Forgot to get travel insurance? Here’s what to do according to an expert

Last-minute Britain – millions of holiday-makers risk cancelled holidays without compensation

• 16% of British holidaymakers don't buy travel insurance for holidays abroad.

• Up to 40% buy a last-minute policy risking being out of pocket and without a holiday.

• Only a third (33%) of holidaymakers buy travel insurance at the right time according to travel expert Michelle Cooper.

• Millions still mistakenly believe that UK staycations don't need travel insurance.

A stark 16% don't take out travel insurance for their holidays abroad, finds a survey of 902 British holidaymakers by travel insurer Saga. Of the Brits that do, as many as 40% purchase a last-minute policy, leaving themself at risk of being out of pocket and without a holiday if anything were to go wrong.

Revealing Brit's risky holiday habits ahead of the spring/summer rush, Michelle Cooper, Director of Travel insurance at Saga, answers when is the best time to get travel insurance, and how to get last-minute cover if you've forgotten: https://www.saga.co.uk/travel-insurance/last-minute-travel-insurance

16% typically never take out travel insurance for holidays abroad, risking significant financial loss

Saga's survey reveals 16% of British holidaymakers typically never take out travel insurance for holidays abroad. Of those who do, most typically take out single trip cover (50%), and some (34%) multi trip cover. 

Michelle cautions: "You'll never know how important travel insurance is until you need to make a claim. This could be before you go, if your trip must be cancelled because of an unexpected event, while you're away, if you're taken ill, or have an accident and need medical treatment, or even when you get back, if your baggage gets lost."

40% of Brits who get single trip travel insurance buy it last minute – risking cover exclusions

40% of British holidaymakers risk cancelled holidays without remuneration by buying travel insurance either shortly before their departure, the day of departure, or while on the holiday - all outside of Michelle's recommendation.

When do you typically take out single trip travel insurance for a holiday abroad?
During my holiday	The day of departure	Shortly before my holiday e.g. week or so	Shortly after booking e.g. a few days/a week after	The same day I book my holiday	Just before I book my holiday
5%	5%	30%	13%	33%	14%

Michelle says: "The best time to buy your travel insurance is right after you've booked a holiday."

Only a third (33%) of Brits who buy single trip travel insurance get it at the right time according to Saga's survey. Michelle continues:

"Protecting your plans in the run-up to your holiday is just as important as when you're there."

"We recommend getting a policy that includes cancellation cover so you're protected if you can't go due to illness or there's an unexpected turn of events, like your accommodation cancels your booking. Though some holiday providers do include cancellation cover as part of the holiday booking, so check this first.

For the 5% who book on the day of departure, Michelle says:

"You can still get travel insurance on the same day you travel. Most providers specify that your trip starts when you leave your home, so you need to buy your last-minute policy before you leave. Some providers might not let you make a claim in the first 24 or 48 hours of taking it out though.

"If you're at the airport, you may still be able to buy cover. But do it before you go through customs, or you'll have a harder job finding cover and it may come with exclusions."

For the 5% who book during their holiday, Michelle says:

"It still might not be too late once you've arrived at your destination. Some providers sell 'post-departure insurance', but this could come at a premium and with certain limitations. It won't cover you for anything that might have gone wrong already, but it may prove valuable later in your trip."

Don't forget to declare pre-existing medical conditions when getting your last-minute policy cautions Michelle:

"If you want to be covered for a pre-existing medical condition or anything associated with it, always declare it when buying travel insurance, otherwise it could lead to complications should you need to make a claim."

When your policy expires, when do you typically take out your next multi-trip policy?
During my holiday	The day of departure	A week or so before my holiday	Shortly after e.g. a few days/a week after	The same day I book my holiday	Just before I book my next holiday	The day my annual policy expires – I like to always have it in place
4%	4%	11%	6%	19%	25%	31%

 

 

 

 

 

Multi-trip buyers often forward plan their cover

75% of holidaymakers who typically purchase an annual multi-trip policy tend to arrange insurance well in advance or within Michelle's recommended timeframe.

Most prefer to renew their cover on the day it expires (31%) so they're always insured. A quarter (25%) purchase a new policy just before their next holiday, and almost one in five (19%) on the same day they book their next trip.

Millions of Brits don't buy travel insurance for a staycation

To myth-bust misconceptions around UK staycations, Saga also asked Brits whether they think they should purchase travel insurance for a UK holiday, and if they do.

	Yes, but I don't purchase it	Yes, and I do purchase it	No, and I don't purchase it	No, but I do purchase it anyway
Single trip buyers	14%	23%	52%	11%
Multi-trip buyers	10%	47%	32%	12%
People who typically don't buy travel insurance	33%	7%	55%	5%
Avg. of all three types of travellers	19%	26%	46%	9%

Multi-trip buyers were most aware that travel insurance should be taken out for UK staycations too. Michelle says:

"Travel insurance for UK staycations is just as important as for holidays abroad. Take holiday cancellation cover for example, if you or someone in your party falls ill, you'll be able to claim for any pre-paid expenses. Insurance does much more than just cover the cost of any unexpected medical bills."