There are a large number of travelers in UK and they all take out UK travel insurance policies. The UK travel insurance companies estimate that over 10% of the travel insurance claims made are fraudulent. In such a scenario, the procedure for settlement of claims for travel insurance in UK is very strict. Hence you should be very careful in getting all the things right for settlement of your claim quickly.

Look for the small print and the cover provided before getting a policy

Not all UK travel insurance policies are the same. They all provide different levels of cover and hence it is important to find out what is covered and what is not before buying the policy.

• Look for the excess that you would have to pay for any claim before the UK travel insurance company would pay you anything.
• Find out the maximum amount you can claim for any individual item.
• Check the level of medical cover provided.
• Check if you are covered for loss or theft of cash, loss or theft of other belongings etc.
• Look for what is not covered under the UK travel insurance policy.

Disclose pre-existing medical conditions if any

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, disclose it before taking the policy as it might become the basis for rejection of your claim. If you are unsure whether to declare something or not, declare it to avoid any issues later on.

Carry a copy of your policy documents with you while traveling

This would ensure that you have a ready reference for the procedures to be followed and the people to be contacted in case of an emergency.

Document your high value items that you plan to take on the trip

It is recommended that you take photographs or receipts of the high value items that you are taking on the trip as a proof for making a claim in case of loss or theft.

Be prompt in reporting any theft or losses

If your possessions get lost or stolen, report it to the local police or travel rep in case of a package holiday immediately and get a copy of the report. In case of loss of baggage at the airport, report it and get a receipt from the airline or baggage counter immediately.

Firstly, if you can save some money every month for your pet and then use it if required to pay any veterinary bills then you don’t really need UK pet insurance. If you have a pet that is not likely to harm, anyone like a bird etc, then you don’t need to worry about third party liability. However, if you have a pet like a dog that can potentially injure or cause accidents to others then the expenses would be quite high and you might even have to incur legal expenses in case of a court case.

You should keep the following things in mind while choosing a pet insurance:

Shop around and compare the quotes

There are many UK pet insurance companies that offer very competitive quotes for pet insurance in UK. You can check the cover they provide and compare their rates with others. Ask for a quote for your specific circumstance.

Ask about the excess

It is always better to ask about the excess that you would have to pay to the UK pet insurance company before you get any payment for your claims. Choose a policy that would charge you a lower excess and premium.

Check the type of cover provided

UK pet insurance companies usually provide three types of covers.

Time capped cover– you get paid for the expenses only up to a certain time period, say one year etc.

Financially capped cover- you get paid for the expenses only up to a certain amount.

Lifelong cover – you get paid lifelong for any expenses but only up to a certain amount. This is usually the best cover; however it would have the highest premium

Get the one that suits your circumstances the most

Other things that you must consider

• Whether the policy would cover the cost of advertising or rewards if you pet is lost or stolen.
• The expenses on looking after your pet if you are hospitalized.
  Third party liability cover
• Purchase price of the pet if it is lost or stolen

Always go through the small print

Every UK pet insurance policy has a number of conditions that you must fully go through before you buy the policy. Make sure you understand what the policy says, when it will pay you and when it wouldn’t.

Determine why you need a UK life insurance policy

It is true that most of the people would need a UK life insurance policy sometime in their life; it is not the right thing to buy an insurance policy just because someone said that it’s a good idea. The main intention of life insurance policy is to protect your family or people financially dependent on you in the vent of your death. If you do not have people that are financially dependent on you then you can still have life insurance to pay off your mortgage, plan for your retirement etc.

Find out how much amount or coverage you need

This is simply estimating the amount of coverage that you should look for in case of your death. The amount should be sufficient enough for the people financially dependent on you. Estimating the cover you need is not an easy thing and hence you should take the help of a certified financial planner to determine the future needs of your family or dependents and then plan your life insurance accordingly.

Look at the type of cover you want

There are different types of covers available with the insurance companies. You can select either a whole life cover or just a term cover depending upon your requirements. Again a qualified financial planner would be the right person to advice you on the type of cover you need.

Look at the financial stability and claims settlement record of the company

When you select a policy, you should also look at the record of the company offering it. Check the financial stability of the insurance company. It is better to select a company that has been in the business for a long time. Also look for the claims settlement record of the company. You can ask people who have taken similar policies from the company and get their feedback. You can also check for the ratings of the insurance company by independent agencies like A.M Best etc.