Travel insurances

I believe that many people don’t have a good overview of their insurances and therefore I decided to write this page. I have divided my tips in some different topics.

Travel insurance:

Most airline companies ask if you want to add travel insurance while you book with them. Those insurances are usually really bad and you also need an expensive certificate from a doctor in order to get any money back. However you usually have a travel insurance included in your home insurance. However if you book the tickets with a credit card you will most likely also get some travel insurance. These conditions are different between the different banks and between the different insurance companies. Some are only valid from travel from the Nordic and some (like Swedbank) is also valid if the payment has been done from your bank account, so that mean it’s also valid if you paid via BankGiro. A suggestion is as well to have different insurance companies connected for your home insurance respective credit card because you will then legally be able to get a double refund.

Being Delay:

My first recommendation is to in fact to use the travel insurance in case something would happen. In first hand the airline company should make sure that you arrive, so if you for example miss a transfer due to a technical problem the airline company should pay for any necessary food, taxi and hotel. Don’t be afraid to ask, you probably don’t have anything better to do while waiting anyway. If you ask there is also a little chance that they will upgrade you business class. In case you get delayed go to the service desk and ask for a delay certificate.

Even if the airline company gives you food and money, its possible (and legal) to also gain money from your home insurance. Also note that the time you are delayed is not just the delayed flight but also include any public transport. The minimum time to get refund is usually 4 hours. Get a certificate for a train can be complicated but do your best or be creative. If you for example booked a really early flight in the morning home because this was cheaper, you can also rebook this trip for free to any time of your choice in case your first flight gets delayed. They insurance companies are tricky, for example Trygghansa count a delay as the time the departure is delayed. Make sure that your travel insurance count the delay of your arrival time.

Luggage Delay:

Almost all mobiles today have an inbuilt camera so my recommendation is that you take a photo of each bag when you check in, this will make things much easier in case something would happen. It’s also smart to put some important luggage in the hand luggage. In case of a delay, the airline company will usually deliver the luggage to any hotel / house so it’s important that you have the address to the places where you are going to stay the coming days, as well as necessary phone numbers. If your luggage get delayed you are allowed to buy any necessary items, some insurance companies allow a refund of 500€ per day! Save all the receipts and if you are in a non English country also remember to make a note which receipt is which item. Since you are not sure when the luggage will arrive you can buy more than one item. Here are some suggestions which I have got refund from: pack of socks, pack of underwear, t-shirt, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, lens liquid, deodorant, razor & hair gel. If you need a suit for a meeting, you can buy one. With the receipts you have two options; either you can ask to get refund from the airline company or when you are home via your Travel insurance(s). If you have extra time I would suggest you ask the airline company and see what they say. If you bought a lot, a mix between the choices might also be possible. However you will only get refund from the original receipts. As for the home insurance you will probably just need to call them and they will transfer the money to your account without you need to send in any papers. However if they ask you should have a certificate. Getting 1000 SEK back is not a problem, I did get it twice in 2008.

Health Health insurance:
Having a European health is really important when you travel. The card can be ordered for free (Swedish link) and is valid for who Europe for two years. You only need to fill in your personal number online and it will be in your mailbox a few days later (but it can take two week). I have been organizer for a couple summer courses and it’s very important that you also have the health insurance on yourself or where it’s easy to find it. Also let your friends know where you have it. Something else can delay the trip to the hospital, make many unnecessary trips to the hospital, cost a lot as well as ruin your holiday.
Order two cards if you want to, however the hospital also wants to see an identification card, so keep with your passport/driver license. Also note that this card isn’t an insurance itself.

European Health Insurance card