Travel Insurance from Bank Account

Bogof_Babe

We opened a Alliance & Leicester current account recently, mainly for the "free" worldwide travel insurance (we pay £10 a month for the account, which is almost compensated by the 5% interest).

We're off to New York and Bermuda in a couple of weeks, and I am not sure whether the insurance is automatic or whether we have to notify them of our travel plans. I'd hate to have to make a claim on it and find it is invalid!

I can only seem to find a phone number for claims, not for letting them know about an intended trip.

Has anyone else used bank-linked travel insurance, and if so did you need to tell the insurer before going?

apt

It's an annual policy which does not need you to inform the insurer of individual trips. You should have had a letter confirming the cover.

Bogof_Babe

Thanks apt. We had such a bombardment of mail from A&L as we were opening a couple of other things too, that we might well have had a letter, I just can't put my hands on it .

That's reassuring anyway. Cheers.

moonrakerz

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Has anyone else used bank-linked travel insurance,

Read the small print VERY, VERY carefully - a lot of these "free" policies are only free if you have the constituion of an Olympic athlete, are aged under 21 and haver never consulted a doctor in your whole life.

If you are going to the US - be VERY careful !

davidlizard

The Alliance and Leicester one I had, which was underwritten by Fortis, was fine - I went through the small print with a fine comb to make sure all eventualities were covered, and even phoned them up for clarification on a couple of issues. And also checked on what they were like dealing with claims.

However, we did not take it as I wanted to add the kids to the policy, for which they wanted another £65. I was able to get a decent annual policy which covered all 4 of us for £36, so ended up doing that.

Bogof_Babe

moonrakerz wrote: »

Read the small print VERY, VERY carefully - a lot of these "free" policies are only free if you have the constituion of an Olympic athlete, are aged under 21 and haver never consulted a doctor in your whole life.

If you are going to the US - be VERY careful !

Now I really am scared :eek:. I'm not anticipating any health crises (but then who does?), but do you mean it is risky for things like lost luggage etc. too?

dzug1

I have had one of these A&L policies for some time.

On the two occasions I've had to make a claim they were fine - in fact they paid slightly more than I thought I was entitled to, and they paid out quicker than a paid for policy my grown up kids had for for the same holiday.

I'd say take no notice of scaremongerers who know little about the policy and are making wild generalisations. By all means study it carefully, but it's not riddled with 'loopholes'.

dacouch

If you are travelling abroad, it is important whoever you are insured by that you at the very least take the emergency contact tele number and a copy of the schedule at the very least. In an indeal world it is highly recommended that you take the policy or at least read the policy

deegee999

moonrakerz wrote: »

Read the small print VERY, VERY carefully - a lot of these "free" policies are only free if you have the constituion of an Olympic athlete, are aged under 21 and haver never consulted a doctor in your whole life.

If you are going to the US - be VERY careful !

Not true, they are not free, I use the one from my barclays account phoned them with my medical conditions & got a letter back accepting each one of them. you will probably have to sign up for it.

FH_Brit

bE AWARE These "free" policies are a pain in my............. Neck (actually about 3 feet lower!) I suggest you supliment that insurance with a decent travel policy like Post Office (Fortis Ins), Tesco, Norwich Union.

AXA insure many of these free policies and they are terrible at paying up when yu have to make a claim, I always say STAY AWAY FROM AXA!

Although mainly Florida – a lot of the info in these postings relate to general Travel Insurance & Medical Issues – worth a read – I may be able to help.

I am an Ex-Pat Brit (Hertfordshire) living and working in Florida. I work for a major Hospital group (7 hospitals and 15 urgent care clinics around the Orlando area) dealing with all you tourists that holiday here and then go home leaving medical bills behind you unpaid.

My job is to track you down and get the bills paid and I deal with UK insurers many times each day. No matter what your horror story is, I’ve heard them all and Brits usually have the same story to tell.

I am officially a Debt Collector, and that usually scares people. Don’t be worried,

See my other threads that have some useful Travel Insurance info:
Click Here for must-read information: Medical & Travel Insurance

Additional Info Here

Info re General Travel Insurance Issues

Bogof_Babe

Looks like the cover is through Fortis Insurance, which is strange because the health cover with the A&L account IS with AXA.

Thanks for the links, I will read and take note.

We're going to New York for three days, then on a cruise ship to Bermuda. I suppose it is much the same as for Florida though.