Cheap Travel Insurance Direct

Gone are the days when you had to buy your travel insurance along with your tickets from a travel agent. Now you can sidestep the agent’s commission and sign up to a travel insurance policy online within the comfort of your own home; making it not only convenient, but cost-effective too.

The added advantage is, of course, that online shopping for travel insurance means you can become one well-learned consumer.

Read the policy fine print

There’s nothing more disconcerting than having to rush into signing a travel insurance policy in a shop while you’re also trying to finalise all of your travel arrangements. Taking the time to read policy disclosure booklets online before you sign up to a policy can make a big difference when trying to find a policy that matches your needs.

Matching your travel plans to the right level of cover

CNot everyone has the same idea about travelling, so it makes sense that travel insurance has had to diversify over the last few years. For instance, 1Cover’s Ski Package is great for those who love their winter sports, covering unlimited medical evacuation and expenses, as well as ski hire equipment and lift passes.

If you’re a corporate frequent flier, you might be looking for a package like World Care’s frequent traveller policy, which has a much higher limit for personal liability, at $5million, $5000 for luggage and personal effects, and $3000 for rental cars. Because this policy is valid for 12 months, you can travel as many times as you like within that period and always be covered, without having to sign up every time you do.

Budget travellers covered

All too often, cash-strapped travellers forego travel insurance, or allow their policies to lapse, only to find themselves with massive medical bills for all their efforts to save. The Australian government estimates that over 700 people will need medical assistance each year while travelling, and over 100 people need medical evacuation. World Care offers a budget policy that provides unlimited overseas medical emergency assistance and unlimited medical expense coverage for just over $400 for a year.

If you’re after a policy that is a bit more comprehensive, Travel Insurance Direct not only has unlimited coverage for medical, but also useful extras like $10,000 for loss of income and $12,000 for personal effects. A year-long policy will only cost $1064 for anywhere in the world.

Columbus has a wide variety of regions to choose from, and this is helpful because it actually reduces the cost of your policy. Their South Pacific package, for instance, will cover medical expenses up to $12.5 million, and will only cost $63 for two weeks.

In fact, travel insurance through many online insurers is so competitive that there’s really no reason to leave home uncovered. Just make sure you read the fine print carefully and shop around for a policy that suits your needs.