Six travel insurance catches that could ruin your summer holiday and cost thousands | Personal Finance | Finance

Travel insurance is a holiday essential, but you could still end up getting burned if you don’t read the policy’s small print.

James Andrews, money expert at Be Clever With Your Cash, is warning of six common mistakes that could leave you exposed if things go wrong.

Exceeding trip limits. Annual multi-trip travel insurance policies can be good value for regular travellers, but most limit individual trips to 31 days. Some allow as little as 17 days, a huge risk for those taking extended cruises, long-haul holidays or lengthy family visits.

Andrews said to check out the annual limit, too, although these can be more generous at 180 days.

Failing to declare pre-existing health conditions.“You even need to tell your insurer about something minor like new blood pressure medication. Otherwise, you could face a huge medical bill,” Andrews said.

Ignoring Foreign Office warnings. If the Foreign Office advises against visiting a destination but you go anyway, your policy almost certainly won’t cover you. “Today, it’s advising against all travel to Israel, Iran and Iraq, and all but essential travel to parts of the UAE, including Dubai. If concerned, check.”

Getting the region wrong. Check that your policy covers your destination, particularly if buying an annual policy. A Europe-only policy won’t cover you in Florida or the Caribbean, for example. Some European policies may include Turkey, Egypt or Morocco, but others won’t.

Free insurance can fall short. Insurance bundled with bank accounts or phone contracts may not match up. “Age limits are usually stricter, valuables cover lower, and rules on pre-existing conditions tighter.”

Everybody must be named. Family multi-trip policies only protect the people actually listed.

“If a name isn’t on the policy, they aren’t covered.”

That could prove costly if grandchildren, friends or relatives join the trip at the last minute.