What Are The Best Annual Travel Insurances?
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You have a nice holidays schedule ahead of you, with multiple holidays planned on the coming year? You would like to get covered for each of your trip abroad in case you get injured, you need to cancel your trip or anything else unexpected that may happen whilst you are travelling?
You should definitely get annual travel insurance.
In the below guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about annual multi-trip holiday insurance: cover you should get, prices, tips and much more. Let’s dive into it.
What is annual multi-trip travel insurance?
Annual travel insurance (or annual multi-trip travel insurance) protects you for any of your trip abroad within a period of one year in the travel areas that you have mentioned on your policy
Unlike single-trip travel insurance which only covers you for one-off holidays within restricted time slot, annual multi-trip holiday insurance will start at the date you choose and end one year after, covering you for multiple holidays abroad during that period of time.
Annual holiday insurance is made for frequent travellers, going abroad for 3 or more times a year. If you are going away once or twice a year, it might still be more budget-friendly to buy separate single-trip travel insurance for each of your trip rather than annual travel insurance. But that needs to be challenged!
Besides, with annual travel insurance, policyholder as well as any named traveller on the contract is usually covered for independent travel.So, if you’d like to get annual travel insurance for your whole family because one of your children is studying abroad and you’d like to visit him on Christmas, Easter and on summer holidays, but you also want to be covered for your winter sport session on february, then you should get annual travel insurance.
Annual multi-trip travel insurance cover is usually the same as single-trip insurance, but the premium you have to pay might be slightly higher, as you’ll get covered for a whole year.
Annual multi-trip holiday insurance usually have some restrictions such as:
- a maximum age limit to travel (some policies do not set any upper age limit but usually annual travel insurance age limit is lower than single trip age limit)
- a maximum number of days per single trip (usually around 30 days that can be extended for extra charge).
To apply for an annual travel insurance you will need to mention:
- the date you’d like your annual travel cover to start
- the area you are planning to travel to
- the number of travellers and their age
- any pre-existing medical conditions of people named on the policy.
Why do I need annual multi-trip travel insurance?
A comprehensive annual multi-trip travel insurance covers you in the event of a mishap encountered anywhere whilst you are travelling. In fact, you, or your travel partners, are not immune to an accident or illness that could go so far as to justify your repatriation to UK. There are many examples: infections, transport accidents, loss or theft of luggage.
Just to show you how important applying for travel insurance is, here are a few examples of what an unfortunate and unexpected event might cost you during an example holiday if you are not covered:
| How much will you have to pay | Without annual multi-trip travel insurance nor EHIC (trip to USA) | Without annual multi-trip travel insurance but with EHIC (trip to Europe) | With annual travel insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| I got injured whilst travelling and I need surgery abroad | £50,000 | £0 in public hospitals only | £0 until medical limit is reached |
| My spouse needs to be repatriated to the UK | £41,000 | £29,000 | £0 most often real fees |
| I need to cancel my trip for medical reasons | £8,000 | £5,000 | £0 until trip cancellation / interruption limit is reached |
| I lost my baggage at the aiport | £900 | £900 | £0 until personal belongings limit is reached |
Did you know that a survey conducted by Which in 2018 showed that of about 10000 UK travellers of all age ranges, 64% had medical treatment while they were travelling abroad?
Today the average medical claim abroad is £1300 according to comparethemarket when you can find annual annual multi-trip travel insurance starting at a few pounds per day.
Good to know
Applying for annual multi-trip holiday insurance will prevent you from having to face any unexpected and significant expenses for you or your travel partners on your own.
Should I get annual multi-trip travel insurance if I have European Health Insurance Card?
Always remember that while travelling in Europe, your first ally is your European Health Insurance Card.
The European Health Insurance Card:
- is free-of-charge for any UK residents holding a valid UK passport until 31/01/2020;
- is by individual (you can't get one card for a family, or a group);
- is valid in any EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland;
- covers any treatment needed abroad as a local national, including pre-existing medical conditions treatment and maternity care;
- doest not cover any emergency rescue and repatriation;
- should never be considered as a substitute for travel insurance.
What is covered by EHIC?
- Any treatment of a pre-existing or chronic medical condition while abroad
- Any routine medical care for pre-existing medical condition if monitoring is needed
- Any maternity care
What is not covered by EHIC?
