Travel Insurance Article Discussion

Ninetails

Insurance for stopover?

We have booked long haul trip with a stopover in Dubai for a few days on the return journey.

Insurance through our bank will not cover us for the Dubai -> home as they see it as a break in the journey and therefore not covered if missed or delayed. This is the first I've come across this but then we have never had a stopover for a few days.

Does this mean we need cover for a multi-trip as it is treated as 2 trips? or do we keep the bank's insurance and buy extra insurance for the Dubai -> home part?

Thanks for any advice

owen-b

Too long, didn't read: how much would you say is a fair and decent price for two late-30s folk heading to Rome for 7 days, to be covered for all the basic usual stuff, plus ideally coverage for anxiety/depression pre-existing conditions just to be on the safe side?

As little as £20 from someone you've never heard of via MoneySupermarket? Or as much as £60 from someone like LV?


Full post: Oh man I am SO confused. All I want is a single-trip policy for my wife and I (late 30s) for 6 days in Italy. But every policy is *ever so slightly* different, especially with regard to so called 'acts of god' aka 'catastrophe cover'. I wouldn't have even considered that until the Icelandic ash issue a few years ago (which didn't affect us anyway, but now I know those things exist!)

On top of that my wife takes medication for anxiety/depression and while it's never once caused the slightest problem on any trip ever, this is the first time I've thought to add it to the insurance. Some people refuse to cover it (hello HolidaySafe!), others cover it no problem (hello LV!) and others charge an extra £20 for it (hello Direct Travel!).

Do I take a policy for £25 or so from some no-name company I've never heard of like Direct2Insure from the MoneySupermarket single trip comparisons? Or do I splash out on a £45-£60 policy from someone like Direct Travel or LV? I can't really determine the major differences between the cheapest and most expensive there, unless I spend a few hours poring over small print and that's driving me insane, this should really only take a few minutes to arrange!

Finding out what they *actually* cover seems really tricky because they all have a bunch of standard documents that list everything, but you can't find out the precise terms of your actual policy variant until you've paid for it, in most cases.

Holidaysafe_Representative

Dear Owen-B,

Thank you for your post, my name is Amber Howard and I am the brand Manager for Holidaysafe.

I note that you referred to our policy wording and, more specifically, the exclusions surrounding anxiety related illnesses in your recent post. As part of our policy of constant review and improvement, we have recently decided to change our stance on this to fall in line with the cover offered for any other kind of illness that is in existence before the purchase of a policy. We are currently in the process of refining the wording to reflect this.

I just wanted to let you know that any customer taking out a policy with us is given the opportunity to call a medical declaration screening line, be taken through a few questions and then a very clear idea of the cover available can be given.

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Kind regards and safe travels,

Amber.

RJMacready

I'm going to Orlando with my girlfriend, neither of us have any pre-existing medical conditions & I've narrowed the choices for travel insurance down to Barclays (not add on to bank account) or LV.

Barclays are recommended by FHBrit in the Florida Travel insurance thread, but I have only found opinions on the add on insurance for Barclays bank accounts & those haven't been great.

LV seem to have pretty positive feedback.

Anyone have any experience of either?

Beenie

My husband and I are currently covered by AXA PPP medical insurance which also includes a world-wide travel policy. Unfortunately, this cover ceases when my husband retires next month.

I have never had to research holiday insurance and would welcome some advice. We are both in good health* (husband 60 and myself 59) and we travel abroad 3/4 times a year so are looking for an annual policy.

We're not particularly looking for the cheapest company, but the most reliable and hassle-free company. We have only ever claimed once in our lives and that was when we had to cancel a package holiday when my husband slipped a disc and could not travel.

* I had cancer a number of years ago, which has been treated successfully. I am no longer receiving treatment of any sort, nor do I take any medication. Husband broke his hip cycling 8 years ago but has no ill effects. Do these things have to be declared and if so, is it possible to ask for a policy which excludes any recurrence of cancer or hip pain?

Gamegal

Beenie wrote: »

My husband and I are currently covered by AXA PPP medical insurance which also includes a world-wide travel policy. Unfortunately, this cover ceases when my husband retires next month.

I have never had to research holiday insurance and would welcome some advice. We are both in good health* (husband 60 and myself 59) and we travel abroad 3/4 times a year so are looking for an annual policy.

We're not particularly looking for the cheapest company, but the most reliable and hassle-free company. We have only ever claimed once in our lives and that was when we had to cancel a package holiday when my husband slipped a disc and could not travel.

* I had cancer a number of years ago, which has been treated successfully. I am no longer receiving treatment of any sort, nor do I take any medication. Husband broke his hip cycling 8 years ago but has no ill effects. Do these things have to be declared and if so, is it possible to ask for a policy which excludes any recurrence of cancer or hip pain?

I have ALWAYS seen a question that says "HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER"

Shawnfg

Have just bought travel insurance and although I consulted MSE and looked at what they were advising I eventually found a much better deal through Columbus Direct. Their policies are more robust and with a further discount through code RT20 they easily beat the prices of anything else. Their customer support is decent as well as we were well looked after after having to use them for a medical emergency whilst in Sweden. Used Holiday Safe whilst in Eygpt a year ago and found them difficult when again we had to claim on our insurance for a minor medical issue. I find MSE are generally good for things like this but I'm surprised they're not focusing also on other companies that also offer good deals.

ceejayblue

I'm sure Columbus Direct have been mentioned many times on the website/forum. However, I didn't find them cheap or even reasonable for my pre-existing conditions so went to AllClearTravel.co.uk who are a comparison website for companies with pre-existing conditions and got good value cover through Explorer Travel.

drunkasaskunk

Can anybody help me by answering this question.

I currently have my holiday insurece provided on my free santander premier current account. However this is due to finish and not be renewed this year (they are scrapping the perk). I have just booked a holiday and the insurance will lapse when I am on holiday.

My question is, do I need to buy a policy to cover the whole duration of my holiday or could I just buy one for the remaining days that I need it for (e.g the last 4 days of my holiday)?

ceejayblue

I would get one to cover the whole lot myself, just to make sure, but I would've thought you would be covered so you could check with Santander before you do anything else.