A Travel Insurance Primer

Purchasing travel insurance can be so overwhelming at times that some travelers don't even want to bother thinking about it. However unpleasant the task may be, ignoring it is a risk that's not worth taking. A little effort to get coverage can be a life-saver if something goes wrong during your trip. You can easily find a policy that fits your needs and your budget.

Policies generally cover financial losses you may incur while travelling, and also your medical expenses. Trip cancellation or Trip delay insurance is the most widely-bought travel coverage. This policy will cover you and your co-traveler if you had to cancel or delay your trip. Insurance companies differ on what an acceptable reason for cancellation is, so make sure that you know what's accepted and what's not. Some generally accepted reasons for trip cancellation are business conflicts, delay in processing your visa or passport, sudden illness, injury and weather related issues.

Flight cancellations have become so frequent these days that some domestic frequent travelers prefer to have travel insurance at all times. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your travel insurance may cover your expenses not covered by the airlines, like cab fares or hotel costs. It's not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance policy that offers medical coverage of up to 1 million and cover you for illness, medical assistance or flight accidents. Try to keep your deductibles low while buying travel insurance as this will be the amount you pay out of your pocket before the insurance kicks in. Double-check that your insurance policy covers you for repatriation to your home country. If you are travelling to different countries then make sure that your insurance policy covers all the stops on your itinerary.

Why Jet Ski Insurance is Different

Jet Ski Insurance is different in some ways to other types of boat insurance. As with all insurance you should be aware of what is being quoted to you in the form of cover. Personal Watercraft (PWC) or Jet Skis are very popular and are often seen around the coast not only at weekends but also on summer evenings. With the increase of these craft being used there is also an increase in the number of accidents. Collisions between jet skis and other boats happens on a regular basis. Many PWC users are new to boating and because these craft are fast over the water there is little time to avoid obstacles in their way. This is why it is important to insure your jet ski.

There are basically two forms of insurance cover, Comprehensive which provides against accidental damage, vandalism, fire and theft. As well as third party liability. The other is Third Party Liability which covers you if cause injury to other people or damage their property, for example their boat. Many places will not allow you to launch your Jet Ski, if you do not have at least 2,000,000 pounds Third Party Liability Insurance.

Jet Ski insurance differs from other boat insurance with regard to its theft cover. PWC are fairly easily stolen if they are left unsecured. So most policies will require that your Jet Ski is always under lock and key when not in use. Your insurance quote would normally be a lot less if you state your Jet Ski is stored in a locked garage, for instance. Anywhere that is well away from the possibility of thieves is the best place to keep your PWC. Be clear as to what your policy covers, before you agree the cover.

Another difference with this type of cover is the need to list all the possible users of the Jet Ski. All will need
to be at least 16 years of age and some policies may ask for a minimum level of experience or certificate of proficiency.

If you have an accident or your PWC is stolen or damaged it is necessary for the police to be informed of the incident. If a repair is required, at least one estimate is usually needed. Sometimes a Loss Adjuster or Surveyor will visit to assess the damage. So keep everything as it was at the time of the incident and do not be tempted to fix it yourself before the claim is settled.