What is the difference between single trip and annual travel insurance?
Deciding which travel insurance deal can often be time consuming especially as there are several different types available. Most companies offer a wide variety of packages which can often be tailored to suit individual needs.
Two of the most popular types of travel insurance on the market are single trip cover and annual cover. But what are the differences between these policies and what is included in them?
Single trip insurance
As the name suggests, single trip travel insurance gives you insurance cover for one trip only. The length of that trip should normally be between 3 and 365 days in order to qualify, but different policies do vary and so it’s definitely worth making sure how long you’ll be covered for when you buy it. You’ll normally be asked to submit your dates of travel when you buy your holiday insurance, and will then be insured for that period.
Basic single trip insurance tends to cover things such as your baggage and money, so if they are lost or stolen while you’re away, you’ll be able to claim on your policy. It will normally also cover medical care, so if you’re ill or injured while you’re away you’ll be able to pay for any arising medical costs. The only exception to this is if you have a pre-existing medical condition; you should always tell your insurance provider about this as some conditions can be covered while others can’t. It will also cover you if your holiday is delayed or cancelled for a range of reasons beyond your control.
Single trip travel insurance also covers a range of sports, but if you’ll be taking part in any ‘riskier’ sports (such as winter or water sports), you might need to get specific insurance for these to make sure you’re covered. When you take out single trip insurance, you should always make sure you get a breakdown of your cover so you know exactly what you’re protected for.
Annual insurance
In contrast to single trip insurance, annual multi-trip travel insurance gives you cover for a whole year and is good for regular travellers. You can take an unlimited number of trips during that year, and trips will normally need to be for 90 days or less.
As well as all of the benefits of single trip insurance, annual travel insurance normally gives you some added extras. These can include cover for adventure sports and winter sports for a specific period of tie, depending on which policy you go for. You’ll also be able to add other cover to your policy, meaning you can tailor it to the trips you are planning to take over the course of the year.
