Posted 24 Aug 2011

Students planning a gap year adventure are being urged to check their travel insurance policies before setting off.

Research into gap year cover carried out by Defaqto reveals that there are substantial differences between what exactly various policies protect against.

Additionally, it also finds that some 87 per cent of plans charge excesses per section – something that can push up the cost of making a claim.

There can be up to 11 different sections in any gap year policy, ranging from lost baggage and medical expenses to trip cancellation and theft of money.

Some situations would require students to claim on more than one section, which could result in higher costs.

The company therefore is urging travellers to check the small print of their policies to make sure they do not end up paying more than expected in certain situations.

"People should focus primarily on the features that different policies provide when shopping around and ensure their particular needs are met, rather than how much a policy costs," comments Defaqto's insight analyst for general insurance Mike Powell.

Recently, Sainsbury's Finance revealed that the average cost of medical treatment when travelling overseas is now over £1,000.
 

Category: General Travel