10 mistakes that could void your travel insurance
From getting drunk to failing to get your jabs, there are plenty of ways you can invalidate your travel insurance.
When you head overseas, travel insurance is an absolutely essential piece of protection.
However, it can be easy to unwittingly invalidate your cover.
GoCompare has highlighted 10 things that could void your travel insurance claim. Be sure to avoid them!
#1: Not declaring pre-existing conditions
When an insurer works out your premium, they are essentially calculating how likely you are to make a claim. If you have a pre-existing condition, whether that’s something physical like angina or epilepsy, or some form of mental or nervous disorder, then you must declare it at the outset. Yes, this will make your policy more expensive, but failing to declare it could mean your cover is useless anyway.
#2: Preventable or avoidable medical treatment/conditions
If you fail to take prescribed medication, or you travel against medical advice, then your insurance is at risk. This also includes not getting the recommended inoculations for the country you are visiting.
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#3: Excessive alcohol consumption
This one is fairly self-explanatory. If you have got hopelessly drunk and hurt yourself as a result, your insurer probably won’t pay out for your claim.
#4: Sports and adventurous activities you're not covered for
A standard travel insurance policy won’t cover you for certain sports, such as skiing, bungee jumping, quad biking, rugby, paragliding or martial arts.
If you’re likely to be getting up to something ‘adventurous’ on your trip, make sure your policy specifies that you are covered in case it all goes horribly wrong!
#5: Not taking reasonable precautions
Insurers will expect you to take reasonable precautions to avoid injury, illness, disease, loss, theft or damage. In other words, don’t take liberties.
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#6: Reckless or illegal behaviour
Another fairly self-explanatory one this. If you are reckless, whether that’s sitting on a balcony railing or jumping off a wall, then you will likely struggle to make a claim if you end up hurting yourself.
Some insurers also rule out any claim from unauthorised use of a swimming pool outside the specified opening times.
#7: Going to volatile destinations
If you head somewhere that the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or the World Health Organisation has advised you to avoid, then your cover is at risk.
Countries that the FCO currently says Brits should avoid include Syria, South Sudan, the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon.
#8: Travel paid for using loyalty schemes or points
Some policies exclude claims for unused travel or accommodation that was arranged using things like air miles, loyalty points or timeshares.
#9: Not arranging visas and other documents
Make sure you arrange visas or any other official documentation for the countries you plan to visit. Fail to do so and your insurance may be invalidated.
#10: Working without suitable cover
If you want to work while you’re abroad, whether that’s voluntary charity work or you are on a business trip, then you must make sure your policy specifically covers these activities.
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More on travel:
Airlines told to stop delaying flight compensation payouts
Currencies that will give you the most holiday money for your pounds
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