Single Trip travel insurance cover

Is single trip insurance worth it?

Single trip travel insurance offers awesome, affordable cover for a one-off trip. This option is available for both single travellers or families and is ideal if you only tend to take one major trip per year. Many of the insurance policies are fairly flexible and usually substantially less expensive than Annual alternatives.

Keep reading to find out our top tips on what to look out for in a policy and how to get the best affordable cover without compromising on your protection.

What does it cover?

The majority of single trip travel policies will provide standard cover for the below. It’s worth noting that plenty of providers will also offer additional cover allowing you tailor your policy to the trip you are taking. For example, winter sports or cruise cover. Basic cover includes:

• Overseas medical emergencies
• Trip cancellation and lost deposits for flights, accommodation and tours
• Lost, damaged and stolen luggage and/or valuables
• Personal liability

Should I get single trip or annual multi trip travel insurance?

If you’re debating whether you should splurge on an annual policy or save on a single trip solution, you’ll want to consider the following:

• Annual cover usually only works out cheaper if you head overseas a minimum of 3 times a year…if you don’t travel that often you could well find that you’d be better off opting for a single-trip policy.
• Most insurance providers offering single trip policies allow you to take out cover for up to 12 months (some even extend this to 18 months), whereas individual trips on annual policies are usually only available for either 30, 60, or 90 day durations. If you’re planning on a long trip to Europe, or further afield, a single-trip policy would be the better option for you.
• You may find that there are lower age limits on annual policies compared to single trip policies
• Occasionally, you’ll find annual policies offer a reduced level of cover compared to single trip policies.
• If you’re travelling in a group, you’ll be better off with a single trip policy
• If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you’ll find it difficult to find an annual travel insurance policy. Usually you’ll have to purchase separate cover for each trip you take, and you’ll need to provide evidence of health each time.
• Single trip insurance could be more suitable if you need additional specialised cover for your trip.
• Trips vary. You might find that you only require a lower level of cover for some.

Looking for a family policy for a single trip?

You might be able to secure a reduced rate on your travel insurance policy by opting for group cover for your family instead of forking out for individual policies. Usually, family travel insurance policies offer cover for two adults and up to as many as four children under the age of 21 years. This, of course, can vary from provider to provider. Some of the benefits of this option for policy owners include:

• Convenience. By opting for a family policy you’ll only have one policy to manage in the event that you need to make a claim.
• Higher level of cover. In general family policies offer a higher level of cover than individual ones. This extends to higher levels of cover for cancellation protection, alternative accommodation and lost luggage cover.
• Free child cover options. Some providers offer cover for the children named on the policy at no extra cost.

Looking for a group policy for a single trip?

There are providers out there that offer single trip insurance for those travelling in a group. This could save you substantially as group cover can work out way cheaper than each person taking out individual comprehensive insurance.

Group single trip insurance is perfect for friends travelling together, be it a holiday, sporting event or music festival in another country. It is also a go-to for groups of co-workers travelling abroad for a work event or conference. Whatever the reason, you’ll get the same cover level as individual policies when you take out group insurance and more often than not at a much more competitive rate.

Things to look out for when purchasing group cover include:

• Are you planning to walk on the wild side? Your policy may not cover you for some of the more extreme sports like rock climbing, or scuba diving. If you are planning on participating in these kinds of activities you’ll need to ask to see whether the insurer can include it specifically for you.
• How many of you are travelling together? The total number of travellers that can be covered may vary across different policies and providers. Most group single-trip policies offer cover for up to 8 – 12 people.
• Consider the ages of your travellers. Older travellers in your group may have trouble taking out group single trip travel insurance, especially if you or they are 65 years of age or over. Due to an increased risk of claim from pre-existing medical conditions, you may find that each member of the group is required to take out separate policies.
• Conditions apply for each member. Anyone thinking about applying for group cover will need to remember that the same policy conditions and restrictions will apply for each individual member of the group. If one of the group members isn’t happy with the level of cover the policy provides, they might want to consider taking out their own individual policy.

How can I get cheaper single trip travel insurance?

When you’re searching for single trip travel insurance there are some important factors to consider before you buy. We’ll guide you through the key steps to take to cut back costs without compromising on the level of cover you need.

