By John Healy of Healy Insurances

Spring is a wonderful time to dream of holidays and trips that could happen during the year.

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If you are planning to take an overseas trip then you should consider a travel insurance policy. A decent travel policy can provide cover against losses such as:

• Damaged or delayed luggage
• Cancelled flights
• Delayed or missed departure
• Loss or theft of money or passport
• Emergency medical assistance
• Personal accident
• Personal liability

There are different types of policies available depending on your travel needs.

• Single trip
• Annual multi trip
• Backpacker
• Sports and activities such as winter sports can be added to certain policies

Optional extra coverage can be sought for wider flight cancellation cover, cruise connections, business equipment, golf equipment, and ski equipment.

Some travel policies will give a discount if you hold a private medical insurance policy that covers medical cover abroad.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is available at no cost from the HSE, will provide you with access to necessary medical state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries; Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom under the same conditions and the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country.

It should be noted that the European Health Insurance Card is not an alternative to travel insurance and will not cover private healthcare costs or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.