This guest post is written by Anthony Davies from Down Under Insurance , which means he actually k

Every so often, I post about travel insurance because even though it can be a complicated process, it s an essential element of travel preparation. All too often I meet people who take this complication and ignore the purchase of travel insurance altogether, and it pains me. So when people from the travel insurance world come to me with handy information, I m more than happy to pass it on.
This guest post is written by  Anthony Davies  from Down Under Insurance , which means he actually knows about all the tricky details and insurance conundrums that you would normally call your Dad about.  I find choosing travel insurance difficult too , but for us nomadic adventurers, it has to be done. These common misconceptions will help clear up some of the confusion, and leave you with time to talk to your Dad about more exciting things
Travel insurance – one of the great stumbling blocks for travellers. We all know we need some kind of travel insurance when setting off for sunnier climes, yet we’re all often left baffled when it comes to what we’re actually covered for.
There are many common misconceptions about travel insurance, most of which are only misconceptions travel lodge because of the dreaded small print. The small print contains travel lodge critical information about what a policy covers. While we all know we should probably read it before handing over our cash, the combination of tiny writing and tedious jargon means we tend to just skip it and check the box in the knowledge that we are covered for something, and the belief that there will be no need to make a claim anyway.
This is probably the biggest misconception travel lodge of all and has been allowed to grow over time by people who did not read the small print and found out the harsh way that they were not covered for that bear-wrestling contest they entered. In truth, travel insurance is vital. The industry helps millions of people every year pay for treatment for illness or injury abroad. Policies are complicated and some will not cover you for everything, but if you get the right cover, you will be protected financially when you need to be.
Never take out travel insurance and expect to be able to make a claim on an undisclosed pre-existing medical condition. If an insurance provider does not know about your condition, how can they be expected to cover you for it? If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an illness related to your condition when on holiday, you will be liable for the medical expenses travel lodge and they are guaranteed to be a whole lot more costly than the right cover would have been. A LOT more.
Not quite. While annual insurance will cover you for a lot, it is unlikely to provide cover for anything that carries extra risk, for example skiing, bungee jumping or hiking to high altitudes. Adventure activities and the like would generally be classed as optional extras that can be added for an additional fee. The small print of the policy will generally reveal all.
A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a good thing to have if you’re travelling to Europe, but is severely limited as to what you will be covered travel lodge for, and the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) themselves recommend that holidaymakers take out travel insurance.
Only a select few EU countries will pay for full medical treatment, travel lodge with others travel lodge covering only medical costs and not healthcare. Having the right travel insurance will provide you with complete cover.
Maybe so, and, with the money you have already had to spend on your trip, the cheapest travel insurance will definitely seem like the most appealing. However, expect limitations on both medical cover and cancellation cover with cheap deals. That cheap deal might not be worth much at all if you ever need to make a claim.
Regardless of what travel insurance policy you take out, there is bound to be something in the small print that limits your options when making a claim. Whether it’s a lack of cover for hazardous activities or a clause in the contract that makes it difficult to sue a holiday company due to a lack of legal fee cover, insurers will always travel lodge offer you the deal that is best for them.
Although it may seem harsh, travel insurance providers rely on your ignorance. They know that you are unlikely to read the small print and can therefore offer attractive deals on cover that appear on the face of it to include everything you need, only to feature a list of exclusions hidden travel lodge away nicely in section 4.1 of the small print.
The way to get the cover you need and avoid being duped by an insurance provider is simple: read the small print. Do whatever it takes – use a magnifying glass, read it over the space of a couple of days, have someone read it for you – anything, just make sure you read it!
Make sure you know exactly what is covered and what is not. Claiming not to know about an exception or limitation won’t do anything to help your case, so read the small print and get the cover you need to enjoy the holiday travel lodge you deserve.
A British Press award winning travel writer and avid adventurer, with a passion for reporting on misunderstood destinations and uncovering alternative angles to the well established. Travelling differently, adventurously, responsibly and with purpose. Meet Becki
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