Travel insurance advice for novices

desthemoaner

Afternoon all

Travel insurance help required, please. 

My wife and I are going on a long trip later this year. We've only travelled abroad once before, to Malta in 2010. This trip will be a visit to newly discovered relatives in the Antipodes. 

The Malta trip was a package deal, and I don't remember anything about arranging travel insurance. Perhaps it was done through the travel agent. Anyhow, this time round we both have a number of health conditions which I'm pretty sure will have to be declared, and we'll need to arrange it ourselves. 

I'm unsure as to the process here, but I know its possible to buy either single trip insurance or something that covers a longer period. Thing is, although we know which month we'll be travelling in, we won't have exact dates until a few issues of timing have been resolved, so we can't book our flights till that's done.

Is it necessary to wait till we have exact dates before buying travel insurance, or can we buy the insurance for the destination, and give the insurer the exact details of the trip once we've booked? 

Thanks in advance for any help. 

Ayr_Rage

Honestly, the best way to learn what is required is to go onto an insurance comparison website and actually see what details you have to enter.

It's mostly box filling, even with existing health conditions, you will need details from the last two years and to declare ANY cancer diagnosis and treatments.

Once you submit everything you'll get a list of insurers and their premiums.

desthemoaner

Ayr_Rage said:

Honestly, the best way to learn what is required is to go onto an insurance comparison website and actually see what details you have to enter.

It's mostly box filling, even with existing health conditions, you will need details from the last two years and to declare ANY cancer diagnosis and treatments.

Once you submit everything you'll get a list of insurers and their premiums.

Thank you. I did visit a comparison site a couple of weeks ago, but was distracted and never actually finished entering the details. I'll do that again and also ring a couple of providers, as much to find out how the insurance works as to obtain comparable quotes. 

Woodstok2000

By allmeans do some research amd get quotes so you can budget accordingly, but don't bother with insurance until youre booking the holiday. Once it's booked buy the insurance straight away. Single trip will be fine,and cheaper if you're not planning any other holidays.

TELLIT01

Health conditions definitely have to be declared.  Failing to do so can mean insurance won't pay out if you make a claim.  Search "Travel insurance with health conditions" and read the T&C closely.  If you have travel insurance as part of a bank account package it is definitely worth contacting them first.

SiliconChip

For single trip cover, which is what you need, you will require the dates of travel, which it sounds like you won't have until you book the flights, so as @Woodstok2000 has suggested once you've done that arrange your insurance straight away.

sheramber

Do you mean long as in distance or long as in time away.

Most  run of the mill policies limit the duration of the trip cover, often 30 days, so make sure any insurance you book covers the time you are away. 

Ms_Chocaholic

If you're going to test the price of insurance with previous health conditions v no health conditions then run a test quote with false names/DOBs/address etc

desthemoaner

Many thanks all for the advice. Its a long distance trip, but we will be away for less than 30 days. 

I just need to sort out boarding for our dog, then we can discuss dates with the folks in the Antipodes and book. If I have further questions when I'm in a position to buy the insurance I'll come back here and ask. 

Thanks again.