European heatwave: Does your travel insurance cover you?
As sea temperatures reach the high 20s around Spain, Greece, Turkey and Italy, it has also been unsafe to enter the water. And as temperatures across Europe continue to peak, if you have a holiday coming up, how does your travel insurance cover you?
Transcript
00:00 Many holidaymakers may be nervous about upcoming travel plans in the light of the European heatwave,
00:05 which has seen temperatures rise to as high as 47 degrees in some parts of Italy.
00:10 And after Greece saw its largest wildfire evacuation after fires broke out in Rhodes,
00:15 you may be wondering to what extent your travel insurance covers you.
00:18 Primarily, travel insurance won't cover you if your reason for not going on your holiday is your nerves alone.
00:24 The only valid reason for claiming cancellation losses include serious illness of one of the travellers
00:29 or a bereavement of a close family member.
00:31 But you may be entitled to something if the government officially advises against travelling to your destination.
00:38 So, check and follow the latest foreign travel advice,
00:41 especially as travelling against it is likely to invalidate your travel insurance.
00:45 If you fall ill as a result of the heat during your getaway,
00:48 then your insurer will need to cover the costs of your treatment.
00:51 The Association of British Insurers says policies will cover your medical expenses
00:56 provided you had been acting responsibly.