If you are traveling to Europe, holiday insurance is a must. If you are lucky enough to have the time and the money to make several trips a year to Europe, annual holiday insurance is available, but for most people, single trip holiday insurance for Europe will be quite sufficient. This article looks at the reasons for taking out holiday insurance for European vacations and compares the coverage available for some leading travel insurance companies.
Holiday Insurance Europe:Key Benefits
Hopefully, your trip to Europe will progress smoothly. But it is essential to have a “plan B” if it doesn’t. There’s always the danger that you could fall ill abroad, and whilst European countries all have universal healthcare systems, these are usually limited to EU citizens to prevent their resources being drained by “health tourism” (Americans going overseas for treatment because they’ve found that a plane ticket to Europe costs far less than American healthcare). Holiday insurance reimburses European healthcare providers for their services so that you’re not stuck with the tab.
Another benefit of European holiday insurance is that it can cover the cost of clothing and other necessary purchases should your luggage go missing. Anyone who’s ever flown has experienced the anxiety of waiting by the baggage carousels, hoping and praying that their suitcase appears. Travel insurance takes some of the worry out of the experience, knowing that the worst that can happen is the need for an extra shopping trip.
Since September 11th, and especially since the subsequent bombings in London and Madrid, terrorism has been a worry for travelers to Europe. Holiday insurance will reimburse the cost of your trip if it is canceled or delayed due to a terrorist incident.
Finally, the uncertain economy means that there is no guarantee that the travel agent or airline you booked with will still be in business by the time you are due to fly home. Insurance companies can help you make alternative arrangements for the return journey should the worst happen.
Holiday Insurance Europe: Where To buy?
There are a number of companies selling holiday insurance for trips to Europe. Three of the most trusted names are Travelex, American Express and Travel Guard. All three have websites that allow you to ender details such as the date and cost of your trip, and which will then give you quotes for different policies with different levels of coverage. Shop around and see which policy best suits your needs.