Holiday insurance

Tens of thousands of England fans will be heading to Germany for the World Cup. While travel insurance may not be foremost in their thoughts, they would do well to heed the following advice before they set off to join those large, passionate, large alcohol-fuelled crowds…

• Firstly, remember that the comparatively small cost of travel insurance is minimal in comparison to what you could end up paying if disaster strikes abroad
• A good travel policy should include:
  o £2m medical cover
  o £1m personal liability cover
  o £3k cancellation cover
  o £1.5k Personal possession/luggage
• If your trip to Germany is just one of may planned trips overseas your best option could be investing in an annual multi trip policy. Annual policies tend to offer higher levels of cover than single trips. They are often more economical if you do go on several trips abroad each year.
• If you are travelling with mates, another option is a group travel insurance policy.
• Don’t just judge a travel policy on how much it costs. Shop around on the web and buy what is relevant for your needs. Check the cover limits and small print.
• Loss or damage to personal possessions may already be covered under your home contents insurance policy if you have ‘all risk’ cover. Some insurers allow you to opt out of this cover for a reduced premium. Always check the single item limits – you may find you are under insured for expensive items like camera and jewellery.
• If you’re driving to Germany, check your motor insurance policy. All UK policies provide the minimum cover needed for the EU. However if you want more comprehensive cover, contact your insurer. They will charge an extra premium.
• Remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The credit card style EHIC card replaced the E111 form in Jan this year. It entitles the holder to free or reduced-cost state medical treatment resulting from accident or illness in EU countries plus Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EHIC only covers the same standard of health care that a resident in the country you are in would experience. Each family member must have their own EHIC.
• Travel insurers are less likely to pay out on claims if you’re found to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of loss/damage/injury.
• Travel insurance will not pay out if you cancel your Germany trip because England is knocked out.

On the home front…
If you’re staying in Germany for more than a day or two, take heed:

• Install a house alarm and set it before you leave. Alarms act as a deterrent to burglars.
• Insurers favour NACOSS approved alarms systems.
• Lock all windows and doors securely. Mortice deadlocks and rimlocks conforming to British Standard 3621 are favoured by insurers and can reduce your home insurance premiums by up to 10%.
• Invest in a timer switch and set the lights to come on in the evenings.
• Cancel milk and newspapers and ask a neighbour to remove your post and keep an eye on your property.
• Keep any keys, jewellery, valuable documents and cash in a secure safe or in a well hidden location.
• Mark valuable possessions and take note of serial numbers. This can help recover stolen goods.
• Lock outbuildings, garages and sheds with a heavy-duty padlock. Alarm them where possible.
• Keep garden gates closed and preferably locked.