More people today are realising the value of a good travel insurance policy to safeguard them against a number of possible problems and situations during holidays, business trips and other activities overseas. The best way to make sure your travel insurance offers all the cover you need is to compare a number of different policies before making your decision, as well as making sure you read the small print to learn any exclusions.

People who buy cheap or less comprehensive travel insurance plans are often disappointed that they are unable to make claims, especially when buying insurance from travel agents and other third parties rather than from insurance companies themselves. However, it's also the responsibility of the policyholder to check that their insurance covers everything they require before signing up - and this includes disclosing any medical conditions or activities they are planning on getting involved in that may invalidate the policy or require a more specialised type of insurance plan.

One example is if policyholders are planning on taking part in hazardous activities, such as skydiving, skiing, rock climbing and other extreme sports, as these types of activities are not generally covered by standard travel insurance. However, you may be able to take out supplementary insurance to cover you against accidents and injuries that arise as a result of these activities, which could potentially save you a small fortune in medical bills.

Another important reason to check the details of your travel insurance and related policies such as international health insurance is to determine precisely who is and isn't covered by the policy. Some companies offer policies that cover the policyholder as well as their spouse and children, while other policies may need to be taken out on a strictly individual basis for each traveller. Even if your insurance does cover children, there may also be a clause that excludes children who do not live with the policyholder full-time, which could again be avoided by reading the small print and making changes at this early stage.

Your choice of destination and length of your trip may also impact on your travel insurance, with most policies only providing a finite level of cover before they need to be renewed. If you're planning on travelling for a longer period, choosing multi-trip or annual insurance policies is likely to be more cost-effective, and you also need to check that you are not restricted from making claims in certain countries that feature on your travel itinerary.

The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Bupa. The contents of this article are of a general nature only and do not constitute specific advice.  This article does not take into account your circumstances or needs and must not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice.