How to buy travel insurance that suits your individual needs?
The word holiday conjures images of exotic destinations complete with golden beaches, glorious sunshine, hours of relaxation and quality time with your partner. It should be a truly tranquil experience. It is probably the biggest investment you will make in a year and something that you will have been looking forward to for many months. The last thing that you would want is for your peace of mind to be shattered, but, in the event of untoward circumstances, it is great to know that you are covered for any eventuality. With adequate insurance in place, you can truly relax, knowing that your luggage, health and even the holiday itself are protected. Taking a trip without adequate insurance is a one-way ticket to worry and could end up ruining your precious holiday.
If you fall seriously ill abroad and need hospital treatment, the average cost is now £2,040, up 6.25% year on year, according to research by Sainsbury’s Finance.
Travel insurance: do you really need it for a European … (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/sep/11/travel-insurance-european-holiday
If any of the following incidents occur, you will be glad that you have adequate cover.
- The airline decides to cancel your flight.
- Due to illness you need to cancel the trip.
- Your day pack with your passport and wallet are stolen. You need to obtain emergency cash and replace the passport.
- You have a medical emergency whilst on holiday.
- A terrorist incident occurs at your destination and you wish to cancel the trip.
Annual travel insurance can cover all these events, as well as a few of you have never considered.
Cover for medical emergencies is probably the most vital element here. Circumstances may conspire for you to miss your flight, or lose belongings, but this pales in comparison to concerns about your health. It is hard to imagine a worse situation than being stuck in a foreign country, unable to repatriate yourself and at the mercy of inadequate medical care.
The bills for certain medical emergencies, for example, an air ambulance transfer can be truly astronomical.
The most expensive country for inpatient treatment is the US, with the average hospital visit costing £6,000
Travel insurance: do you really need it for a European … (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/sep/11/travel-insurance-european-holiday
If travelling in Europe a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will cover basic medical care, and is a requirement to validate most travel insurance. As a UK resident, the EHIC gives access to state provided medical care at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free, when travelling in EU countries. You will receive the same care as a resident of the country you are visiting. It will not cover costs for repatriations and routine monitoring of existing conditions. When engaging in dangerous sports, insurance becomes even more vital, as the likelihood of an accident is highly increased. A skiing holiday can become extremely expensive if you need rescuing from the top of the mountain.
As we become older our insurance needs change. Pensioners travel insurance can be more expensive as the risks a well involved are greater for the insurer. It is exciting to know that you can still scratch the travel itch and enjoy an active retirement. There is a host of reputable insurance brokers, like Columbus Direct, who can present a range of policies and advise on what is best for you.
Tags: mind, inpatient treatment, Member state of the European Union, eu countries, Insurance
Social networking sites being targeted by debt collectors
October 26, 2011 by Reno
Filed under News, News-Loans
Whilst we all consider social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to be associated with the entertainment, communicating with friends, or simply making comments to let others know your thoughts, there are some people that use them for strictly business purposes. This includes those that want to find out information or try and make contact with people for something more than just adding them as friends!
It has been revealed that in some cases debt collectors have been targeting people that owe money through the use of social networking sites, posting messages on these popular sites. However, officials are concerned that people could soon find embarrassing and confidential details about their debts and finances making their way onto the Internet if this practise continues. There are concerns that messages posted on these social networking sites by debt collection firms could be seen by friend, family and even work colleagues of the person that the message has been left for.
With this in mind the Office of Fair Trading has now warned the debt collecting industry about using these social networking sites to contact people that owe them money. The OFT has now updated its guidelines with regards to debt collecting firms, which were last updated in 2006. The debt collection industry has also been warned about contacting people at locations that are deemed inappropriate such as hospitals.
Tags: family, twitter, debt collection firms, official, Technology InternetAn official from the OFT said: ‘In the present economic climate, with many people, including those who may be particularly vulnerable, in financial difficulties, it is crucial they are treated fairly by companies recovering their debts. This updated guidance makes clear the standards the OFT expects of all businesses involved in debt recovery, including debt collectors, banks and law firms.’
Tips to Help You Save on Your Fuel Costs
During the winter months fuel bills tend to soar and are the second highest expense encountered by homeowners after their monthly mortgage payment. Read more
Tags: fuel costs, rate, electricity costs, exit, length of time, gas costs, mindAre you looking to refinance your mortgage?
People in the UK have become far more savvy about finances over the years, and when it comes to mortgages many people have realized that there are some great deals out there that could save them a fortune in interest as well as reducing their monthly repayments. However, for many consumers simple apathy or misguided loyalty has resulted in them staying with the same mortgage provider through thick and thin without giving any thought to just how much they could save by simply refinancing the mortgage, whether with the same lender or with another one.
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Tenants advised to take out contents insurance
May 3, 2008 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Tenants should take out contents insurance and speak to their landlords about investing in improving security, since this could reduce their insurance premiums, says Direct Line.
People renting property from landlords should make sure they have contents insurance that covers the full value of their belongings, particularly since it is “often a lot cheaper than you expect,” according to head of Direct Line home insurance Andrew Lowe.
A Homeserve survey from April 2008 found that more than 60 per cent of people in the UK had experienced a home emergency in the past 12 months, with the average bill totalling £494.
Despite this, Moneysupermarket.com recently reported that 40 per cent of property owners do not have home insurance.
The cities where people are most likely to be burgled are Nottingham, London and Bristol, whereas Guilford, Dundee and Norwich were found to be the safest cities by insurance company Endsleigh.
“Investing in good quality locks for doors and windows will not only offer you peace of mind, but will also reduce your premiums,” advises Mr Lowe.
Winter will see more claims
January 26, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Homeowners are likely to make more insurance claims in the coming months as a result of the bad weather.
That is according to Lloyds TSB, which says it is expecting to see a 15 per cent increase in burst pipe claims during the first quarter of this year.
The insurance provider is highlighting the fact that something as seemingly minor as a burst pipe can prove to be both a major headache and a real financial burden.
Lloyds has revealed that the average claim for a burst pipe is around £2,500, while the most expensive the firm has ever seen was £156,000 for a particularly troublesome problem.
Homeowners are being warned to take action to help keep damage from a burst pipe to a minimum, with advice such as locating the stopcock, gas valve and ball valves, in case the worst happens.
Lloyds also advises people to leave their heating on a low heat if they are going away on holiday, as this will prevent pipes from freezing, while outdoor pipes should be well insulated during the winter months.
“So far this winter we’ve had relatively mild weather so many homeowners were caught unprepared for this cold snap,” said Lloyds TSB’s Phil Loney.
“A little bit of effort now could save you a lot of wasted time and stress caused by problems such as burst pipes or broken boilers.
“To give yourself peace of mind, make sure you have adequate home insurance that will cover you if the icy conditions do take their toll,” he added.
Residents are also advised to leave their insurance details with a trusted neighbour when travelling in case there is an incident while the house is empty.
What kind of coverage can I expect with home insurance?
Home insurance was created, and is provided in order to insure a person’s possessions. As you can imagine this can potentially be a vast list of items ranging from do-it-yourself appliances to the kitchen sink. Read more
Tags: mind, redress, choice, range, check, equipment, home insurance coverage