Holidays, traditionally single trips at busy times of year to well-known locations, have changed in recent years, with more people availing of low-cost weekend breaks and flight deals to increasingly exotic destinations year round. Yet despite this change many Irish people overlook the importance of travel insurance.
Travel insurance is an essential part of any holiday planning and there are a number of things you should consider before you decide who to buy your cover from, since for a relatively small expense; it can save a significant amount of cost and stress. While a single trip policy may offer short term value, annual multi-trip cover means you do not have to research the market for insurance every time you travel. Buy your cover as soon as you book your holiday. Often, customers leave it until the last minute to consider travel insurance, despite one of the main claims being for cancellation prior to travel. When you are booking with the next trip in mind, consider whether you could benefit from cover that has winter sports or travel outside Europe in the next 12 months. Many consumers purchasing purely on price, rather than the value in the features and benefits, are taking more risk than they realise. Always check the small print to find out exactly what you are covered for, as opting for the lower cost premium could save you money in the short term but the full value of a policy is often not realised until you need to make a claim. You may be eligible for a discount based on your existing private health insurance policy. Age is something which can be overlooked – many consumers are unaware that their age can affect their premium. This can have a big impact for the actively retired. You should also make sure you are getting cover for the whole family with many policies allowing kids to travel free, though the age at which that stops can vary. If you are insuring your family, you should determine if the cover allows each family member to travel individually or the family must travel as a unit. When the unexpected does happen, you should be confident that your travel insurance has the cover you will need. 24 hour emergency assistance from your policy underwriter can offer support and direction in a crisis. For less urgent matters, your choice of policy should have sufficient cover for cancellation or curtailment of your trip, medical expenses you may incur and cover for your personal belongings. Be sure to check the excess applicable to these claims as this can be a costly extra expense. Cornmarket’s new annual multi trip ‘Travel Plus’ insurance policies offer great value cover to all Irish holiday makers up to the age of 86. To learn more about Cornmarket’s Travel Plus product and to get a quote, visit: www.cornmarket.ie/product/travel-insurance. Alternatively, you can call to speak to a Cornmarket Travel Plus sales agent on 01 4206723. Lines are open 9 am – 7 pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9 am – 1 pm on Saturdays. MAPFRE ASISTENCIA Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros SA trading as MAPFRE ASSISTANCE Agency Ireland and MAPFRE WARRANTY is authorised by the Direccion General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones del Ministerio de Economia y Hacienda in Spain, and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. A member of the Irish Life Group Ltd. which is part of the Great-West Lifeco Group of companies. Telephone calls may be recorded for quality control and training purposes.