Channel Islands and Isle of Man Travel Insurance

Channel Islands and the Isle of Man Travel Insurance



Many tourists from the UK may decide to avoid long trips this summer for vacation home or quickjump to Europe through the Channel Islands or through the Channel Tunnel or ferry.

May be due to financial problems, the fear of returning ash cloud, air strikes - or a combination.

Channel Islands attract thousands of visitors each year, and are perhaps the UK response to a tropical island paradise.

Jersey and Guernsey are the largest of the main islands, offering miles of natural beauty, beautiful coastlines, temperate climate, pristine beaches and seafood - perfect for family fun and relaxation. Ferry services are available to take day trips to explore nearby islands.

Alderney is a haven of peace, only eight miles off the coast of France and the third largest island. Has its own airport and port. The small islands of Herm and Sark are ideal for those who really want to get away from everything, especially what they are without cars! Imagine ...

There are many ways to arrive by air and sea. St. Helier in Jersey and St. Peter Port in Guernsey are the main centers to include regular ferry services from Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, as well as the services of Saint-Malo in Normandy.



Important changes re Health Care:

British citizens who visit the Channel Islands should be aware that the reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom ended on March 31, 2010. Previously, visitors are entitled to free medical care, as with the NHS.

Since the agreement ended this year it is advisable for visitors to take adequate travel insurance to visit the islands. (The same applies to residents of the Channel Islands when visiting the UK). For more information, visit the Directgov website - click here.

Isle of Man: The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and northern England. The reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and the Isle of Man is also due to end March 31, 2010, but has been extended for another six months - until late September 2010.

Until then the visitors from the United Kingdom are entitled to free access to NHS services in the event of injury or illness, but - be warned - the cover does not extend to potentially costly medical evacuation (if necessary) to carry home if you can do so by the normal methods of transport. For more information click here.

Flickr Image cc: lostajy (St. Peter Port, Guernsey)
                                                                                       http://golfinsurancedirect.com

Travel Insurance Claims - This may surprise you!

As with everything else in the current financial climate extreme, the costs are rising. There have been many news reports recently about the alarming increase in the number of strong travel insurance claims.

The Foreign Office (FCO) "British Behavior Abroad 'report published in July showed that from April 2009-March 2010 the British were going abroad once again proved to be adequately prepared for the potential dangers of travel and many do not buy insurance travel



Apparently, there have been a big jump in applications for travel insurance for medical expenses incurred by backpackers and gappers and those involved in risky activities and adventure sports. Along with costly bills for medical treatment, many people these days are traveling with expensive personal items at risk of loss or theft have, such as laptops, iPods, iPhones, etc.

Problems with the FCO and British consulates help includes the detention of alcohol or drug related crimes, hospitalization, death, rape, sexual assault, lost or stolen passports, and traffic accidents. Many of these problems involve very expensive hospital treatment and repatriation bills - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the local consulate does not cover!

FCO quoted research which showed that Britons are willing to spend an average of 12.00 pounds in magazines and candy at the airport, which is more than double the base price for single trip insurance! Indicate that one in five (19 percent) of Britons still go abroad without travel insurance. Also, the British spend more time cleaning their homes before going on holiday to do research in their country of destination and local laws and customs.

Spain entered the top of the list of consular assistance (5283), followed by Thailand, Pakistan, Cyprus, Germany and Greece. Consular staff around the world is with 1.95 million hits during the period of one year. Someone has to pay for this, and ultimately ends up being that, the taxpayers.

Added to the irresponsible behavior of many travelers is the mistaken belief that the nearest consulate will be able to get away by posting bail or paying hospital bills. If the traveler to do some basic preparation and prevention, such as checking the website of FCO travel advice for your destination before you go, and travel insurance, this could reduce the burden and cost to consulates. The FCO has sent a clear message to holdaymakers to have a good time, but to please do your bit and be prepared.

This applies to travel to anyone, but especially for young people traveling (often alone) to distant places remote. There have been cases of young people from being seriously injured or die tragically abroad. If you do not have travel insurance that is left to the grieving parents and family to find the thousands of pounds it costs to repatriate the bodies for burial. It can be alarming for parents to read these reports so I can only say that if you have young gappers go around the world would be money well spent if it is sure to have at least the minimum insurance for backpackers before go. The relatively small cost could save thousands and much concern and sadness, if things go wrong.

The same is true for skiers and snowboarders - if you end up needing to mountain rescue, air ambulance and medical treatment costs of these services often jumps back to families unless they pay for ski insurance appropriate.

Many travel insurance companies have reported that they could face having to raise premiums by up to twenty percent due to the huge losses they are suffering with the (often preventable) claims - and the imminent rise in VAT 20% next January will not help.

Through these websites / blogs that are constantly trying to help travelers avoid common problems by raising awareness of the FCO 'Know Before You Go "campaign and the need for travel insurance.

People like to complain about insurance companies being a necessary evil, or ask why they are necessary at all. However, be sure that travel insurance will be there for you as long as you have a valid claim. It is not likely to hear something positive about the travel insurance companies in the news, but it can take from us what they do pay claims and can be considerable!

If travelers would take on a more responsible and serious attitude to travel and do everything possible to avoid problems of preventing this would help lower the cost for everyone involved, including the FCO and the British taxpayer. It will also help keep down the cost of travel insurance premiums and ultimately benefit the traveler.