else is frills.

If you book with your holiday they will ask you to ring with medical conditions - this can be expensive - comparison websites are easier.

Staysure are good, declare everything though including LD.

@pinkstripeycat Does Staysure have a uk based call centre to support claims? Are they well trained to support in crisis? I’m really tired of companies cutting costs on poor service and more interested in the service levels when you claim… but it’s surprising how difficult it is to find reviews for the most important thing!

I have experience of excellent travel insurance and how vital it was when a young backpacker I had a serious accident and had to be flown to a hospital quite far away. STA travel insurance were bloody amazing…sent a local agent to support us and my friend- paid for everything including beautiful hotel for friend. Gave us cash and was in touch daily. It was incredible service. I’m always looking for the same kind of cover for my family but difficult to get detailed reviews. It does sound like Staysure are a premier provider.

One night in hospital after being blue lighted there by ambulance in America when on holiday close to 20 years ago cost $6000. Another time in America I had a quick visit as was bitten by a spider, it was a couple of hundred dollars. Ehic covers the basics so still get full insurance.

Inform your bank your going overseas a colleague had their cards stopped as the bank suspected it was fraudulent activity.

Check what data roaming charges are on your mobile phones.

I always carry a basic first aid kit.

Where are you thinking of going?

Thank you so much for this, it’s really helpful. Yes luckily it’s Spain we’re planning on going to.

Thank you for all this info-it’s so helpful. My children are 10 and 12 so it will be a family policy. It’s Spain we’re looking to go to. Don’t want too long a flight as my autistic son would struggle-though he will also be very excited to go on a plane for the first time.

Thank you all so much-I’ve screenshot most comments so I can find it all easier. Going abroad for the first time in your 40s with children with additional needs is incredibly daunting 😂

Get quotes from at least three providers. One should be whoever does your car & home/contents insurance if they also do travel insurance as often the multi-policy discount makes them the cheapest option for good coverage. Another could be your bank- often there are discounted policies through Lloyds and so on.

On learning difficulties, I know autism has to be disclosed. Usually they don’t change the cost so long as you can answer the follow up questions for autism which are usually:

Age and if over 16
Are you fully independent with all aspects of daily living? (yes)
Has this condition caused you to cancel or cut short any travel plans? (no)

If under 16, no difference as the expectation is that an adult is travelling with them.

I recommend Just Travel - got us really good value insurance quote when my DC was going through the autism assessment at CAMHS and I couldn't get any of the travel insurance comparison sites to cover us at all. So friendly and helpful chatting through all the options.

If going to Europe, healthcare isn’t so expensive and usually covered by the EHIC / GHIC anyway

Not true. The GHIC covers only basic health care to the level of whatever is free to that country’s citizens without insurance. If it’s a European country that requires some amount of health insurance or self pay, you can find yourself with a hefty bill.

The GHIC also doesn’t cover medical repatriation by commercial or air ambulance back to U.K. if too ill or injured to fly normally. An air ambulance from Europe costs around £20k.

Get full travel insurance.

(EHIC doesn’t exist anymore)

After reading @WannabeMeeeeee post, I am reminded that GHIC also does not cover accommodation or changing flights as a result of one of a travelling group being in a foreign hospital- but travel insurance can cover this.

Declare every diagnosis you/your family have for any medical condition - mental and physical, plus anything you are waiting for, like test results.
Go with an insurer that will cover those conditions. For complex needs, try Staysure, AllClear, Direct Line or Collinson.
DO NOT rely on price. If you go with a price comparison website, then keep scrolling until you get to a sensible priced policy. The lower the price, the lower the cover will be.
Check cancellation cover limit - some can only be £2,500.
Please do not travel uninsured. If you can't afford the insurance, you can't afford to travel.

I recently insured through Staysure, UK call centre, exceptionally helpful. My DD has to carry epipens due to allergies / anaphylaxis.

Obviously hoping not to have to use the insurance (we’ve also got our GHICs) but the experience with getting the right insurance sorted is reassuring.

We just pay £13 a month to nationwide fig a nationwide plus account. This includes comprehensive travel insurance for the whole family, comprehensive breakdown cover inc Europe, mobile phone insurance (which we use ALL THE TIME and the bank card attracts no overseas charges. I can’t see why everyone doesn’t do this. It’s excellent.

@Noideawhatimdoing40 ring the special assistance number for the holiday company you have/are booking with and they will sit your son and either you and your DH together free of charge because of his disabilities. They will, also, arrange assistance in the airport for you so you don’t have to queue up to get through security and when boarding the plane.

We’ve got a bank account that has travel insurance with it, amongst other things, however it doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions so it’s not any use to me.

The point was about level of coverage. I have $20m worth of health coverage outside of Europe, but within Europe no treatment is going to cost that much.

No free insurance system covers air ambulances unless it’s an emergency, not even national ones. So of course those are included in travel insurance.

EHICs do exist, I own two. It’s just not available to UK citizens anymore, and I don’t like assuming the nationality of the poster hence naming both.