Cheap travel insurance: top tips to help you save!
Compare cheap travel insurance quotes and save heaps!
Are you looking for low cost travel insurance? Hurrah! You've come to the right place. We know that finding a policy can seem like an expensive item on top of the price of your holiday, however finding great cover doesn't have to cost the earth!
We help you easily compare cheap travel insurance policies so you can find the right cover for your trip, whatever your budget.
10 top tips to help you save on your travel insurance
- Buy asap: It pays to buy your travel insurance early when you book your travel arrangements, so that you have immediate cancellation cover should unforseen circumstances stop you from taking your trip.
- Shop around: Quotes vary dramatically in price so it really pays to shop around. Did you know that travel agents and airlines usually add up to 50% commission onto the top of your quote? Comparing travel insurance online direct with a comparison will allow you to compare loads of cheap quotes, side-by-side in seconds.
- Pay for what you need, but don't underinsure: Travel insurance policies come in all shapes and sizes! Typically you'll find basic (or medical only) are good for those looking for penny pinching policies. Or you can pay a bit more for mid range (or essentials) policies which include extras like travel delays and cancellation costs. And then there are comprehensive policies with give you the most bang for your buck. Just imagine going on holiday, breaking a leg and having to pay out thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Not fun! Did you know nightly hospitalisation costs in Southeast Asia regularly exceed $800? The worst thing you can do is to under insure and have to pay big later. Most cheap policies will cover the cost of medical treatment, but make sure you know what your policy does and doesn't cover before you travel.
- Consider how often you travel: Do you love to jet set, here, there and everywhere? If you travel a few times per year, you could save by purchasing an annual multi-trip policy, rather than purchasing a policy each time you take off. And the added benefit is you don't even need to tell your insurer each time you travel. What a relief!
- Be honest: Provide accurate information to the insurance company when getting a quote, including mentioning any pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't do this and need to make a claim later, the insurance company might refuse your claim.
- Consider the destination: There are two elements to this. Firstly, some insurers will ask you to nominate the region you are spending the most amount of time, whereas others will ask you to nominate the furthest. If you are travelling to multiple destinations and spending less time in a destination that falls in a faraway region, you can make significant savings by investigating this. Secondly, destination could determine your level of cover. Taking out insurance with unlimited medical cover is vital if visiting places such as the USA and many European countries, where medical care is expensive. For other destinations, a lower level of cover might be sufficient.
- Combine policies: If travelling with your family or a companion, a joint policy can be cheaper than purchasing separately. Remember that dependents are covered for free in most cases, so travel insurance policies are usually alot more affordable that you first imagine!
- Discounts: Do you buy all your insurances from the same company? You might be entitled to a discount if you have used the insurance company before, or if you enquire about group bookings. Well it certainly doesn't hurt to ask anyway.
- Increase your excess: Save now, but you might be paying later! If you want to lower the cost of your premiums upfront, you can opt/agree to increase the amount you pay on your excess later if you need to make a claim. If you've already spent all your holiday cash, this might not be the best option for those spendaholics...
- Take advantage of credit card travel insurance: As a cardholder, you may be entitled to a certain level of cover if you pay for your trip with your credit card. But, be careful as this is an option that is often full of loopholes. You'll need to have paid for most of your holiday on your card, to 'activate' your cover. And not all travelling companions will be included automatically.
Everyone loves a bargain and wants to save, but remember that the cheapest policy isn’t always the best deal. There’s isn’t much point buying a cheap travel insurance policy if it doesn’t provide adequate cover for your trip.
Overall the cost of a policy is so small when contemplating the medical bill you could be left with. For as little as $40 you can have peace of mind so that all you have left to do is relax and enjoy your holiday.
We let you compare cheap travel insurance policies based on levels of cover and price. So what are you waiting for? On your marks, get smart, compare!