Press Release in the Gazette June edition

It’s holiday time again, and many ex-pats will be flying off to visit family and friends, So we caught up with Robert Murphy of Atlantic Insurance, who is celebrating his third anniversary of supplying insurance advice to residents here in Fuerteventura, to answer some of your questions surrounding travel insurance.

I am going back to visit family, do I really need insurance? Yes. Accidents happen and things get lost, stolen and damaged. If you lost your passport on the journey, how would you get home? What if you had an accident and needed special transportation or care? Travel polices are comprehensive and cover as little or as much as you need so you can tailor them to your place of travel and particular requirements.

I have travel insurance via my bank account in the UK, so presumably I am covered? No, probably not. Check your small print. The policies in the UK usually specify that they are valid for UK residents only.

If I buy a policy here, will it be in Spanish? No, all our policies are issued in English. In fact in the event that your need to make a claim even the claim handlers are based in the UK and all speak English.

How much does travel insurance cost? Probably less than you think. You can get a single trip policy from just 10€ - a small price to pay for peace of mind. 

Do I have to insure all my family members separately? No. you can purchase a family policy that covers up to four children. You can even get special rates if you are a single parent.

Can I insure my surf board / dive gear / golf clubs? Yes. In most cases these are classed as personal baggage; however if you are planning a special activity holiday then look for a winter / sports policy which even covers things such as lost green fees, equipment damage and liability should you injure someone else. 

Can I insure my laptop? Yes, you can get business cover, which also includes documents and equipment. It even covers you if you have to cancel your trip and a colleague has to go in your place.

Are there any circumstances where policies become void? Yes, it is quite straightforward and most people should not have any problems as it applies to cases such as, not obeying the local laws, seriously dangerous sports or travelling to locations against the Foreign Office’s advice. 

I travel back and forth to the UK regularly; can I get a discounted rate? You can obtain an annual multi-trip policy which will cover you for up to 45 days a trip – to different destinations, so you can visit family, go on holiday and go and watch your favourite team all on the same policy.

Why do I need insurance when I have an EHIC card? EHIC or European health insurance card is only applicable to Europe. The Spanish EHIC is issued annually in the Government office near PdR port. If you are travelling, e.g. to the Caribbean this is not valid. It also only applies to healthcare so your baggage, delays, passport, repatriation etc. are not covered. Getting correct medical cover is essential, especially if you are travelling to areas were health care is expensive such as the US, or difficult to obtain or will require specialist transportation. 

Where can I obtain more information? Either visit or website www.aiblsl.net where we provide information on a whole range of insurance matters or we would be pleased to see you at our office.

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