Booking a holiday is exciting! It's finally time to get away from your daily life and spend a well-deserved week or two doing whatever you like. The last thing on your mind is that something could go wrong whilst you're away.
Unfortunately, the unexpected does happen, and without travel insurance you can find yourself in a stressful (and potentially expensive) position. Direct2Insure includes cover for baggage, emergency medical expenses, and trip cancellation cover for up to £20,000.
For specific information, terms, regulations, and restrictions, we would always refer you to your Policy Wording. Otherwise, you can give our friendly UK-based customer contact team on 0330 880 3652.
Travel insurance is there to cover the costs of something which might go wrong while you're on holiday, given that the event is covered under your insurance policy. There are plenty of risks when you book a trip, especially if you're going on a more expensive holiday. Cancellation due to an unexpected reason, having to cut your trip short, or needing hospitalisation in another country can really hit your wallet hard. In a 2017 study by the Association of British Insurers, the average cost for overseas medical treatment was £1,300 - but this can be much, much higher.
There's always a risk of things going wrong on your holiday so make sure that you are prepared if they do, get travel insurance cover for the things you need! With Direct2Insure, you get medical cover as standard but if you need to claim for a medical condition that you have a medical record of but haven't declared it, you won't be covered.
Unfortunately, there are a myriad of things that can go wrong on holiday, so we want to make sure that you're prepared if they do. Direct2Insure can cover you if you're too unwell to travel, your baggage is lost or stolen, your flight is delayed, you lose your passport, or you find yourself needing medical treatment abroad.
You're not only covered for emergency medical expenses due to an illness or injury abroad - you're also covered for pre-existing conditions which you're aware of before you travel. Our quote system requires a medical declaration, so that you're covered accurately and appropriately if you need to make a medical claim abroad.
With a Direct2Insure travel insurance policy, you are covered for medical conditions unless you have a pre-existing medical condition that was not screened when getting your quote. Sounds complicated? It's not, here's how it works.
If you break your leg on holiday then you're automatically covered. You’re also covered if you’ve broken your leg before your holiday but have screened the condition with our medical screening.
However, if you break your leg before your holiday and do not screen the condition and you need medical assistance in relation to it while on holiday, then you will not be covered.
We need to know about any pre-existing medical conditions before you go away so that we can cover you.
It doesn't stop at broken legs. By pre-existing conditions we mean anything which has needed medical attention or a prescription in the last 2 years. This could be something long-term like arthritis or a skin condition, or it could be something short-term like an ear infection or twisted ankle. There are also some conditions which we consider as a 'have you ever' condition, regardless of whether you currently suffer with it - things like high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or a mental health condition.
EHIC stands for European Health Insurance Card, this card is limited to use within the EU. It treats you as a member of the country that you are currently in, therefore you can receive free or discounted medical treatment when abroad in the EU. In some cases, when getting travel insurance, the insurer may refrain from using excess on your travel insurance policy.
The GHIC has replaced the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) since the UK left the European Union. The card entitles you necessary state healthcare in EU countries (and some other countries), at the cost of a resident in that country. In some cases it could even be free.
Applying for a GHIC is quick, simple, and free. You can get one via the GOV.uk website, and if you apply too close to travelling to receive the card itself, you will get an email with a number you can use in the meantime.
All you need to apply is your:
*England and Wales / **Scotland / ***Northern Ireland
Apply for your GHIC card here: Healthcare Cover Abroad | NHS.
Please note, this is not an alternative to travel insurance, nor does it replace it. A GHIC is also not applicable while holidaying on a cruise.
It can sometimes be difficult, and a bit confusing, to decide whether you need a Single Trip policy, or an Annual Multi-Trip policy. Here's how to decide:
With an Annual Multi-Trip policy, you're covered to travel as many times as you like within a 12-month period. You simply select the date you'd like the policy to start, and the geographical region you will be travelling in.
Each trip can be for a maximum of 45 days, and you don't need to be back in the UK for longer than a day and a night before you leave again.
The geographical regions on a Direct2Insure policy are as follows:
A Single Trip travel insurance policy is specific to just one holiday, and covers you to go to a specific country, or countries, rather than a region. Unlike an Annual Multi-Trip policy, your cancellation cover begins as soon as you purchase the policy and expires on the day you return home. The dates on the policy are then indicative of when you're away.
This kind of policy can be up to 94 days in length and you can travel to as many countries as you like in that timeframe. You must however, stay on holiday for the entire duration of your policy - you cannot return to the UK partway through, and resume your travels again before the policy expires.
There are additional options you must include if you are going on a cruise or taking part in any winter sports. We would always ask you to check the Policy Wording so that you know the full extent of the cover included with these additions. Please note that if you don't add these extensions, and then take part in either of them, claims might be refused or a claim pay-out reduced.
Being on a cruise might be one of the most luxurious type of holidays you can go on, but the risks are still there. In fact these risks can be heightened, especially if you need to be air-lifted from the ship or find yourself sustaining an injury in a destination with extortionate medical expenses.
The Cruise extension takes this into account, as well as providing cover for the following:
When it comes to completing a quote, there is an additional premium to add the 'Cruise' extension. Make sure you select the 'Cruise' option if you're going on a cruise liner, or let our contact centre team know over the phone so that they can arrange this for you.
Taking part in winter sports carries its own risks. The chances of hurting yourself are hugely increased, and that's why Direct2Insure provides an additional Winter Sports extension. Although medical cover is potentially one of the most important aspects of your travel insurance policy, there's also cover for:
An additional premium is required to make sure the correct cover is in place. You'll need to choose 'Winter Sports' when you're getting a quote, so that the additional risks are properly dealt with.
Travel insurance for £4.95 a day to Spain, with £5,000 cancellation cover per person. See how much cover you can get for our value prices.
Use our website or call our friendly UK call centre team that will be happy to assist you.
*Based on a 30-year-old travelling in Europe 2 for 8 days on a Direct2Insure Select5 policy. Prices correct as of May 2024.