• Work out how much cover you actually need. Before you start this is the first thing to think about. Don’t rush out and splurge on the most comprehensive policy the market has to offer. Half of the coverage on there may not even correlate with your needs. Calculate appropriate cover levels for each loss and steer clear of flashy policies with costly extras that you don’t really need.
• Compare and contrast quotes. When it comes to travel insurance, it pays to do your homework. Don’t buy the first policy you come across. Shop around and fully evaluate a series of quotes and their worth. Comparing your options online can both save time and cut costs. Similarly, don’t get drawn to the cheapest quote either, generally cheaper quotes only offer the most basic cover available.
• Discounts. Travel insurance providers are always trying to attract new customers and the majority offer great discounts to help you cut your cost even further. If there’s a discount out there, we’ll know about it so keep finder in mind when you’re on the hunt for cost cutting codes and discounts.

Cover most single trip policies will include

The inclusions and restrictions of single trip travel insurance policies can vary dramatically between providers. But some of the more important standard provisions you included in most policies should be as follows:

Cover for medical treatment and repatriation

• Cover for medical expenses. The cost of getting medical treatment, especially if it involves a hospital stay can be extremely costly, especially in the USA. Repatriation back home can be as high as £50,000 in some cases which is why it is imperative that you have unlimited medical cost protection on your policy. Most of the standard single trip travel insurance policies cap the amount they are willing to pay for medical treatment. It’s definitely worth taking time to check whether the country you are travelling to have a reciprocal agreement with the UK as far as the cost of medical treatment is concerned.
• Emergency medical assistance. The majority of policies offer 24 hour medical assistance whilst you are abroad. This should cover costs including ambulance fees, medical evacuations and funeral arrangements.
• Dental cover. This will cover you for emergency dental treatment in the event of severe tooth or oral pain.
• Additional expenses. Additional transport or accommodation expenses in the event that you are unable to travel due to illness/injury.
• Family emergency. Cover if your travelling companion or relative passes away or is disabled and requires hospitalisation.
• Accidental death/permanent disability. Will give you a lump-sum payment if you pass away or suffer an injury or illness that results in permanent disablement.

Cover for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and valuables

• Cover for your luggage or valuables if lost, damaged or stolen. The inconvenience and cost of replacing items can be considerable, especially if you are travelling with your laptop computer, camera and smartphone with you. Most of the standard policies will offer inclusive cover for these type of items, however, what you need to lookout for is whether there is any cap on the cover offered. It is extremely important to check if there is an excess that you must pay first before a claim will be assessed and also whether there is a single item maximum payout.
• Credit card fraud/replacement. This covers the replacement cost of stolen credit cards that are then used.
• Theft of cash. This is cover for cash stolen from your person.

Cover for trip cancellation costs and lost deposits

• Cover if you need to cancel all or part of your trip. No one can predict the future. What if something happened and you were forced to cancel part of or all of your trip? It is important that you have the correct cover is in place to minimise any financial loss. If you decide to cover yourself against cancellation you should also check to see if you can cover other parts of your trip that have already been booked and paid for including flights, accommodation, car hire and tours. This cover usually only applies if the cause of cancellation was out of your control.
• Disruption of your journey. Cover for any additional meals and accommodation in the event that your flights are delayed.
• Alternative travel expenses. Cover for additional expenses in the event that you’ve been delayed en route to special events i.e. wedding, funeral, conference.

Legal costs incurred while travelling

• Personal liability. Cover for legal liability in the event of bodily injury or damage to another party’s property.
• Rental vehicle excess. Cover for excess payable on rental vehicle in the event of theft or an accident.

Compare single trip policies

FAQs

• Are there age limits on policies?

  Age limits vary between insurers with the majority capping the maximum age at 80. However, there are insurers out there willing to cover travellers beyond this age. All is not lost.

• Can I still take out a policy if I have a pre-existing condition?

  Each insurer will disclose what conditions they are willing to provide cover for, cannot cover and conditions that need assessment before agreeing to cover. In the majority of cases cover will be available, however, any claims due to the illness may not be included. It is common for insurance providers to request additional information from the applicant about their condition before offering cover.

• Am I covered for work overseas?

  Cover for paid employment overseas differs between insurers. Some insurers will offer cover for any injuries sustained at work, others may state that this liability falls with the employer.

• Can I extend my policy if I decide to travel for longer?

  Yes. The majority of travel insurance providers allow you to extend your cover if you submit an application for extension before your current policy ends. However, not all insurers offer the option to extend your cover and may ask that you take out a new policy. If you’re not positive how your travel plans may change, it is worth getting cover from a provider that offers flexibility where extensions are concerned.

• Can I cancel my policy after application?

  Most providers offer a cooling off period during which you’ll be able to cancel your policy. This period is usually between 15 and 30 days and is only accepted if you have not already started your trip.

Millie Spark

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Millie Spark was a writer for Finder and covered a range of subjects including how to get the best deal on everyday shopping, and insurance.