- Any private treatment
- Any repatriation expense
- Any emergency rescue (air rescue from ski station, for instance)
- Any treatment on cruises
- Any specialist consultation
Good to know
Remember that your EHIC will only cover you until 31/12/2020, the time of Brexit. Make sure you have both EHIC and travel insurance before travelling. Many insurers will ask you to get your EHIC if travelling in Europe, and would waive the excess if you have a valid card with you.
What are the best annual multi-trip travel insurances?
Find competitive and cheap annual multi-trip travel insurance policies is always a challenge as you always need to dig into insurers' booklets to be sure you are well covered.
In order to help you save time and money, we've come up with a list of companies you could apply for your eyes closed.
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Who can apply for annual multi-trip travel insurance?
You can apply for annual multi-trip travel insurance whether you are travelling alone, with your partner, your family or as part of a group.
You will be able to name several persons on a annual multi-trip travel insurance if criteria described below are respected:
| Who can apply for annual multi-trip travel insurance | Comment |
|---|---|
| Adult travelling alone |
|
| Couples |
|
| Group |
|
| Family |
|
Most insurers will ask any people named on a annual travel insurance policy to:
- travel out from and returning to the UK.
- be a permanent resident of the UK (England,Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man) - specific annual multi-trip travel insurances exist for non UK residents.
- not travel against GP advice.
- not travel with the intention of receiving medical care abroad.
- hold a UK National Insurance number.
Does annual multi-trip policy cover all destinations?
While applying for annual holiday insurance, you will be asked to mention your annual multi-trip destination. They are usually grouped in the 4 main categories described below.
| Destinations | Our comment |
|---|---|
| UK | Annual travel insurance protects you for your local stay in the UK including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man but usually excluding the Channel Islands. |
| Europe | Annual holiday insurance for Europe include all European countries (usually EU members as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland). Some insurers may also cover Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. |
| Worldwide (excluding USA, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean) | Destinations such as USA, Medico, Canada or The Caribbean are seen as very high risk regions by travel insurers as healthcare systems are the most expensive in the world. A 4 days surgery in the US might cost you around £100 000. Excluding them from your annual multi-trip travel insurance policy will allow you to get cheaper quotes. |
| Worldwide (including USA, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean) | Worldwide annual policies including high-risk destinations are the most expensive ones. It will allow you to travel anywhere and get covered especially for any medical treatment you would need in those regions. Some war zones may be excluded from the worldwide destinations list. |
| Australia, New-Zealand | Australia and New-Zealand are sometimes annual multi-trip separate destination from the rest of the world. UK has specific healthcare agreements with both countries. UK residents are covered as local national for any medical expenses they may face abroad which lead to cheaper travel insurances. |
Good to know
When applying for annual multi-trip holiday insurance, you may be asked to mention your exact destination.
What are the alternatives to travel insurance?
Depending on the trip you are preparing, you could go for alternative to annual holiday insurance:
| Alternatives to annual multi-trip travel insurance | |
|---|---|
| Single-trip travel insurance |
|
| Backpacker travel insurance |
|
What does annual multi-trip holiday insurance should cover?
Each annual multi-trip travel insurance policy is different, since it is the insurer who determines the content of the contracts it offers: guarantees, compensation limits, deductibles, travel insurance prices, etc.
However, all annual multi-trip travel insurance contracts must include at least the following guarantees, applicable in Europe or worldwide, for all individuals mentioned on the policy:
- Medical expenses: compensation of any medical expenses during your annual multi-trip stay (consultation, analysis, emergency treatment, longer hospital stay, etc.)
- Repatriation assistance to the UK: financial and logistical support by a dedicated 24/7 team for your early return to your country of residence if necessary
- Trip cancellation and cover for delayed or missed departure: compensation if you need to cancel your trip for whatever reason or if you missed your departure
- Personal liability: compensation for any damage or injury made to a third party
- Baggage: compensation for any lost or theft of baggage while travelling
Most of the time, travel insurers offer different formulas. Cover types involved are usually the same but the compensation limits and deductibles vary.
When applying for holiday insurance for annual multi-trip, you should pay close attention to:
| Compensation | Average amount | Good to check |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses compensation amount | From £5M to £10M (depending on your medical situation and your destination) |
|
| Repatriation compensation amount | Real fees |
|
| Trip cancellation / curtailment | £10 000 (depending on your destination) |
|
| Baggage | Minimum of £1500 limit |
|
| Missed departure, delay | Minimum £500 limit (minimum £200 limit for delay) |
|
| Personal liability | Average £2M limit |
|
| Legal expenses | Average £15000 limit |
|
Even better, use our comparison tool to find the best deal for you! At Safe, we’ve checked out hundreds of travel insurance providers and we are now able to allow you to compare best annual multi-trip holiday insurance deals in only a few seconds without giving any personal details.
