Travel Insurance Explained
Are you planning a holiday? Don't get caught out. Discover why you need to travel insurance ASAB (as soon as you've booked).
Here at NOW Travel Insurance our Europe (All) destination area covers all of Europe, meaning our Schengen Visa travel insurance includes the 26 countries listed in the Schengen agreement and many more.
Whereas our Europe (Exc) area excludes cover for Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta and Switzerland. All countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are also classed as Europe on our travel insurance policies.
The countries in the Schengen agreement are:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. (Bulgaria and Romania are waiting to be accepted into the Schengen agreement)
If you are a UK citizen planning a trip to one or more of the Schengen countries you are not currently required to apply for a visa. This may be subject to change after Brexit due to the UK not being part of the Schengen agreement. UK citizens are currently allowed free movement throughout the zone due to the UK being a member of the European Union (EU).
For those travellers requiring a Schengen Visa, travel insurance covering repatriation and medical expenses is compulsory, and we are confident that our NOW Travel Insurance European policy is a great place to start.
The Schengen agreement came into force in 2001 and signifies the Schengen Zone of 26 European nations who acknowledged the abolishment of their internal borders enabling the free and unrestricted movement of nationals, in correspondence with common rules for controlling external borders. If one Schengen country controls entry to the Schengen area there will be no further formalities at its’ borders with other member states.
Therefore, if the purpose of your travel is tourism or business, and if the duration of your trip is no more than 90 days, the benefits of the Schengen agreement apply. Meaning you only need one Schengen Visa for all the countries in the area.
When travelling to a country within the European Union, you should also apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This allows European citizens to benefit from the health agreements of other EU countries and can be obtained from your local post office or can be downloaded at www.ehic.org.uk.
NOW Travel Insurance is affordable and flexible, buy online today to immediately be covered for cancellation.
Our European travel insurance starts at just £7, meaning you can pack your bags and be covered abroad for less than £10. Our European (All) cover also includes Turkey, Spain, Cyprus, Canary Islands, Malta and Switzerland.
When purchasing a single trip, annual multi-trip or family policy please be aware that Europe means the continent of Europe west of the Ural Mountains including the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Madeira and The Azores, including Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta and Switzerland. For residents of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands travelling to the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom shall be considered as Europe.
If you are planning a number of trips over the next 12 months, an annual multi-trip policy could save you time and money, enabling unlimited travel during a 12 month period.
Having an annual policy will give you added peace of mind and flexibility knowing you are covered whenever you wish to travel. Annual travel insurance
As well as all the standard travel insurance cover, we also offer the option to add cover for the following activities and trip types. These packs can be added during the online quote process:
Activity Pack 2
Cover for additional sports & activities, including parascending, surfing, water skiing, and sea canoeing.
Cover for additional sports & activities, including canyoning, quad biking and Skiing.
Activity Pack 4
Cover for additional sports & activities, including jousting, paragliding and wake boarding.
Activity Pack 5
Cover for additional sports & activities, including abseiling, rock climbing and zorbing.
Activity Pack 6
Cover for additional sports & activities, including cave diving, off piste skiing and zip trekking.
Activity Pack 7
Cover for additional sports & activities, including kloofing, scuba diving and tandem skydiving.
Activity Pack 8
Cover for additional sports & activities, including bobsleigh, sky diving and tree top canopy walking.
Please note that a NOW Travel Insurance Services policy does not provide cover for any trips to or through Afghanistan, Iran, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. Also, no cover is provided for claims arising as a direct result of the situation highlighted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where You have travelled to a specific country or to an area where, prior to Your Trip commencing, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have advised against all (but essential) travel.