when to start travel insurance

northwest1965

I'd say take it out now, thats just based on my personal experience though. I had to cancel a £2k holiday in April due to an emergency operation. It was the best £59 we paid for worlwide annual (no excess either:T)

ferf1223

we have an annual policy that ends mid-September.

We're planning on booking flights for a trip mid-October shortly.

I'm never sure what to do about travel insurance in this situation - if something happened in say August, that meant we had to cancel the trip in October (I know there aren't a lot of reasons that something happening in August would result in cancelling a holiday two months later, but just in theory) - would the existing policy cover it since the event which resulted in the cancellation happened befor the policy expired? Even though the travel date was after the expiry of the policy?

Or do we need to buy a new policy from the day after the existing one (if we can buy one to start that far in advance) to ensure we're covered?

northwest1965

Thats a very interesting question. If no one answers it here and you have to get the advice from your insurance company, please come back and let me know how you got on

moonrakerz

mrcow wrote: »

No.

Don't do this.

You need to check any cancellation penalties first. Many travel companies have a scaling cancellation penalty system. Don't just assume that the deposit is all you'd be set to lose. Especially if you've paid a low deposit.

You are correct to some extent, they do have a sliding scale - but only after you have paid the full amount.

malkie76

I think many of them do.

Insurance needs to be taken out prior to booking and paying a deposit if you want to be covered. Many insurance companies will wriggle out of travel/accomodation claims if you initialled booked prior to starting the policy. You'd still be covered for medical though.

luci

ferf1223 wrote: »

we have an annual policy that ends mid-September.

We're planning on booking flights for a trip mid-October shortly.

I'm never sure what to do about travel insurance in this situation - if something happened in say August, that meant we had to cancel the trip in October (I know there aren't a lot of reasons that something happening in August would result in cancelling a holiday two months later, but just in theory) - would the existing policy cover it since the event which resulted in the cancellation happened befor the policy expired? Even though the travel date was after the expiry of the policy?

Or do we need to buy a new policy from the day after the existing one (if we can buy one to start that far in advance) to ensure we're covered?

I'm pretty sure I asked my insurance about this a couple of years ago as we often have flights booked for after the current policy expires.

IIRC you are covered as long as the cancellation is within the policy period. When you take out a new policy that one will then cover them.

However I would suggest calling your insurance to double check.

stephb34

ferf1223 wrote: »

we have an annual policy that ends mid-September.

We're planning on booking flights for a trip mid-October shortly.

I'm never sure what to do about travel insurance in this situation - if something happened in say August, that meant we had to cancel the trip in October (I know there aren't a lot of reasons that something happening in August would result in cancelling a holiday two months later, but just in theory) - would the existing policy cover it since the event which resulted in the cancellation happened befor the policy expired? Even though the travel date was after the expiry of the policy?

Or do we need to buy a new policy from the day after the existing one (if we can buy one to start that far in advance) to ensure we're covered?

The policy you currently have will cover you for any hols up until the day it expires, so you need to have in place a policy that starts as that one expires, unless you have issues with your current insurance company or can get a much better deal elsewhere a lot of people would just renew the existing policy.

dzug1

moonrakerz wrote: »

Not necessarily ...........

If you have paid a fairly small deposit it may not be worth insuring yourself if the deposit is less than the premium. Insure when you pay in full in that case.

You are missing a point there.

There is the possibility that between now and the time you take out the insurance an event will happen that is not in itself a reason to cancel, but is sufficient to render you uninsurable (at least in part) for the holiday.

I'm thinking something on the lines that you/a relative are diagnosed with something that then becomes a 'preexisting condition'. You might then find that you cannot get medical insurance for the holiday or only at exhorbitant rates.

You might (or might not) be willing to take that risk - but you do need to know you are taking it

stephb34

dzug1 wrote: »

You are missing a point there.

There is the possibility that between now and the time you take out the insurance an event will happen that is not in itself a reason to cancel, but is sufficient to render you uninsurable (at least in part) for the holiday.

I'm thinking something on the lines that you/a relative are diagnosed with something that then becomes a 'preexisting condition'. You might then find that you cannot get medical insurance for the holiday or only at exhorbitant rates.

You might (or might not) be willing to take that risk - but you do need to know you are taking it

A friend i have booked a cruise in september 2008 to go in january 2010, in late 2009 she got gall bladder trouble and had no insurance, she went to purchase some and not 1 insurer would cover her gall bladder so she couldnt go on this cruise because she couldnt risk it flaring up while she was abroad, thats why you need insurance as soon as, who knows what happens in the future.