We all know the exciting feeling of planning a holiday or trip away. A few things always make the top of your list like packing swimming suits or hiking boots, buying sunscreen and making sure you remember where you left your passport! What might not be at the forefront of your mind is whether you have the right travel insurance for the trip, or if you have any at all! It can be tempting to just cross your fingers and hope for the best. However, we can’t predict what’s going to happen. The best way that we can protect ourselves is by being as prepared as possible, and that includes having the right travel medical insurance for our specific needs. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to get an affordable travel insurance quote, how to compare policies and other important tips to consider before you jet off.
The purpose of travel insurance is to protect you from financial losses caused by unforeseen and unfortunate incidents that occur while you are on holiday. No matter where you are, things can go wrong, leading to exponential costs during holidays, work conferences, or mini-breaks.
A travel insurance policy can potentially provide cover for emergency medical attention overseas, flight cancellations, delays, lost luggage, and other accidents that occur while you are abroad. Travel insurance might partially or fully cover the expenses incurred in such incidents.
We all have experienced a bit of travel anxiety. It is only natural to have some apprehension before a trip. There are many unpredictable scenarios that you could find yourself in, that you cannot plan for. This isn’t about overly worrying about the “what ifs” but simply being as prepared as possible for anything. By having Travel Insurance you are giving yourself an extra layer of protection in case the “What if” becomes a reality. Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider getting travel insurance:
Falling ill or getting injured while on holiday, can end up costing you a lot of money, especially if a hospital admission is required. Having the right travel insurance means that you’ll be potentially covered to receive the best possible care and treatment abroad. Receiving medical care while in a foreign country is undoubtedly an unnerving situation as it is, let alone having to deal with a large bill as well.
In the event your trip is cancelled, you could receive reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs under a travel insurance policy that includes trip cancellation benefits. Some of the reasons for cancellations include:
Each of the above is completely out of your control. So, by having the right travel insurance, you can safeguard yourself during unprecedented times.
Have you been there? You’re waiting at baggage claim for a little too long, then realise no new bags are coming out. It can be such a stressful circumstance. Luckily, if you have the right travel insurance policy, you could be covered for a lost bag and for emergency necessities if your bag is delayed for more than 24 hours.
You simply cannot put a price on your peace of mind. A holiday is a time when you get a well-deserved break from working hard in your professional and personal life. “Expect the best, prepare for the worst”. By having multi-trip annual insurance, or single-trip insurance, depending on your circumstance, you’ll be able to fully enjoy yourself, all while knowing you’re safeguarded against life’s natural unpredictability.
It isn’t about finding cheap travel insurance, but the right type of cover for your circumstance. Campion Insurance offers a range of options. The cover you choose could contain a range of features including lost baggage, 365 day medical assistance, winter sports and scuba diving cover, personal accident, cruise travel insurance, backpacker travel insurance, family travel insurance and more. Below you’ll find the three types of travel insurance we specialise in:
This type of insurance policy is perfect for those having a once-off holiday or trip in a 12-month period. You will provide departure and return dates and be covered for just the duration of your trip. The best time to take out single-trip insurance is when you’re booking your trip to guarantee that you’ll avail of features such as cancellation coverage, be aware that initial wait periods may apply.
If you’re a regular traveller, annual travel insurance would be the best policy for you. Whether you travel regularly for work, or just like jet settling through the year (escaping the Irish winter sounds nice), having multi-trip insurance means you don’t have to worry trip-to-trip whether you’re covered.
Winter Sports insurance is intended to protect you on any trip where you plan to participate in winter sports and activities. This isn’t a stand-alone insurance policy. It is usually added to single-trip travel insurance or multi-trip insurance.
Our best advice when trying to decide what type of cover you need is to assess what your needs are, what trips you anticipate you’ll take that year, or how many work trips you have planned and make a decision from there. It could very well work out cheaper per trip to have multi-trip or annual travel insurance, than paying for individual single-trip policies every time you travel.
