Travel insurance - should I consider it?

This is a question that can be very quickly and easily answered! Yes, you most certainly do need to consider travel insurance. It can be demonstrated with reference to one simple scenario; imagine that you fell seriously ill during a trip to just across the Atlantic on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The cost of an air ambulance home would itself cost somewhere in the region of £30,000 to £35,000*. Without travel insurance, serious financial difficulties would be added to your medical problems.

The risks of unexpected medical bills alone, therefore, can make travel insurance an essential part of any journey overseas, however short the visit. Those of us who travel abroad without travel insurance of any kind could be playing an extremely dangerous game!

The potential need for expensive medical attention or hospital treatment is probably the most convincing reason for considering taking out travel insurance. But it is not the only one. For the cost of the very moderately priced premium, you can also secure peace of mind against a whole raft of other major inconveniences, such as flight cancellations or delays, missed departures, and lost or stolen baggage.

However, as with all insurance, do check the small print first before buying to ensure you get the protection needed as the terms and conditions can vary among the different policies.

* Figures: First Assist