As many gap year students will have to undertake some sort of work while they are away to help fund their year out, it is worth looking at insurance options prior to travelling.

As part of these trips, many people will undertake work such as building, ecological conservation and farm work which present particular risks that may not be covered by a standard insurance policy due to their physical nature and the presence of machinery.

Accidents while working in environments such as these could leave the volunteer without cover, and therefore require them to pay for costly medical treatment.

Insurance help is on hand from Specialist Travel Insurer PJ Hayman:

“With many young people facing an uncertain future, volunteering or working abroad is a really worthwhile option to pursue.  Not only do they offer unique learning experiences and an opportunity to see more of the world but can also provide invaluable skills which can really add something to a C.V. However, the length of travelling time and the nature of the work that gap year travellers are likely to undertake means that they often require a level of cover above and beyond that of the average tourist. To ensure that a trip is exciting but as hassle free as possible, it is vital that they purchase specialist travel insurance.
A policy such as our Longstay & Backpacker insurance covers a wide range of activities, allows policy holders to work abroad, is for trips up to 18 months and has the added security of a 24-hour medical emergency helpline.  All features which will serve to protect the policy holder as well as reassuring their family members at home.”

Channel 4’s The Ugly Face of Beauty is the latest TV programme to catch the imagination of the nation and as highlighted in that show more people are choosing to travel abroad to undergo cosmetic, dental and elective surgery.

This often costs less than in the UK and recuperation can take place in a more relaxing environment. However things can – and do – go wrong, so here are five tips for anyone considering having treatment abroad.

1.            Carefully research the type of treatment desired, the potential side-effects and any international centres of excellence that there may be.  Also check out the qualifications of the surgeon who will be carrying out the surgery and the after care facilities available. The more a consumer knows about the procedure, the easier it will be to make an informed decision about whether they want to go ahead with it and where they should go.

2.            Speak to the experts! For many types of elective, cosmetic and dental surgery, a UK doctor can provide a recommendation as to who to speak to abroad for specialist advice.  Alternatively, consider using a company with a UK base for added reassurance.  However, if this is not possible, then people should contact local standards organisations and membership bodies in the country they are considering – they will normally be able to provide a list of accredited members.

3.            Review the budget thoroughly and look into costs of having the procedure in the UK and abroad.  While countries like Cuba do offer substantially cheaper common cosmetic procedures, costs such as accommodation and flights may need to be factored in.

4.            Remember it is not a holiday! Some people try to pack too much into their time abroad and forget that they will be recovering from what could be major surgery.  The surgeon will be able to give people the best advice on this matter.  The majority of complications take place within 10 days of surgery so leaving sufficient recovery time and ensuring the flight home is not booked too soon, is vital.

5.            Get the right level of insurance cover.   While no-one wants to contemplate anything going wrong with cosmetic, dental or elective surgery, making preparation for this eventuality can offer peace of mind.  Taking out travel insurance cover such as P J Hayman’s Free Spirit Travel for Treatment policy is essential.

Take time to read through these tips before making any decision and also remember that although many foreign surgeons speak English there is nothing as uncomfortable as being in a foreign hospital where you are unable to understand what is being said.

From TV screens going blank during the game, to volcanic ash disrupting travel, terrorist attacks and freak weather conditions, the risk profession plays a key role when it comes to big tournaments, even though they have provided over £6 billion worth of coverage for the month-long event.

Munich Re estimates the broadcasting rights earned FIFA 2.2 billion Euros for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. If the event is cancelled, FIFA faces substantial claims by companies who have licensed the media coverage.

Swiss Re Group estimate the cancellation of the event is one of the biggest risks insured, and the Olympics and the World Cup are two of the largest events insured for event cancellation coverage. FIFA alone has purchased $650 million in insurance for total cancellation of the World Cup 2010.

Other risks associated with the World Cup are household damage, increased thefts, player injury and even trauma suffered by fans whose teams have underperformed in the games. Surely something that England fans will not have to endure!