What are the should-have features for your annual multi-trip travel insurance?
Maybe you would also like to be covered with nice-to-have protection add-ons while travelling. Here are some examples below:
| Compensation | Average amount | What you should particularly pay attention to |
|---|---|---|
| Money and cash | Minimum £500 for money (pre-paid tickets, travellers cheque etc.) Minimum £200 for cash |
|
| Dental emergency | Minimum £250 |
|
| Loss of passport or documentation | Minimum £250 |
|
What are the extras you may choose for annual holiday insurance?
On top of your annual multi-trip insurance contract, you may get, paying an additional premium, extras such as:
| Extras | |
|---|---|
| Sports cover | Extra cover for activities such as winter sports, golf, extreme or adventurous sports. |
| Gadget cover | Extra cover for smartphones, laptops, cameras, GoPro that you may have to record your annual multi-trip holidays. |
| Cruise gear cover | Extra cover for your annual multi-trip cruise gear travel. |
How much does annual multi-trip travel insurance policy cost?
The table below shows indicative quotes for annual multi-trip travel insurance policies:
| To Europe | To USA | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 - 35 years old | £26,15 | £39,82 |
| 36 - 55 years old | £29,36 | £44,71 |
| 56+ years old | £37,39 | £62,40 |
It is, however, quite difficult to give precise ranges of how much a travel insurance will cost for you as prices are based on a wide range of criteria. It will mainly depend on:
- If you’re travelling alone, with your partner, family or friends
- If you’re subscribing to upgrades such as cruise, activities or gadget cover
- If you have (or your travel partners) pre-existing medical conditions
- The duration and destination of your stay
- The financial limits you’d like to get in case of a claim
- The excess amount you’re willing to pay
- What you will be doing abroad.
What are the annual multi-trip travel insurance exclusions?
Most companies insuring annual multi-trip will not give financial compensation for:
- Any claim made as a result of a pre-existing medical condition or pending diagnosis undeclared at the time of purchase
- Any claim made as a result of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Difficulties due to natural disaster, war, civil unrest (look out for strikes)
- Any claim made as a result of a terrorist act (except if you took out this cover as an option)
- Any claim made as a result of extreme sport practice not disclosed at the time of applying.
Watch out!
We would strongly advise you to carefully check your policy booklet for the main exclusions before leaving home with your travel partners.
What about pre-existing medical conditions for travel insurances for annual multi-trip?
As well as for any other type of travel insurance, you are required by law to declare any pre-existing medical condition of a named travellers when purchasing annual travel insurance.
Get to know more on travel insurance and pre-existing medical condition here.
A pre-existing medical condition is typically one for which you have been diagnosed and have received treatment before you apply for any travel insurance policy, regardless of whether this is short- or long-term. Here is a list of most common pre-existing medical conditions you may also need to declare:
- Diabetes (with insulin injections)
- Heart-related conditions (stroke, cardiomyopathy, etc.)
- Any respiratory illness (lung problems, asthma)
- Blood-circulatory conditions (high-blood pressure, high cholesterol)
- Any mental or physical disability (depression, etc.)
- Any neurological problem (e.g. Alzheimer’s)
- Any treatment related to cancer care
- HIV
- Any allergies
- Crohn’s disease
- Hernia conditions, etc.
The exact definition of what counts as a pre-existing medical condition and what needs medical screening may vary from one insurer to another. Carefully check our reviews as well as insurers’ policy booklets to be sure your medical condition is well covered.
Watch out!
Not disclosing medical condition could invalidate future claims as well as your entire annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
Top 5 tips for annual multi-trip travel insurances
- Always take your EHIC with you for your annual multi-trip in Europe.
- Check the upper age limit of your annual holiday insurance.
- Be aware of the maximum number of days you can travel for with your annual multi-trip insurance.
- Carefully check deductibles and compensation amounts as well as main exclusions in your annual multi-trip insurance policy booklet.
- Benefit from family, couple or group discounts you can have on annual multi-trip policies, adding several names on your contract.
