Travel Insurance Article Discussion

Voyager2002

oldgreybeard wrote: »

Robbed in Paris end of July, reported to Nationwide Travel insurance, still not settled 16th November. Each time I phone a colleague was going to be in touch that day. I submitted a long list of required documents, which grows with each phone call. On visiting local branch to complain they were told a cheque will be in the post within 14 working days but for only £500 when claim is over £700. I don't know what has been rejected. I have £500,000 in savings with Nationwide which they will now lose. Poor service and customer relations.

Dreadful!

Note that Nationwide are only a sales agent for the insurance, so probably should not be punished for this appalling lack of service. They ought to be more careful about who they allow to use their name...

Pkd

Tried to take a policy out with Holiday Safe, the call back on the Website didn't work and the retrieve a quote couldn't be found. They wouldn't answer e mails or phone me.
So I went to 'Lets Go Insurance', same cover and 20% cheaper, so Holiday Safe just wants your dosh with no customer service.

shizzlebizzle

My quote for annual Europe insurance for age 36-45 just leapt from £12.90 to £90.60 because I've included anxiety/depression as a current condition. I'm surprised and disgusted!! I'm on a very low dose antidepressant, not seeing any psychiatrist / counsellor, and really I feel fine but the medication just keeps me ticking over. I really think this is discrimination - I guess they think I'm generally unhinged and could cause an international incident, or that I'll travel to Switzerland to end it all, & claim on the insurance???!! I haven't shopped around, but I guess this will keep happening.
I'm very tempted to ignore MSE the advice to include medical conditions, but I suppose if I did need medical treatment (for anything) abroad they could access my UK med records and my cover would be invalid because I have a current prescription. Do they have a right to do that??

(Edit: I'll try some of the brokers mentioned in old posts on pre-existing conditions (Columbus looks hopeful)- it does seem there's hope if this condition's excluded, really feel for people with more serious illness who may need cover for it.)

shizzlebizzle

Columbus Direct seems the best for me so far, as I'm prepared to have pre-existing condition excluded. How can I get reliable feedback about them, other than online reviews? Has anyone dealt with them?

ceejayblue

Going to ask a really stupid question, blame it on a senior moment! My daughter and her family are going to Tunisia in August, and have asked me to sort out their insurance. Now I'm usually good at this but.....the quotes I've got don't say if the premium is per person or for the whole family! Am I being dim? There's 2 adults, a 15 year old, a 4 year old and a 1 year old and its coming out very cheap! The travel agent offered them cover for £60 and moneysupermarket.com is coming up from as little at £8.00! Plus mum in law is going too so she'll have to have her own policy as a family only includes the parents and kids.

Feeling really silly as my brain just isn't computing the details on the quotes LOL!

Tomby1

That'll be the cost for the whole family. Remember though that cheapest isn't always best!
You'll often get better protection going direct as obviously going through a comparison site, they take a nice slice of the travel insurers profits.

That said, travel agents nearly always slap a massive additional fee onto the base cost of the insurance, so I would never advise anyone to go with one for their travel insurance.

ceejayblue

Thanks, thought it was. Will check for best deal via quidco.

Skier_G

As mentioned elsewhere, some Banks or Credit Cards provide travel insurance. However, they are usually limited in duration (typically 21-30 days per trip). Now I am retired I am taking longer trips than that. Has anyone come across 'top up' travel insurance that will take over when my Bank insurance ceases or am I stuck taking out duplicate insurance for my longer trips?

luci

Try the insurance company on your bank account to see if they can extend the duration for a premium.

spras

I am attempting to get travel insurance for a 3 month trip to Tunisia. The insurance thus falls under backpacker insurance. Unfortunately this section of Martin's otherwise excellent guide is a bit underdeveloped and I'm having real trouble finding an affordable policy that is actually worth paying for (all the companies that Money Supermarket throws up have terrible reviews). Does anyone have any recommendations in this area?

I should add that it is a work-based trip, which is ruling out a lot of policies (for instance, Direct Line's says the trip must be primarily for 'pleasure' - something I am sure they will use to worm their way out of any claim). It is not manual work.