Travel Insurance.

Travel insurance offers you financial protection should something go wrong while you (and your family) are on holiday.

There are 4 common types of travel insurance to cover when travelling abroad:

Covers you for a single holiday to one location usually for less than 30 days. This is the most common type of travel insurance.

Annual / multi trip policies cover you for multiple holidays (usually each of less than 30 days duration) within a year to multiple destinations, depending on the cover you choose.

Annual and multi trip policies are very common among frequent travellers and business travellers. 

Cover for multiple destinations within a year without any limit on the duration of your stay.

Most backpackers are travelling on a budget, so having backpack insurance can help protect against big unexpected medical bills and lost property.

Specifically for protecting the over ‘70’s. Make sure your medical expenses are covered when travelling in your golden years.

All policies offer cover for cancellation or curtailment of your holiday, lost or delayed baggage, lost or stolen personal money and possessions while abroad, as well as medical emergency cover and repatriation.  Policies also offer personal accident and personal  liability cover.  

Covid 19 cover is also usually included which covers you for cancellation or curtailment of your holiday due to a Covid 19 diagnosis, but not usually for government restrictions due to Covid 19.

Limits of cover vary widely with some policies offering up to €10,000,000 cover for medical emergencies.  AIG’s Premium Plus Plan offers unlimited cover for medical emergencies.  

All insurers have a helpline you can contact while abroad.  AA offers a virtual doctor for medical advice while abroad.

An Post offers car hire excess cover as an option when you purchase travel insurance.

AIG covers you if your accommodation is uninhabitable up to €500 on their more premium plans.

Allianz offers €2,000,000 personal liability cover with silver and gold level travel insurance.

Backpackers insurance covers a trip up to one year’s duration.  Backpackers policies usually include emergency medical cover, repatriation, cover for travel disruption, lost belongings or travel documents  cover, and sometimes personal accident cover.  

Allianz backpacker insurance offers cover if you need to curtail your holiday and return home early.

All travel insurances offer the option to include a student aged 18- 22 while on the family holliday.  

Backpacker insurance offers students on a longer term holiday cover for their travels.  

Multitrip offers additional cover for exam failure with their backpackers insurance, should your trip be curtailed to resit exams.

Peace of Mind

Travel insurance gives you peace of mind and allows you to relax and enjoy your holiday, knowing that you are covered should something unexpected happen. If you or one of your family fall ill or have an accident, you will be covered should you have to cancel your holiday.

Cover Medical Expenses

If you need medical treatment abroad, you will have cover. If there is travel disruption, and your flight is delayed or cancelled, you will be able to make alternative arrangements.

Protect Against Theft

Your money and belongings will be covered should you be pickpocketed. Most policies offer personal liability cover, should you need this.

The financial protection of travel insurance will mean that these expenses will be covered.

Trip Duration

Whether you need to cover one trip, multiple trips in a year, or a year’s travelling. The longer you are abroad the higher the premium will be.

Location

Travel in Europe is usually cheaper than travel to the USA or Canada. Political or climate reasons in your destination may make your trip more expensive to cover.

Age & Health

Your age and pre- existing health conditions may restrict your cover or be subject to exclusions and may affect the price you pay for cover.

It is really important to be upfront and disclose any pre-existing medical conditions, as you may not be covered unless you do so.

Also, it is usually a condition of cover that you are compliant with any treatments for your condition.

Who you are travelling with?

Family policies are more expensive and cover will be more expensive if travelling with older relatives.

Sports

Snow sports will be an optional extra and will increase the price of cover.

Private Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance, you will pay less for travel insurance.