Travel insurance: experts highlight the most common mistakes
As the summer travel season begins, insurance experts warn about typical errors travelers make when purchasing policies, such as buying too late and having insufficient coverage.
Summer is a time for holidays and trips, but unexpected issues like flight cancellations, lost luggage, illness, or last-minute route changes can arise. Tuuli Pärensom, chair of the board of the Estonian Insurance Association, said on Radio 4 that not all travel insurance covers these risks, and some types of protection must be arranged separately and in advance.
One of the most common mistakes is purchasing insurance too late. If a policy is bought just a day or two before departure, insurers may question whether the traveler already knew about potential problems. Therefore, experts advise buying insurance as early as possible.
Another frequent error is insufficient coverage. Special attention should be paid to trip cancellation insurance and additional coverage. For instance, terrorist threats or carrier financial problems are typically only covered by extra protection, not included in standard packages.
Many travelers rely on insurance attached to credit cards, but such coverage is designed for average clients and may not cover current risks like flight cancellations. Pärensom noted that each person should assess their financial capacity and decide whether a separate policy is needed.
Regarding additional costs, she gave an example: on a business trip to a Central European city, extra protection against flight cancellation cost only €6. Considering the risks – such as the trip being disrupted or having three children at home – this amount is reasonable.
For group trips, like school graduation excursions, it's important to consider planned activities. Extreme sports require a different insurance approach. It is also advisable to request a group insurance offer, as cancellation reasons may affect everyone.
As the main advice, Pärensom emphasized timely insurance purchase. If there is still a month before the trip, it is the right time to check terms, compare offers, and choose the most suitable option.
