Tourists ‘should check insurance cover thoroughly’

Travellers should not always opt for the cheapest travel insurance, one expert has advised.

 People booking cheap flights to India or other exotic destinations this summer should make sure that they have the most appropriate level of travel insurance cover, an expert has advised.

Sean Tipton, spokesperson for ABTA – The Travel Association, explained that opting for the cheapest policy is not always the best way to go.

“You should not necessarily look for the cheapest option as this will provide you, in most cases, with the lowest level of cover,” he stated.

Talking to a travel agent or insurance company before signing up to a policy is also essential if anyone travelling has a pre-existing medical condition, Mr Tipton added.

A report released by Which? earlier this month revealed that travel insurance policies sold by some travel agents are unsuitable and poor value for money.

The organisation also found that independent agents performed better than chains.

Mr Tipton noted that ABTA members receive few complaints about their service relating to the sale of travel insurance, adding that all of its members should “sell policies appropriate to customers’ needs”.

Written by Alex Cochrane