dirty rotten scoundrels

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So you’ve just finished booking your vacation with a travel agent or online and you’re happily counting down the days until that well deserve break. You agreed to the travel insurance that comes as part of the package because it’s better to be safe than sorry and you make a mental note to read the policy before you go… and this is exactly what you’re doing wrong!

It gives you peace of mind to have it in your travel documents but you’re convinced that you’ll never have to use it.
You’re baggage will make it through just fine, your apartment will be safe and secure and you won’t have to visit the local hospital at all. But what if you do have to claim? Travel insurance is worse than most for exclusions and the
likelihood is that you’ll have to jump through hoops to have your claim approved with those specialist travel agency policies. They actually rip you off!

And here’s how:

1 – Adrenaline Rush

We all know that activities like skiing and rock climbing aren’t allowed on a travel insurance policy unless you have the dangerous activities extra on it, but most people don’t know that horse riding, cricket and touch football are included in the dangerous listings as well. If you wind up in hospital because a cricket ball or football hit you in the face when you’re enjoying a family game then don’t expect to have your claim approved because it will more than likely be rejected.

2 – Party Time

Kicking back on holiday is a given, as is having a few beers unless you’re tee total, but if your apartment is burgled overnight with no sign of forced entry or you have a fall and have to visit a medical centre after a few then you won’t be able to claim. Some travel insurance companies seem to rip you off for enjoying yourself because they cite diminished responsibility as a reason to turn down your claim. Under their policies, a few beers could cost you a lot more than your belongings or a few cuts and bruises.

3 – Claimed Baggage

If you have travel insurance then you expect to be covered in the event that your luggage is lost. After all, that is one of the features that draws you to the policy in the first place because your vacation would be completely ruined if it gets lost and you have none of your belongings or souvenirs. Travel insurance companies don’t seem to see it that way though. As lost baggage is one of their biggest problems exclusions have been introduced and you can’t claim if your bags are lost on internal flights at all! Worse still, if you lose your bags on your way home then you can kiss goodbye to it. Lets hope your luggage is lost on an international flight on your way to your destination!

4 – In Sickness And In Health

We all know to tell travel insurance companies if we have had cancer, a heart attack or a stroke in the past, or indeed any other medical event that would void a policy. Apparently though, we don’t think our medical history through enough. Everyday ailments like high blood pressure and diabetes could void off the policy, as well any major surgery that you’ve had in the past. If you don’t mention it then you won’t be able to claim for anything on your policy!

5 – Battered And Broken

If your suitcase is damaged in the cargo hold of a flight then it won’t usually matter because your clothes would often not be affected, but if your camera, jewellery, laptop or any other fragile valuables are in your case then they might well be, and you won’t be able to claim a penny for them. Travel insurance companies argue that all valuables should be kept with you so if they’re not then it’s your fault that they’re damaged. The moral of the story is to keep all valuables with you at all times or risk being ripped off by your insurance company.

6 – Hide And Seek

Similar to the travel insurance exclusion above, if any of your valuables aren’t kept with you when on a cruise then you might not be able to claim for them if they’re stolen. This is yet another way to rip you off because most travel insurance companies argue that you shouldn’t leave your valuables lying around when there’s a safe that you can use. As such, they won’t pay out if your valuables aren’t locked away. This also applies to any valuables left in your car if that happens to be on a ferry with you.

7 – To Have And To Hold

If you’re lucky enough to be getting married abroad and are having the ceremony and the honeymoon all rolled into one then don’t expect any of your wedding stuff covered by your insurance policy. According to one popular travel insurer, it isn’t within the bounds of their policy to cover wedding clothing, documentation or anything else related to it because you should have a specialist policy for that… so yet another get out clause for the insurer is born!

8 – Act Of War

Travel insurance companies are indirectly telling you to carefully consider where you are going on vacation in this particular exclusion. No travel insurance company will cover you or your belongings if you happen to get stuck in the middle of a terrorist attack or a civil war so this should give you an incentive to steer clear of any trouble and keep an eye on the news, as if your health isn’t incentive enough already!

So there you have it people! The moral of the story: read the small print! You never know what you might not be covered for as a result of the ridiculous exclusions, but don’t get ripped off! Avoid the cowboys and have peace of mind with a good travel insurance company that takes care of its customers. You know it makes sense.