Of course, when you’re seeking out travel insurance quotes, you’re concerned with what is actually included! Our travel insurance partner Kennco Insurance details some of the features below:
To find out more about different policies and what’s included, give our team a call at 0818 300 304. We can walk you through everything so that you feel comfortable with your chosen policy.
At the time of writing, all the policies that we offer include COVID coverage. When you are buying a Travel Insurance policy, we would highly recommend that you understand the Covid policy and any restrictions in advance of purchase. There is a range of circumstances that are covered in your policy, for example:
“Medical and repatriation costs in the event you fall ill with Covid-19 whilst overseas, including additional travel and room-only accommodation expenses if it is necessary for you to extend your stay,” and “Cancellation of your trip in the event of you or any person with whom you have arranged to stay or travel with testing positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of the departure date of your trip; your relative or close business colleague being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 within 7 days of the departure date of your trip”
To find out more information about Travel Insurance, and Covid cover contact the Campion Insurance Travel Team on 0818 300 304 and select option 5.
Some countries that you visit are going to need more preparation than others. Many of us will be well versed on what is needed and what prep is required when travelling to European destinations such as Spain, France & Italy. It could be easy to brush it off with an “it will be grand”, as we do. However, our advice is to be as thoroughly prepared for your trip as possible. Cover all bases to help your trip go off without a hitch, and if something happens, at least you were prepared! Here are some tips on things you can do BEFORE you step foot on the plane.
Passports – It would be nightmarish to arrive at the airport and realise that your passport is out of date. Or, that you didn’t even bring it! Make sure to check your passport ahead of time, so that you have plenty of time to renew it if needed. You can do a renewal of your passport online.
Visit a Doctor – It would be no harm to visit the doctor in advance of a trip, to make sure that you are in a fit state to travel. This is especially important for longer trips and countries that have very different conditions to Ireland. While at your doctor, you can enquire about possible vaccinations you’ll need before you jet off. Make sure to do this at least 8 weeks in advance, as some vaccinations require multiple doses over a period of time.
Vaccinations – The Tropical Medical Bureau or TMB is Ireland’s leading travel medical clinic. They have clinics all over Ireland and will not only supply the necessary vaccinations but also provide you with up-to-date information on the country you’re about to visit. The TMB also offers post-exposure screenings. As mentioned above, it is vital to do this as soon as possible to give you enough time to receive adequate doses.
Medicines – It is imperative that you ensure that you have enough of your medications for not only the entirety of your trip but also enough that leaves some room for issues and delays. Chat with your doctor about this as they will probably provide you with more than you need to cover such instances. Bring your prescription with you to prove to anyone who enquires that someone lawfully prescribed you this medicine in your home country.
Diseases – Something that you probably don’t want to think about is the possible diseases you may be exposed to while abroad. But it’s important to be aware of them, nonetheless.
In some countries, water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery are common. When planning a trip, speak with a health professional about precautions you should take, follow local recommendations on good practices, and use bottled water or boil water as needed.
Travellers to mosquito-infested destinations should take precautions against mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Ask your doctor or the TMB about antimalarial medications before travelling.
Manage Your Money – Do your research on the currency in the country you’re visiting and whether you can easily access ATMs or banks. Usually having a credit or debit card is a safe way of spending money, however, be sure that you can readily access a bank machine.
Citizen’s Information has compiled a list of useful questions to ask yourself about your trip.
Having this information on hand may be a lifesaver during times of trouble.
We know there is a lot to think about when planning your next leisure or business trip. It definitely shouldn’t deter you from getting excited about your travels! With sound advice and the right cover, you can jet off with the solace of knowing you’re protected and know exactly what to do, should an issue arise.
Using Campion Insurance as your broker means that you’ll be getting cost-effective travel insurance to specifically meet your needs. As we said, be prepared for the worst when you embark on a trip, but expect the best! In some cases, we cannot control what happens. You can, however, protect yourself from accidents, mishaps or unfortunate incidents while abroad. The Campion team is here to put your mind at ease.
