Fiona Macrae, head of consumer awareness initiative travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk reveals the essential steps holidaymakers must take before setting off on their travels in 2021:
Brexit has changed the way we travel so understand what the rules mean for you
The UK officially separated from the European Union (EU) on 31 December 2020, which means that Brits must now obey new EU rules when holidaying in Europe. While things haven’t changed a lot, there are a few things Brits need to know.
Firstly, British tourists are no longer able to take products containing meat or milk into EU countries, except for certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, pet food, or food required for medical reasons. That means those who usually take a packed lunch on their flight or car journey abroad will need to be mindful of what ingredients they use – or face having them confiscated.
Although, as far as we’re aware, Brits are still able to take their own teabags with them!
Those travelling with pets are also no longer be able to use the existing pet passport scheme and are now required to obtain an EU animal health certificate (AHC) instead to prove that their animal has been microchipped and received a rabies vaccination. An AHC must be acquired for every journey the pet undertakes and costs around £100.
Brits may also be required to provide additional documentation to enter a country. For example, they may be asked to provide evidence of a return ticket or onward ticket, show they have enough money for their stay, or even apply for a visa if their trip is over 90 days. Further information on this can be found on the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office’s (FCDO) website.
Check your EHIC or apply for a GHIC
As part of the Brexit deal, the UK and EU agreed that the existing reciprocal health arrangement will remain in place, allowing Brits to access free, or heavily discounted, emergency treatment while abroad.
The agreement in place means that British tourists can continue to use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) until it expires. After that, holidaymakers will be required to obtain a new card called the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
Although the GHIC is very similar to the EHIC in the fact that it will subsidise emergency medical costs in most EU countries, and is free to apply for, it’s worth being aware that the use of the GHIC is limited and not applicable in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Travellers should also remember that the EHIC/GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance and will not cover other potential expenses incurred, such as cancellation, lost luggage, or repatriation, and so an adequate travel insurance policy is still advisable before jetting off abroad.
Buy a travel insurance policy that includes Covid-19 cover
While the over-50s may have received their Covid-19 vaccination, it is possible that people such as travel companions, children, grandchildren or possibly a family member they are planning to stay with abroad, may not have been vaccinated. For this reason, it is essential that anyone booking a holiday buys a policy that offers protection should anyone on the policy, or whom the holiday depends on, contract Covid-19 and mean the trip is no longer able to go ahead.
Additionally, with the toughening of border restrictions and requirement for those entering the UK to provide proof of a negative Covid test, holidaymakers will need to may sure their travel insurance policy covers them for unexpected costs, such as accommodation or food expenses, should any of their travelling party test positive on their return home and need to isolate abroad.
Be aware of what Covid-19 cover is NOT available
Remember the majority of travel insurance providers do not offer cancellation cover as a result of changes in government advice related to Covid-19. This means that travellers will not be able to claim for lost costs due to their holiday destination being removed from a travel corridor, or their home region being put under regional restrictions, preventing them from going away.
So, anyone planning a holiday should book through a provider that has flexible terms and conditions, so that should new restrictions be imposed, holidaymakers can either receive a full refund or be able to change their trip to a later date.
Declare any new, previous, or existing medical conditions
Many people fear telling their insurer about medical conditions as they worry that it will cause their premium to increase. However, what many people don’t realise is that the price of a policy doesn’t always go up as a result of declaring a condition. It is crucial that any existing or previous medical conditions are declared to travel insurance providers, no matter how big or small, as failure to do so could cause a delay in receiving treatment, or worse, prevent holidaymakers from being covered at all - leaving them with a hefty medical bill to foot themselves.
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