2023 is a year for jet-setting, but are holiday makers getting insured?

Back in January, 93% of people surveyed by AllClear Travel Insurance said they planned to travel at least once in 2023 despite the cost-of-living crisis¹. Amongst the over-55s in particular, heading overseas is proving popular this year, with a 50% increase in those looking to travel during the winter months².

However, travellers are looking to cut costs, and worryingly, some are looking to do this by cutting out insurance³. A recent Aviva survey has found that 7% of money-saving holidaymakers plan to cut costs by not taking out travel insurance⁴. A separate study carried out by Sago Research UK in May this year revealed that 46% of those with medical conditions said they wouldn’t bother getting travel insurance for short-haul holidays⁵. The proportion of vulnerable holidaymakers considering safety in their holiday choices has fallen by 21%, with the prioritisation of price and value for money rising by 16%⁶.

The recent air traffic control failure that has caused widespread problems across Europe over the last few days has proven exactly why travel insurance is so important, with flights being cancelled and delayed, bags being left on the tarmac for hours - in some cases, during heavy rainfall – and widespread disruption⁷. Earlier in the summer, widely reported on wildfires in Greece, Italy, Tenerife, and on the other side of the world in Maui caused chaos and distress for many holidaymakers, leading to evacuations and emergency accommodation.

So, what can insurers do to encourage the 34% of holidaymakers looking to cut costs that cutting our insurance is not the way to do it?

1. Education

Fortunately, this summer’s news articles will hopefully have done some of the legwork for you. Many people are not aware of all the risks they face when they travel without insurance and what exactly can be covered by obtaining travel insurance. Insurers can help to educate holidaymakers about these risks by providing information on their websites, in marketing materials, and through thought leadership. We would suggest flagging coverage of the following:

• Cancellation or interruption of travel, particularly whilst abroad. 
  This can be particularly distressing, with the need to find alternative transport and accommodation last minute can be a stressful process. Highlight the support you can provide customers in these instances, such as assistance in finding a new hotel or communication with airlines on their behalf.
  
  
• Medical expenses. 
  Many holidaymakers going to Europe believe as long as they have their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), everything will be covered. It is worth impressing that anything deemed medically unnecessary and repatriation fees won’t be covered. 
  Also, not all state healthcare is free within the EU, so in those countries, holidaymakers will be faced with having to pay for services and medications that they would typically receive for free or at a reduced price on the NHS.
  Recent incidents demonstrate this perfectly, with a holidaymaker injured in a fall in Spain racking up bills adding up to £124,000, and another who contracted Covid in Cyprus being charged £70,000⁸. Fortunately for these two, both of these bills were covered by travel insurance.
  
  
• Baggage loss or damage. 
  Losing sentimental and valuable items due to careless handling or theft is more common, when abroad. Baggage often passes through numerous hands, and when it doesn’t turn up or is damaged, it can lead to costly replacements.
  
  
• Trip cancellation due to terrorism, political unrest, or natural disasters.
  New and emerging risks, including climate change and geopolitical unrest, suggest that holiday and travel plans are increasingly likely to be impacted by unexpected events going forward. Insurers should impress on travellers the importance of protecting themselves with insurers so they do not encounter a financial loss alongside disappointment from their plans being cancelled or affected. You can find out more about shifting risks affecting the insurance industry in our past blog.
  
  

2. Make insurance easy to buy.

The process of buying travel insurance should be as simple and straightforward as possible. Insurers should offer a variety of ways to purchase travel insurance, such as online, over the phone, or in person. Insurers should also consider adding a range of payment methods, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, to make the checkout process seamless and fast, reminiscent of the online retail experience that consumers have grown to expect.

3. Offer competitive prices.

Travelers are more likely to buy travel insurance if they feel like they are getting a good deal. Insurers should regularly compare their prices to those of other providers to ensure that they are competitive. 
Providing returning or new customers with offers and discounts also provides a great incentive to purchase and has the added benefit of encouraging brand loyalty.
Insurers could also consider partnering with a travel company so travel agents and tour operators can help to promote travel insurance to their customers. Insurers can partner with these businesses to offer discounts or other incentives to their customers.

4. Be transparent.

Customers need to be able to understand what is covered by their travel insurance policy. Insurers should clearly explain the terms and conditions of their policies in plain language.

5.    Provide excellent customer service.

If holidaymakers have a problem with their travel insurance policy, they need to be able to get help quickly and easily. Insurers should have a good customer service team in place to handle any issues that may arise and to answer questions.
Part of this is ensuring claiming is easy, with a 24/7 claims hotline or an easy-to-use online claims process. Equally payouts should be simple for customers too. Insurers should aim to provide customers with options for how and into what account they would like to be paid, ensuring the process is as smooth and fast as possible so that holidaymakers and travellers that are encountering an issue now do not have to wait months for reimbursements and payouts.

6. Personalisation

Insurers should offer personalised quotes and add-on benefits to their customers. This will demonstrate that the insurer is taking their individual needs into account, as well as appealing to the growing demand for personalised and tailored customer experiences that make the customer feel special.

How payments can help:

Increasing productivity and providing seamless customer experiences are becoming more important when it comes to competing in the insurance space. Your payments are fundamental to providing customers with the quality customer journeys and interactions they have come to expect and the choices in payment and payout options that they want. Find out more about how payments can support your business or check out our blog post on why insurers should care about their payments.

Sources:

¹ All Clear Travel

² Ibid.

³ Ibid.

⁴ Aviva

⁵ All Clear Travel

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ The Telegraph

⁸ The Independent