As Brits remain cautious about booking holidays until the Travel Task Force has outlined their plans for the resumption of international travel, some travel insurers have started offering additional forms of Covid-19 protection in a bid to put the public’s mind at ease.
With so many insurers offering varying levels of cover, we thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the additional protection available that you should look out for when buying your next travel insurance policy.
Many of us were unable to make the most of our multi-trip policies purchased last year, so some insurers are allowing customers to extend their policy for an extra couple of months, while others are offering 15 months’ worth of cover when you buy a 12-month multi-trip policy. This means that customers can get an additional three months’ worth of cover, completely free! Terms and conditions will vary between providers, so it is important to check that the policy you are buying is suitable for your needs.
Most tour operators are offering low deposits on holidays in a bid to encourage Brits to travel again. As a result, some insurers have introduced new policies specifically for those who have bought a holiday but only paid the deposit. Again, cover varies between providers but generally, if a customer has only paid the deposit but is unable to go on holiday before the full balance is due, they’ll be covered for cancellation costs, without having to pay any policy excess. And if they’ve paid their holiday balance in full but need to cancel their trip, they’ll still be covered but will have to pay their excess. The cancellation reasons must fall within the policy terms and conditions, but lots of these policies will cover you if you are made redundant, called back into work to provide urgent support, or unable to go on holiday as a result of a close relative or travel companion falling seriously ill or passing away.
Additionally, lots of insurers have also agreed to continue allowing more flexibility when it comes to amending travel insurance policy dates. This means that should customers need to move their holiday as a result of a change in government advice, they can amend their policy dates at a reduced rate, or completely free of charge. So, should the customers’ holiday be pushed back to a later date, they do not suffer any financial burden.
With so much uncertainty around travel, holiday providers and insurers are trying their best to support their customers and offer as much protection as they can, to give people the confidence to book that much longed for holiday. So, if you are considering booking a holiday, please make sure you take advantage of the protection available and shop around for a policy that suits your needs the most.
