changing annual travel insurance suppliers

moginstein

We have an annual world wide policy with flexicover, and are looking to take our next one out with simplytravel, but the holiday we have booked means the change over occurs in the middle.

Does this cause a problem (i.e. do we need to stay with flexicover)? I was thinking that if there was a cancellation (at the start of the trip, for example), this might be a problem, as part of the holiday would be outside of our insured period with that company, and as moneysupermarket.com states:

"If you apply for an annual multi-trip policy starting on the date you plan to travel you will not be covered for cancellation before this date."

so I think I wouldn't be covered by the second company either?
Hope someone can help, I don't know if I am just overthinking it...

huckster

Stick with current Insurers. Changing over in the middle is not a good idea.

FH_Brit

MOGINSTEIN - Call your present insurer, It may well be that the insurance must be in effect at the time of departure and you are covered (as longh as it is not 6 month holiday).

The "new" insurer deffinately will not cover any of the trip, you booked, planned and paid? before you took out the "new" policy.

Why do you want to change?

moginstein

I was planning on changing due to the prices - old policy will be £49.50 for identical (31 days max trip length) or £43 (for 21 days), alternative new one is £40.96, and has better cover rates.
I contacted the new insurers, and they said I should start my cover with them from the day I leave the UK, and have the policies run along side each other (just only claim on one if the need arises). I have asked for clarification as to why this is.
I will contact my current provider to see what they suggest.

dzug1

moginstein wrote: »

I was planning on changing due to the prices - old policy will be £49.50 for identical (31 days max trip length) or £43 (for 21 days), alternative new one is £40.96, and has better cover rates.
I contacted the new insurers, and they said I should start my cover with them from the day I leave the UK, and have the policies run along side each other (just only claim on one if the need arises). I have asked for clarification as to why this is.
I will contact my current provider to see what they suggest.

Your problem is likely to be the 'holiday must start and end in the UK' rule - yes it does, but not within the validity of the policy. So your current policy isn't actually valid once you have left the UK as you are not (in its eyes) returning. You wouldn't be able to claim on it anyway by that stage.

Maybe your current insurer will price match? Worth a try.

moginstein

Thanks Dzug1,
You are correct - I've just heard back from possible insurer no 2:

"We can advise that we are regulated by the FSA, financial services authority, and must comply with the regulations they supply. In order to provide you with insurance, we must advise you firstly of the terms and conditions relevant to the insurance you wish to purchase.

In this instance, the following term will apply to your pending application for our insurance:

‘Cover must be purchased and effective prior to departing the UK’

If you wish to purchase the insurance the day in which your current cover, with an alternative provider, runs out, when you are outside of the UK, your policy with us will be void.

We must make you aware that the provider whom you are currently insured with would not provide you with cover for your trip; your policy will expire half way through your holiday and when a claim reaches the adjusters; it would be rejected."

Which explains what is going on. I'll look at the price matching, and then decide which is best.

huckster

The other option is to cancel the flexi-cover now rather than wait until renewal, then arrange the Simply Travel policy.

I would not be changing Insurers during the middle of a holiday. That would be a daft thing to do, unless you had written confirmation from both Insurers as to what would happen in the event of a claim.

dzug1

huckster wrote: »

The other option is to cancel the flexi-cover now rather than wait until renewal, then arrange the Simply Travel policy.

.

A bit wasteful though - losing months of validity that might be needed for yet to be planned holidays

Leigh-Anne_60

dzug1 wrote: »

A bit wasteful though - losing months of validity that might be needed for yet to be planned holidays

Agreed, best to leave old cover in place - Use the cancellation cover, Have the start date of the new policy coincide with the start date of the trip. Maximum cover lost would be a few days cover on the old policy......

So basically do what Simplytravel suggested in post 4