This interesting video gives some background to the huge risks and financial costs that must be considered when taking on the responsibility of staging a global event such as the World Cup 2010.

The Icelandic volcanic ash and the consequences of strike action by British Airways staff can make for a very unpleasant experience, even more so if travelling with inadequate travel insurance cover.

Below are ten things that you should consider when buying travel insurance:

1.       No cover for pre-existing medical conditions – Some cheaper policies provide no cover if the individual (or anyone who has an effect on their travel plans) has a pre-existing medical condition which results in a claim, for example, cancellation or medical expenses due to a recurrence of a heart condition.

2. Policies with very specific exclusions – Some insurers, in an attempt to get premiums to the absolute lowest level, use a strategy of harsh exclusions which inevitably trap people at the claims stage.  Examples include very strict interpretation of unattended personal effects, valuables and money as well as a requirement to get a written police report, even though these are often difficult to get in many countries.

3. Selling policies with low levels of cover – Budget covers often have very low limits for elements such as baggage, money and delay – indeed some do not even cover these sections.

4. Selling policies with very high excesses – The higher the policy excess the lower the premium can be. This is not always obvious with travel insurance until a medical claim is made and the customer finds most, if not all, of their claim falls within the excess. There are now policies on the market with medical excesses as high as £400.

5. Confusing exclusions – For example, an exclusion which applies to a “set of circumstances that could be reasonably expected to give rise to a claim”. In this instance, ‘reasonable’ is vaguely defined and open to interpretation from the insurance company who ultimately process the claim.

6. Deductions for wear and tear on baggage claims – Household insurance typically provides ‘new for old’ cover. Many travel insurance policies do not, which means the claim will be reduced depending on the age of the lost, stolen or damaged item.

7. Excesses per person per section rather than per event – This means that an event such as a mugging could result in a large number of different excesses being deducted.  For example: medical costs of £450 with a £75 medical excess, damage to clothing and loss of personal effects amounting to £250 with a £50 excess, loss of money equivalent to £120 with a £50 excess, resulting in total excesses for the claim of £175 rather than £75 on an ‘event’ basis.

8. Missed connections – If an individual is delayed getting to the airport and as a consequence misses their connection, many policies will not cover the additional costs that result, such as additional ticket costs or even an unplanned overnight stay.

9. Breaking down on the way to the airport – It is often assumed that travel insurance provides cover for additional costs if the policy holder misses their flight due to their car breaking down on the way to the airport. However, some cheaper policies will only cover the breakdown of ‘public transport’, and not private vehicles.

10.   Close relatives –The definition of ‘close’ is fairly ill-defined, so while you may think that all of your relatives are ‘close,’ if you study the definitions you may find that many policies limit these. So your favourite uncle becoming ill just before you go on holiday may result in a declined claim for cancellation.

For your own peace of mind, don’t be one of the many travellers who find themselves having to sleep on the floor of a foreign airport overnight because they did not pay for the best cover. All good travel insurance companies will offer comprehensive cover, including travel insurance specialists P J Hayman who provided this check list.

Peter Hayman, Director at P J Hayman explains:
“We have seen several stories in the news recently when people have had an accident or fallen ill abroad but have not had their bills paid by their insurance company due to the fact they did not declare a pre-existing medical condition.  Therefore, we are urging people to read the small print of their policies and speak to their insurer if they have any concerns.

Even managed pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes can cause a claim to be turned down if they are not declared.    It is therefore vitally important that consumers look beyond the price and take note of the terms and conditions of a travel insurance policy before they take one out.”

Research shows that over 60% of us do not read travel insurance documentation thoroughly and 9% do not bother reading it at all. That is until it is necessary to make a claim – which is too late!

P J Hayman offers Free Spirit, a policy which is specifically designed for people who have these types of conditions – and is able to insure 96% of people who approach them for cover – even those who have terminal illnesses.  There is no upper age limit and the policy also covers medical aids and medications.

