Today people travel for a wide range of reasons and the travel insurance policies accessible to you have evolved to meet the more varied demand for suitable cover. In this guide we will look at which policies are suitable for certain types of travel. If you are plan to take a winter holiday you may want to consider taking out winter sports insurance.

You may not know that fewer than 60 countries have a healthcare agreement with the UK. If you have an skiing accident in Swizerland, for example, the associated healthcare costs can cost you a fortune and will certainly ruin your holiday. Taking out a winter sports policy will cover any unfortunate injuries that may happen when skiing or snowboarding, as well as covering the theft or breakage of sporting equipment.

Backpackers insurance is great when planning to take a backpacking holiday, as it allows up to 18 months of coverage for long term trips. For people like students who are studying or working abroad, traveling insurance can also be useful, as long as you make sure all the countries you are visiting are covered in the policy. Be sure to check if you EHIC card is valid in certain areas, such as third-world countries where coverage may be more difficult to attain.

A backpacking holiday is another activity that can require a specialized policy. Backpackers insurance is a form of long term insurance that can last up to 18 months. Policies also cover you when working abroad which may be necessary when travelling for a long period of time, mostly for students. When taking out backpackers insurance it is essential to verify that all the countries you plan to visit are covered by the policy, mainly if you are travelling to countries where your EHIC card is not valid. Also remember that a few third world or war-torn countries may not be covered.

* Regardless of your age if you have any pre-existing medical conditions it is vital to let your insurance company know before buying the insurance. Such a condition is likely to increase the cost of your policy but it is a little fee to pay; if you fail to declare any medical issues your insurance policy is unlikely to cover you and this could result in a large bill for any medical treatment.

Before taking out any kind of policy, it’s important to let the insurance company know of any health concerns or pre-exisiting medical conditions you may have. While disclosing this information may raise the price of the policy, the costs of illness while on holiday can be ruinous–it’s a small price to pay in the end. One other thing to consider is that many standard insurance policies have an age-limit–often this is 65. If you are over this limit, this throws you into the high-risk category. But, you’ll be happy to know that there are insurance companies that have policies that specialize in affordable insurance for the older traveler. Whatever type of travel you plan to do, or whatever your age, there is a travel policy for you that will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your holiday.