Q: We’re going on a family holiday next week to Spain and I haven’t sorted travel insurance yet. I don't want to spend a lot of money on it – is travel insurance necessary if we have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
A: Victoria Minnis from Hughes Insurance says: "No-one wants to spend a lot of money on insurance, but cost shouldn’t be your only concern when it comes to selecting your policy provider. Be sure to get a policy that will cover you for what you need or think you might need. The loss of something as simple as a passport may not be covered by some policies, for example.
"Do you have young, active children? A broken arm in Spain can set you back several thousand pounds.
"The EHIC isn’t an alternative to travel insurance. It will provide you access to state-provided healthcare temporarily but it won’t cover any private medical healthcare costs or stolen property. It also won’t cover costs of being brought back to Northern Ireland.
"Depending on where you’re going, the card may not be valid as there may be no state-provided healthcare available. So while it’s good to have, don’t rely on the EHIC alone.
"When choosing your policy, think of your lifestyle and travel habits as a family. If you’re regular jet setters, annual cover may work out cheaper than buying multiple single-trip policies, saving you time as well as money. Having an annual-cover policy means you don’t have to worry about finding the right insurance policy each time you go on holiday. However, if travelling tends to be a once-a-year occurrence, a single-trip policy probably is better value.
"An obvious but crucial point when applying for any type of insurance is to be honest. Remember, insurance is for your benefit; it is there to protect you. If you are not up front about medical conditions or anything asked on the form, your insurance may be void and your insurance claim rejected. Honesty really is the best travel policy!
"Also, the sooner you have your travel insurance in place the better as cancellation insurance will come into force immediately. It can be upsetting if you have to cancel your holiday due to an unforeseen circumstance but it is even worse if you don’t get your money back.
:: For more information on Hughes Insurance visit www.hughesinsurance.co.uk
