2. Cover multiple travellers
It is normally cheaper to buy cover for a couple, or a family, under one policy – the best annual policies will also allow each of the insured to travel independently.
3. Check the limits
Policy limits for different aspects of cover can be irritatingly out of balance. Insurers are often strict over baggage and cancellation, and set unnecessarily high limits (or no limit at all) for medical cover. Typical levels on a high-quality policy would be: cancellation (£5,000), emergency medical cover (£10 million), baggage (£2,000), missed departure (£750), personal liability (£2 million). It is also worth checking for cover against the financial failure of an airline or travel company – a very useful extra, especially if you are booking independently.
4. Check the activities list
All policies should include a list of sports and activities that are automatically covered, and those which are excluded. Usually, there is an option to cover yourself for some of those not included through the payment of an extra premium. You need to check these through carefully – and consider whether or not you might be tempted by some of them while you are away.
It may sometimes be more expensive to add some higher risk activities to a multi-trip policy than to buy separate one-off insurance. One reader who tried to add white-water rafting in Costa Rica to her annual policy found it would cost an additional £80, more than doubling the premium. Instead, she found a single policy for that trip and that activity which was much cheaper.
Winter sports are also usually an optional extra on multi-trip policies – typically with an extra premium for up to 17 days a year. Look out for restrictions – on off-piste skiing or boarding, or lack of cover for skis left unattended and unsecured, for example.
