How to Know a Good Single Trip Travel Insurance Policy

Not all single trip travel insurance policies offer the same features; while some are outright, honest and transparent, there are those that hide the real state of things - and how much coverage they actually provide - by fudging the wording in the fine print or performing the insurance policy version of a magician's 'sleight of hand' and clever misdirection. To help you easily determine if you're getting a good policy, here are some areas you must examine.

Medical Expenses

There is probably no single trip travel insurance that does not offer medical coverage, such as providing financial assistance if you encounter a medical emergency during your travels. The difference, however, lies in the extent of the coverage - how much the insurer is willing to provide and how clear are its terms in providing it. For starters, a good policy should provide cover for emergency medical or surgical treatment while you're abroad, and given the current inflation rate, the amount of cover should be no less than £1 million if you're travelling throughout Europe, and no less than £2 million if you're visiting the USA. Of course, this should include cover for getting you back home for the same medical reasons. It is important to note, however, any medical treatment that is not urgent or an emergency (meaning it can be performed when you're back in your home country) is not usually included in the cover.

Travel-related Cover

Many things can happen between that time you buy your flight ticket and single trip travel insurance and the date of your actual departure, and the best policies out there should provide cover for eventualities that may happen during the said interval. For example, something might arise that compels you to either cancel your scheduled trip altogether or at least significantly shorten it. A good policy would not only provide cover for this, but should also do so for at least £2,000. You should also check out the insurer's terms regarding missed departure. Do they cover the cost of additional accommodation and other related expenses (this should be at least £500) if you miss your flight (or other means of transport) due to events that are beyond your control, such as an accident or weather disturbances?

Personal Liability

Your single trip travel insurance policy should also protect you from having to pay exorbitantly (or pay at all) for damages you have accidentally caused to others. To illustrate, let's say you're on a skiing holiday and somehow you lose control and injure another skier. This aspect of the coverage should be no less than £2 million - even more depending on your destination and what you intend to do while you're there. On a related note, there are now insurers, such as the UK's Insuremore, that provide full automatic coverage against acts of terrorism.