Swine Flu & Travel Insurance - Advise Us Please!!

Errata

Proof of diagnosis of swine flu will be the documentation you receive to collect Tamiflu.

real1314

Quentin wrote: »

You would claim off the policy in force when you incurred the loss.

There is a problem with annual policies when the departure of a booked holiday falls into the next insurance year. With annual policies you have to declare you are fit both at the time of taking out the policy (and renewing it) and at the time of making each holiday booking.

You have to declare fitness at the renewal, so should you develop a declarable condition between booking (when fit) and renewal, then at renewal they may refuse cover or seek an increased premium.

What date would the "loss" be - when I booked my flights (say that was last year in Oct), when I am declared unfit for travel, or when the day comes to travel and I am unable to?
If I'd booked accomodation, what date would apply if for example I'd paid a deposit in Oct 08, and the full amount June 09? Or would it be the day I was due to take the accomodation?

Quentin

You could take out single trip insurance when you book the trip, however far ahead it is.

But generally you still need to inform them of any material changes in circumstances prior to departure.

This is a typical condition:

You must tell us as soon as possible of any changes to your circumstances that may affect your Travel Insurance Policy. If you do not tell us about relevant facts or changes, your policy may not be valid.

real1314

Quentin wrote: »

You could take out single trip insurance when you book the trip, however far ahead it is.

But generally you still need to inform them of any material changes in circumstances prior to departure.

Sorry, I edited my post. I had a quick look and found one insurer would not let me take a new annual policy more than 90 days in advance.

Quentin

The loss would be when you cancelled your arrangements. In practice the day you are declared unfit. (As you would be expected to minimise your loss by cancelling as soon as possible, and most policies will only pay out for the costs of cancellation at the time you are first aware you cannot travel, irrespective of what it costs you when you actually do cancel).

real1314

Eventually my brain kicked in to action.

The best solution is of coure to start an annual policy just after (or even just before) booking your main holiday, assuming you haven't booked more than 12 months in advance.
Book at start of Sept for travel in Aug, Start policy from Sept. Job done. No worries whatever happens.

dacouch

Or you could renew your annual policy with the same Insurer

Quentin

The downside on renewing an annual policy just prior to taking an earlier booked trip is that at the renewal you have to declare your fitness (as well as close relatives etc).

ie. the insurers look at a renewal just like a brand new policy.

If you cannot give the declaration, this may mean they refuse cover just when you are about to need it.

andyrules

Quentin wrote: »

If you are too ill to travel, and have cancellation cover, then swine flu would be covered, just like any other illness. You would need a letter from your doctor confirming that you shouldn't travel. The mail story saying doctors will refuse to supply such confirmation due to pressure of work seems scaremongering.

They will just have to miss a few rounds of golf/free lunches from the drug reps and do a bit of work!

Depends on your insurer - I'm currently looking for a single trip cover to Ibiza - and Endsleigh state categorically that their new terms are that they will not cover any claim arising from swine flu.

Quentin

Go elsewhere - they must be in the minority! (Though you may have been given wrong info by an over zealous agent. There is no mention of this in their current policy on line):

https://secure.endsleigh.co.uk/HostDocs/PolicyBooklets/SINGLE/current.pdf