There are hundreds of holiday insurance cover options available. So it can be difficult to tell what you should expect from your insurance provider. Below is a list of items that might be included in the cover, and an explanation of what they could mean.

Cancellation insurance – Sometimes you might have to cancel your holiday. Perhaps you fell ill at the last minute and have been advised that you need to be confined to bed by your Doctor. Certain insurers may cover this possibility, and make a contribution towards your out of pocket expenses if you have to cancel.

Accommodation problems – There are two types of problems that you might experience with your accommodation. Firstly, there are natural disasters like storms or floods, or accidents like fires. These are unavoidable and cannot be foreseen. Some insurance providers will include alternative accommodation in any of these events.

The second problem you can get with holiday accommodation is caused by the hotelier themselves. Perhaps they have gone out of business, and ceased to operate since you placed your booking. If you find yourself in this situation, check your holiday insurance cover, to see whether your provider will offer you any assistance with finding somewhere else to stay.

Medical issues – It can be scary if you fall ill abroad. Most large cities have hospital staff who speak some English. However, being used to the NHS means that British people are often surprised that they have to pay for their medical treatment. Some countries have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK, which means that they offer British travellers treatment on the same terms their own citizens receive. This is based on the European Health Insurance Card system.

However, if you happen to fall ill in a country that does charge their own citizens for medical treatment, you will be liable to pay the same charges as they do. Some foreign health services may insist that the patient settles the bill for their treatment there and then. If you have had a serious accident, you may have to pay to be transferred back to a UK hospital when you are well enough to travel, to continue your treatment nearer home. Check that this is included in your holiday insurance cover.

Do make sure to mention any pre-existing medical conditions you have to your insurer, as they could refuse to pay out if it subsequently turns out that the information on which they based the decision to offer cover was inaccurate.

Transport – Missing a flight through no fault of your own or experiencing severe delays or cancelling can be frustrating and expensive, if you have to make alternative arrangements.

Your stuff – If you add up the value of everything in your suitcase, the value can be considerable. Cameras, phones and expensive clothing could cost a fortune to replace. That’s why some holiday insurance policies include a “baggage” option, to cover the cost of your bags and their contents in the event that they are lost or stolen.

Cash – Travellers’ cheques are a common method of carrying money, but some people stick to cash. Check whether your insurer will cover cash if it is lost or stolen. Some providers will add this as an optional extra to your holiday insurance cover.

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