Travelling Brits were caught out by the fall out from the natural phenomenon emanating from Iceland over the past couple of weeks and many were stranded around the world waiting for the disruption to cease.

Not wishing to be caught out on future holidays and business trips many Brits are showing interest in premium travel insurance products that give much better peace of mind cover than standard policies.

Of course these products also come with a premium price tag, but after seeing the dreadful situation that faced those passengers stranded with little or no insurance cover, many passengers will now be looking at the best cover that they can afford.

The problem with such a mass disruption is that Travel Insurers are reluctant to set a precedent on claims, all waiting to see who makes the first move when this type of unforeseen event happens. Many are still unclear on what they will offer customers whose holidays have been affected by this latest situation.

It appears as usual that nobody from the government, to airlines and the insurance companies, is prepared to take a lead, all saying it is not their fault. Wouldn’t it be nice if insurance did exactly what it is supposed to do and covers us for all eventualities without exemption.

David is already an avid Arctic explorer but this will be his most difficult expedition to date and will fulfil his personal dream of reaching the North Pole. He will be joined by a small team of explorers and the expedition will be led by legendary explorer Rune Gjeldnes.

The expedition will require tremendous physical effort and will see David crossing 110km of ice-fields, including thin and pack ice, and freezing open water which is 4000m deep below the ice. The team will also all be carrying rifles in order to defend against any polar bears that might show an interest in the explorers, as they will be very much outnumbered on the open ice.

As well as being a personal challenge for David, he will also be raising funds for two charities that are connected to his work in the motorcycling world. The two charities that will benefit from the challenge are Riders for Health and BASIC, Brain and Spinal Injuries Centre.

Riders for Health provide staff, training and motorbikes to provide remote African communities with professional healthcare services and David wants to raise money for them to be able to open a new centre in one of the poorest African countries – Zimbabwe, as well as providing a new fleet of motorbikes and fully trained staff.

BASIC is another brilliant charity that will benefit and is very much linked to the motorcycling world. BASIC offer practical support to families who need to look after a family member who has severe spinal or brain injuries as the result of a motorbike accident. The money raised by David would help BASIC to open a specialist gymnasium to help in the rehabilitation of those injured and help with their ongoing care.

As the Chief Executive of a specialist motorcycle insurance company, Carole Nash Insurance Consultants, these charities are very much close to David’s heart as they are directly tied to his work.

Carole Nash provides a number of specialist insurance policies for motorcycle riders including those for classic and modern bikes, multi-bike and female biker insurance. They are one of the most popular motorbike insurance brokers in the UK and Ireland and as well as providing motorcycle insurance they also have a variety of other insurance options including car, household and travel insurance.

take care on the slopes

With skiing holidays becoming among the most popular winter vacations for UK residents, specialist insurer PJ Hayman have listed their Top Five Tips for those venturing onto the ski slopes.

“With scores of Brits expected to visit popular skiing destinations this season, it is imperative to keep safety at the forefront at all times. No matter how seasoned the skier, there are certain guidelines that should be adhered to, to ensure a safe and enjoyable on the piste experience.”

1. Wear appropriate clothing and safety gear
   Wrap up warm on the slopes and make sure you have all the necessary equipment to keep you safe when skiing e.g. wearing a helmet. Double check your ski equipment before using it to ensure it is all in order.
2. Stick to the slopes you are comfortable with
   Whether trying out a new resort for the first time, or returning to an area you are familiar with, it is imperative to feel safe on the slopes. This may mean a “back to basics” approach to begin with, until you feel ready to try the more adventurous runs.
3. Ensure you obtain adequate travel insurance to cover for any mishaps on the slopes
   Whilst a fun activity, skiing can be a hazardous sport and it is imperative to have sufficient travel insurance should anything go wrong. Make sure you carry your documents with you at all times so that you are not refused help if you have an accident on the slopes. It is also important to check your policy to ensure that you are adequately covered, particularly if you are planning to go off-piste.
4. Check the weather conditions
   Before hitting the slopes, it is wise to check the predicted weather conditions so you are not caught out or put in danger by any unexpected snow storms.
5. Don’t over indulge in après ski!
   Although it is tempting to have a tipple or two at lunch time, the high altitude can affect your reactions to alcohol. Be wary of this when treating yourself after a morning of skiing

