In addition to the two main types of travel insurance, there are numerous specialised travel insurances. Each one is designed to meet the needs of different travellers and cater for different types of holiday. Many insurance providers offer: ski and winter sports insurance; cruise travel insurance; golf holiday insurance; business travel insurance; backpacker insurance; student travel insurance; over 65's travel insurance; family or group insurance; and cover for pre-existing medical conditions or security delays. Depending on the type of specialised travel insurance you require, you may have to fulfil certain customer criteria to qualify. For example, you will need to be over sixty-five years of age to qualify for over 65's travel insurance and you must be studying at an Australian college or university to take out student travel insurance.
Typically, you can choose whether your specialised insurance covers a single trip or a number of holidays throughout the year. Usually, a specialised insurance policy is simply a basic single-trip or annual multi-trip policy, with extra cover 'tagged on' to cover a specific purpose. In some cases, you can add the following 'specialised' types of cover onto a conventional travel insurance policy: ask your insurer if this would be an option for you.
It is not always advantageous to take out specialised travel insurance, even if you fit into the target consumer group; although there may be additional benefits, these may be counteracted by higher costs or reduced cover. For example, backpacker and student insurance tends to be cheaper to purchase than a regular policy, but you will not usually be covered as comprehensively as you would be by a standard policy, and the excess that you pay is generally higher. Nevertheless, you may find that in certain circumstances specialised insurance is your only option, as standard policies may not cover you if you wish to go skiing or are over sixty-five years old. In these cases, you may be forced to take out a specialised insurance, which provides the protection you require. Before you make a final decision, ensure that you research all the options available to you; do not assume that a policy which claims to offer you a good deal will necessarily suit your needs.
In addition to specialised travel insurances which cater for specific types of holiday and those with additional sports cover, most insurers offer the following options:
Over-65's Travel Insurance
This type of insurance is designed to cover the needs of older people who may not necessarily be covered by a standard travel insurance policy because of their age. Usually, this type of insurance is available for anyone between sixty-five and seventy-four years of age, but some insurers also provide cover to older people. The cover provided is largely the same as that of a standard travel insurance policy, but additional benefits may be included such as cover for pre-existing medical conditions, and increased medical expenses cover.
Family and Group Insurance
Although standard types of travel insurance may allow you to insure more than one person under the same policy, family and group insurance can offer additional discounts and advanced protection. The definition of 'family' varies between insurers, but one huge benefit is that you do not have to be travelling together to be insured: your children could travel to Germany, while you and your partner enjoy a break in Spain. Additional cover provided by family and group insurance tends to include: cost of accompanying a family member if they are taken ill and must return home prematurely at extra cost.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
A pre-existing medical condition is any condition from which you suffered in the past, or from which you are currently suffering. What effect these conditions have on your travel insurance depends on the type of condition you have and the insurance company you choose. In general, a travel insurance policy will not cover you for any claim you make as a result of a pre-existing medical condition. This means that if you have suffered from cancer in the past, you will not be entitled to claim for any illness which occurs as a result of your cancer. Nevertheless, some insurers will insure you for just such eventualities, by providing specialised cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Although the premiums for this type of insurance are more expensive, it may be your only option to ensure that you have adequate cover for your trip.
Security Delay Cover
This insurance covers you for costs incurred as a result of delays on public transport due to a terrorist incident or security alert. Usually, you must pay any costs yourself and then claim a refund at a later date: this means that you must keep all relevant receipts. Typically, costs incurred within the first six hours of the delay are not covered. Additional cover includes: cost of alternative tickets; overnight accommodation; food, drink and emergency items allowance; car parking fees charged in excess of those you would have paid if you had not been delayed.
