4 Best Tips for Insuring Your Holiday at Christmas

However you may celebrate or observe it, Christmas is a busy time. The presents, the preparation, and the people - all of these do bring joy but also carry a degree of stress. In the midst of this time, many families plan a break away, and juggling this planning along with all the other obligations of the season can make time a very valuable commodity indeed.

Some families may thus be tempted to cut time out of preparing and researching the ways to cover their trip against mishaps or illness. But it is important to put some time into thinking about the best way to get cover.

Christmas is risky - don't avoid cover

The first thought that should enter your mind is avoiding avoidance. If you do not have regular cover and you are planning a small trip in the midst of this manic time, it is tempting to avoid insuring your holiday at all. But simply because you don't have time to imagine the potential problems that could arise, even on a short trip, does not make them any less real or likely. It is important to realise that if you have time to book and plan a trip you should have time to plan your cover.

Make time to do your research

This plan invariably involves a degree of research. Luckily, most quality companies give you comprehensive information on their web pages and through their call centres. In the middle of rushing around to do your Christmas shopping or planning your Hanukkah festivities, it is useful to set aside a few hours to compare different ways of insuring your holiday. Consider the various providers and packages and ask them how they can tailor cover to suit all the needs of your family and particular trip.

Budget insurance amongst the presents

This season can be a hit to your bank account. But this does not mean you should look only at the cut-price options when insuring your holiday at Christmas. While there are many fine providers who offer low rates on services, it is essential that you choose the cover for you that suits the needs of your family rather than simply picking the cheapest option. The best way to do this is to actually budget for this cover when you are budgeting for your presents and trip earlier in the year.

Look for short-trip family packages

These days, you are spoiled for options when insuring your holiday. The flexibility can be overwhelming and, since you will no doubt be pressed for time during this period, it is useful to focus on short-trip family packages that cover spouses and children for the specific duration of your stay rather than individual or annual cover. This is especially relevant if you don't plan to travel regularly over the course of the year and if the cover offers useful bonuses and extras your family can take advantage of.

How to Purchase the Best Cheap Travel Insurance

Many of the unscrupulous companies attempt to lure prospective customers with offers of astoundingly cheap travel insurance. While many affordable packages are approved by independent bodies such as ABTA, there are still regular reports from people who opt for the cheapest deals, only to discover they aren't covered for certain eventualities. Some leading experts claim some single trip travel insurance policies aren't worth the paper they're written on. The trick is to buy from a reputable company and always read the fine print.

Finding Policies that Meet Your Requirements

It is worth pointing out that some basic packages may only cover short holidays to relatively local destinations. They may be ideal for travellers who are planning on spending a few days in the Scottish Hebrides or the Channel Islands, however they won't be much good if you're jetting off on holidays to far flung destinations in America or Africa. If you're in any doubt about the suitability of a cheap policy contact the company direct to clarify.

Ascertaining the Suitability Of Your Policy

The vast majority of providers will include comprehensive medical cover with even their cheapest policies. They will offer protection against the costs of medical transportation and treatment, in most instances. However, the insurers will expect you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions prior to departure. If you fail to take this step then you may discover that your single trip travel insurance policy is invalidated. You should also remember the insurers who specialise in budget deals may only be prepared to cover short breaks, as mentioned above. They might also not pay out in the event of injuries that occur as a consequence of participation in extreme activities. We'll say it again: read the fine print.

Taking Account of Policy Exclusions

It may not surprise you to hear that many single trip travel insurance policies are generally very basic - and it is for this very reason they are so cost efficient. There may be a number of exclusions and stipulations. For instance, you may discover that your package doesn't include cover against injuries that may happen while you're working abroad; for many, this won't be an issue, but if you do plan on working, you must be covered. The insurers may also be unwilling to cover those travellers who are injured while using specific types of transportation in foreign countries. If you want to be assured of complete peace of mind it is always advisable to check for policy exclusions prior to your holiday. It may even be worth paying a little extra for a comprehensive single trip travel insurance package.

When Your Auto Insurance Company Can Deny A Claim

There are very specific and limited instances in which an insurance company can deny coverage to a paying customer. Generally speaking, when an insurance company offers a policy to a customer, it is for a six-month period and covers anything which happens to the driver during that time. If the customer has an at-fault accident, the company must cover it, but may decide to drop the customer at the next renewal period. However, the company is still liable to pay all damages according to the policy for the accident which occurred during the coverage period.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. Generally, a company can refuse to pay a claim if it does not meet the covered events under the policy. Common exceptions or exclusions to policies include illegal actions and non-payment of premiums in a timely manner.

Violating the Law

If you use your car in a way which violates the law, you are often excluded from making claims under your insurance policy. For example, if an insured person allows his or her car to be used in the commission of a robbery (whether the insured driver was actually driving or not) the insurance company may claim an exclusion to the policy due to the fact that illegal acts are not covered. Similarly, many companies have DUI exclusions, which means that the company specifically puts in writing than any damages caused by an accident in which their insured driver had a blood alcohol content, or BAC, higher than the legal limit, are not covered.

Reckless and Careless Use of the Vehicle

Illegal acts are not the only ones excluded by insurance companies. In many cases, if it can be proven the insured driver of the vehicle deliberately used the vehicle in a careless or dangerous way, coverage may be excepted. For example, if a person allows someone to drive his or her car who is known not to have a driver's license, the auto insurance company may deny the claim based on this type of exclusion.

Failure to Pay Premiums

Non-payment is another issue often raised when insurance companies are expected to pay claims. If a person is behind on his or her premium payments, coverage may be affected. However, most states allow a "grace period" during which coverage is mandatory, even if the person is late paying the premium. If the person is outside the grace period in payment, however, coverage may be successfully denied.

Claims for Damages outside of your Policy Coverage

You may also be denied a claim based on the type of coverage you have. For example, if you drop your comprehensive coverage, the company will deny any claims made by you which would have been covered under your comprehensive policy. This includes theft, weather-related accidents, or accidents which are caused by things other than a collision with another car. Similarly, collision insurance coverage provides payment if your car is damaged in an accident in which you are at fault. If you drop your collision coverage, your company will not pay to have your vehicle repaired if you cause an accident.

Other than these general exceptions, there are few instances in which insurance companies can legally deny a claim. In general, if insurance companies offer you a policy and take your premium payment, they are legally obligated to pay any claims which are covered under the policy, including payment to other parties if you are at fault in the accident.

However, an insurance company can certainly "fight" a claim by another party if it feels that the other party was actually at fault in the accident. In some states, liability insurance can be assessed on a percentage basis; in other words, if both parties were at fault, a court can judge how much of the fault rests with each party.