It is essential, before going on holiday - and preferably at the time of booking a holiday - to ensure that you have an adequate holiday insurance policy. Such insurance should provide cover for the following types of risk:
- Illness or accident. The costs of medical treatment can be very high and may have to be met in full. Even when Britain has reciprocal arrangements and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaces the form E111, is carried, part of the costs of any treatment will often have to be paid.
- Cancellation, curtailment or delay.
- Loss of or damage to personal property, including money.
The following is a checklist of points you should consider in arranging holiday insurance.
- Under the Disability Discrimination Act it is unlawful to refuse to insure a person, increase the premium or reduce the level of cover, simply on the basis of the person's disability. But insurers need to be able to distinguish differences in risk between individuals and, on this basis, are able to justify less favourable treatment.
- Where a tour operator or travel agent offers insurance, make sure that it is relevant to you. The policy terms should not include any exclusion clauses that may affect you. In particular, attention should be paid to the notes below regarding pre-existing medical conditions, cover for which is often excluded by 'off the shelf' policies.
- Policy terms usually call for declaration of pre-existing medical conditions. Always make sure that the Insurer is made aware of any relevant facts; often, they will ask you to contact a freephone medical screening helpline and answer a few questions, or will ask for a declaration that a person will not be travelling against a doctor's advice.
- Check that any proposed policy provides adequate cover for any equipment you will be taking with you because of your disability. Standard policy terms often impose a single item limit as low as £150 and the total insured value of your personal belongings may only be £750.
- It is usually wise to include all family members who will be travelling together in the one policy. This will avoid the hassle of having to deal with two or more companies in the event of a claim involving you all. Often, an insurer will offer a lower 'family rate' for such a policy.
- If you belong to a support group relating to your condition they, or many voluntary organisations, may be able to assist you in identifying appropriate insurance.
- Dial Doncaster has a list of companies - insurers and brokers - offering policies that may be of particular interest to disabled people.
- If you are going on a group holiday, make sure that the organiser has appropriate insurance both for themselves and for you.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE
Companies/Organisations offering policies that may be of particular interest to disabled people.
Age Concern Insurance Services
Fortis House
Tollgate
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO53 3YA
Freephone: 0800 00 99 66 (Age Concern)
Tel: 0845 685 1058
Website: www.ageconcern.org.uk
Help the Aged Holiday Insurance
207 - 221 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9UZ
freephone holiday insurance: 0800 413 180
Tel: 020 7278 1114
Fax: 020 7278 1116
E-mail: info@helptheaged.org.uk
Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk
Freedom Travel Insurance
Tel: 0870 774 3760
VentureSure Single Trip Travel Insurance (formerly known as Travelcare Ltd)
P. J. Hayman
Stansted House
Rowlands Castle
Hampshire
PO9 6DX
Freephone Helpline: 0845 230 3521
Fax: 023 9241 9019
E-mail: info@venturesure.co.uk
En Route Insurance Consultants
Grove Mills
Cranbrook Road
Hawkhurst
Kent
TN18 4AS
Tel: 0800 783 7245
Fax: 01580 752 401
E-mail: info@enrouteinsurance.co.uk
Website: www.enrouteinsurance.co.uk
Travelbility
Peregrine House
Falconry Court
Bakers Lane
Epping
Essex
CM16 5DQ
Tel: 0845 338 1638
Fax: 01992 566 901
Website: www.travelbility.co.uk
Leisurecare Insurance Services
Premier House,
107a High Street,
Cricklade,
Wiltshire,
SN6 6AE
Tel: (01793) 750 150
Fax: (01793) 750 661
Chartwell Insurance
Chartwell House,
292 - 294 Hale Lane,
Edgeware,
Middlesex,
HA8 8NP
Tel: 0845 260 7051/2
Fax: 020 8958 3220
E-mail: info@chartwellinsurance.co.uk
Website: www.chartwellinsurance.co.uk
Free Spirit
P.J. Hayman & Co. Ltd.
Stanstead House
Rowlands Castle
Hampshire
PO9 6DX
Tel: 0845 230 5000
Fax: 023 9241 9019
Website: www.free-spirit.com
A specialist travel insurance provider for people with pre-existing medical conditions including cancer.
DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press,
DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.
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