International Travel Insurance

If you're travelling within the UK you probably don't need insurance, but if you're travelling abroad then international travel insurance is a good idea. It covers you for everything from delays and cancellations to more serious things such as hijacking, kidnapping and muggings, and while even the most unlucky traveller isn't likely to need such cover you're also protected against more likely occurrences such as losing your passport. When you're buying international travel insurance the premium will depend on where you're going. Most insurers split the world into several parts: Europe, which normally includes the Canary Islands and non-European Mediterranean countries; the US and Canada; Australia and New Zealand; and the rest of the world. One thing to watch with international travel insurance policies is that some insurers won't cover certain countries at all: for example, at the moment you'll find it difficult to get cover for the Middle East, so that budget holiday in Baghdad is probably a bad idea. Getting internation travel insurance is simple enough: simply head for the site of an insurer, from cheap firms such as Insure & Go to more established names such as Direct Line. Enter a few details, tell the site where you're planning to go, and the site will tell you how much your premium will cost.

Annual Travel Insurance

Many people travel once a year, usually on package holidays – but these days the combination of cheap flights and busy lives mean that more and more people take a number of short breaks throughout the year. If that sounds like you, then annual travel insurance could save you a fortune. For single travellers, annual travel insurance is likely to set you back four times the cost of cover for a single trip, so if you do a lot of travelling you'll save an awful lot of money by opting for annual travel insurance instead of several single-trip policies. It's a time-saver too: because you're covered all year round, you don't need to arrange insurance every time you travel. Annual travel insurance is particularly handy if you've got a family: for example, Nationwide covers children to the age of 23 provided they still live at home and study full-time. You'll often find that your annual travel insurance policy covers your kids if they travel without you – although not all policies do this, so it's important to read the terms and conditions carefully. If you only take one foreign trip per year then annual travel insurance is a waste of money, but if you travel more frequently it could save you a fortune.

Insurance Advice for every Engaged Couples

In Sickness and Health Health insurance generally costs less for married couples than for two separate individuals. If both are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, it may make sense to integrate health plans. Couples should determine which of the two plans is more attractive and obtain coverage under that plan. If one spouse is uninsured, the other can add him/her to the existing policy. When comparing policies, they should consider the monthly premium, deductibles, co-payments for routine and emergency care, the doctors and hospitals that participate in each plan (e.g., if it's a Health Maintenance Organization or Preferred Provider Organization), and any additional coverage provided (e.g., dental, vision care, prescription drugs, etc.). Unmarried couples may have a more difficult time getting coverage if one companion is uninsured because employer-sponsored health plans don't always offer domestic partner coverage. For plans that do offer this coverage, the value of the coverage provided to the partner is taxable as income for the employee and may not provide suitable benefits for the couple. Individual policies may be a more appropriate option, and in many cases, the only option. 'Til Death Do Us Part Life insurance is not a topic most people like to talk about, but it is a serious consideration for couples that have promised to spend their lives together. The right policy can help protect family members from losing an income stream, or missing mortgage or tuition payments. To make sure either spouse could carry on financially after the death of the other, both should consider an appropriate amount of life insurance. If either spouse owns an existing life insurance policy, he/she should review both the beneficiary designation and the adequacy of his/her coverage. They may want to name their spouse as beneficiary and, depending on their situation, may need more coverage than when they were single. There's No Place Like Home For newlyweds, both spouses' property is automatically covered under the typical homeowners policy. This is not necessarily true for unmarried couples, however, so they should consult with their agent or carrier to determine if coverage can be extended to both partners. Policyholders should clarify these matters so there isn't any question. If renting an apartment, couples end up with twice as many possessions under one roof. Renters insurance provides coverage similar to homeowners insurance, protecting their possessions and offering liability protection. Getting married is a major event in a person's life - the kind of milestone that marks a change in their responsibilities. Reexamining insurance needs before the ceremony is over will help couples be sure they can live happily ever after.