Every year thousands of Brits go on holiday without taking out adequate insurance. This poses a huge risk and many visitors to Spain find themselves stranded without any health cover, due to accidents, injuries and unexpected health issues. In fact, according to an article published in The Herald a new study has shown that: "21% of tourists with pre-existing ailments did not inform their insurance company of their health issues before travelling". Furthermore, "around 21% of those with heart problems, 20% of cancer sufferers and 16% of those with respiratory conditions failed to give details of their health problems". The poll also revealed that: "Cost and fear of refusal were two of the main reasons why people did not tell their travel insurers about their medical conditions, with 15% of the 2000 people surveyed saying they feared they would be refused cover". However, travelling without cover at all can be hazardous. Without health cover you could struggle to meet hospital fees and charges if you have an accident or fall ill while in Spain. Types of Insurance There are lots of types of travel insurance out there. You could be offered insurance included in the cost of a package holiday and that can prove convenient but could cost more than buying insurance separately. This is traditionally `single trip insurance` and it entitles you to cover for one trip or holiday. It will pay out if your flight is cancelled or delayed and also cover any medical expenses you incur during your travel period. Annual travel insurance is ideal for those who travel very regularly and it covers them for the whole year, it`s more cost effective than buying individual policies each time you fly and along with those savings you can often also get extra benefits or other types of cover thrown in, such as winter sports, golfing or business cover. Meanwhile, long stay travel insurance is intended for people who want to travel for long periods, so it would be perfect for a student who is going on a `round-the-world` back packing trip. If you are shopping for insurance look for a cheap deal that suits you. Some cheap holidays in Benidorm, for example, will provide competitively priced inclusive insurance but if you`re planning several trips in one year it might be better to choose an annual policy. |
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