Travel Insurance – Holiday Hangover

“Hang on” those of you with a little more reserved character may be shouting at me. “Don’t tar us all with the same brush; we’re not all like that”. This may be the case but I’m sure there are still many out there who can admit to becoming a little tipsy whether a pre-conceived plan or not, whilst on holiday. Let’s concentrate on those who knowingly set out to have a little alcohol fuelled fun whilst on holiday.

The majority of us now realise what an important factor travel insurance can be and the costs that could be incurred without it. Do we also realise that by drinking excessively whilst on holiday we could void our policy? You may be one of the lucky one’s who escape the scrutinisation of the insurer and receive a payout for treatment of the broken leg and 3 fractured ribs your received whilst drunkenly stumbling down the steps outside you holiday apartment. Unfortunately for some the insurance companies will find out the error of your ways and refuse to pay out on your claim.

In certain circumstances the insurers will be a little more watchful, especially if you’re attending a hen or stag party with a large group of the same sex. Of course the holiday insurance companies know you will want to let your hair down whilst abroad and do expect a certain amount of alcohol intake and merriment. The problem is drawing a line at a certain level which is easier said than done when socialising with a large group as peer pressure can be very hard to ignore. In a report released by the observer it was stated that 2 million Britons a year travel abroad for hen and stag parties. You can see how this figure could worry your insurer.

The wording on your policy can vary considerably from company to company and I would always advise that you read your documents carefully before travelling. The financial Ombudsman service has come to the rescue of many tourists refused an insurance payout after only consuming 1-2 drinks and falling foul of an accident. They state that unless an alcohol ban is worded clearly and strongly on the policy the insurer should pay out in this situation. Obviously if you have drunk excessively there is little this regulatory board can do.

As it stands it is very difficult for a travel insurance company to gauge how much alcohol you have consumed at the time of an accident without blood tests which usually will not have been taken. This doesn’t mean you should disregard everything you’ve just read in this article; it simply means you should be wary and drink within what you know to be your limit. The insurance industry is ever changing and a blood test to determine the level of alcohol in the bloodstream may become a standard procedure to rule out this cause of an accident.

Remember when looking for cheap travel insurance for your holiday; price isn’t everything. Of course the more money you have in your pocket to spend on your holiday the better. Be sure to check the features you require are present on a prospective policy and don’t settle for it just because the price is attractive.