Cover for winter sports can be obtained from reputable travel insurance providers including P J Hayman who have a Travel Plus travel insurance product which offers FREE winter sports cover with annual multi trip policies.

travel insurance specialist

The latest research from travel specialists P J Hayman suggests that over one in four of UK travellers failed to purchase travel insurance for their last holiday.

In a survey of 1,300 people 28% admitted to not purchasing travel insurance for their last holiday, with 35% of males, 43% of under 20s and 27% of Londoners being the biggest offenders.

Of those that do purchase an insurance policy when travelling, 20% said that their choice was made on price alone, although 40% admit to not reading the document, but simply glance at it and assume all is in order.

There is also plenty of confusion over obtaining insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, with 13% believing that they are unable to travel with high blood pressure, 21% believing the same about epilepsy and 6% thinking that is not possible to travel abroad with diabetes.

In fact, you are able to travel abroad with all of the above. Yet fear of not being able to obtain cover would prompt 11% of Brits to lie about having a non-life threatening condition in order to be able to travel abroad. Those in Scotland would be most likely to bend the truth, with 15% saying they would avoid purchasing travel insurance altogether.

Peter Hayman director of P J Hayman says;

“Travellers must ensure their policy cover is comprehensive to avoid having to pay extra costs in the unlikely event that anything should go wrong abroad. There are common misconceptions surrounding what conditions you can and cannot travel abroad with. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of people with pre-existing medical conditions can obtain travel insurance cover for their holidays abroad and we have developed a range of specialist policies to ensure they can travel with full cover.”

With the rise in popularity of skiing holdays for instance the correct level of insurance cannot be understated.

travel insurance specialist

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) recently announced that they were in talks with the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to offer extended ‘holiday failure protection’ to UK consumers.

Currently, only consumers who booked through an ABTA representative are covered if the company that they book with goes bankrupt.  Consumers may have some protection if they booked their holiday with a credit card or if their travel insurance provider includes an element of holiday failure protection.

While talks are expected to last several months the UK’s leading specialist travel insurer P J Hayman is urging ABTA to ensure that this new cover is comprehensive.

P J Hayman director Peter Hayman says;

“We are delighted that ABTA is looking to work with the Government and CAA to provide additional holiday failure cover for the 45 million trips that UK consumers make each year. However, while they are looking at this issue, we urge them to consider covering the consequences of holiday failure – in the UK and abroad – rather than simply looking to replace the missing element of the holiday.
Under most current insurance schemes, if you book a flight, hire a car and rent a villa – each with a different company – and the airline goes into receivership, you will only be reimbursed for the price of your ticket.   This is a serious problem as the consumer could be substantially out of pocket with little or no recourse.
In addition, many companies will only cover bookings made within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Ireland.   As hiring self-catering apartments from local residents are a hugely popular choice for many Brits, this lack of cover could see people loose their often substantial deposits should anything go wrong.”

While negotiations are taking place consumers travelling abroad will be limited to the current insurance conditions, but P J Hayman advises that customers are able to travel with total confidence insurance wise, by choosing one of their specialist policies like Bond Plus, which offers a fully comprehensive cover.

Bond Plus covers the Policy Holder for up to £5,000 (varies according to policy) in respect of the loss of accommodation and transport costs that has been paid for and that cannot recover elsewhere, due to the financial failure (the business being wound up or carried on by a Liquidator or the Receiver) of the travel or accommodation provider to whom payment has been made.