Holiday travel insurance extras

Taking out a good quality travel insurance policy is an absolute must for any family holiday. Should the unexpected happen to either you or your loved ones whilst soaking up the summer sun, the consequences of being uninsured can be devastating – both financially and emotionally. It cannot be understated how important it is to think about getting a decent travel insurance policy.

While it may be seen as an unnecessary expense, especially in these financially straightened times, the European Health Identity Card (EHIC) – successor to the old 'E111' form – only entitles you to free state medical care within that country. In many countries, the state healthcare system does not offer treatment for the things we can expect for free in the UK.

It is important to make sure you have been upfront about any pre-existing medical conditions that you may have. If you fell ill while away on holiday as a result of one of these medical conditions, and had not told the insurer beforehand, you would probably not be covered and would incur significant expenses. Most good quality travel insurance policies cover medical expenses, but of course if you are travelling only within the UK you can take out a 'UK only' policy – as the NHS will be your main source of medical cover if you haven't already got a private health insurance policy.

Remember that you don't have to take out the most expensive travel insurance policy on the market, and often you will be surprised at just who offers good quality cover at a low cost. You may not necessarily be taking part in water skiing or power boating, or even windsurfing, but a little research on the Internet can go a long way towards finding the best value travel insurance online.

The Internet pages of major insurers allow you to search for various options and provide handy calculators to enable you to weigh up the various options – such as single or multi trip insurance, for example. As with everything, it pays to shop around. And, of course, always use a reputable provider – try Go Travel Insurance for cheap holiday insurance.