Travel Insurance Article Discussion

colette32

I booked a holiday of a lifetime for myself and my husband to Australia and then a cruise around New Zealand in March 2016 for October 2017. A family member became ill in October 2016 spending 4 months in hospital. I had 12 months insurance up until March 2017. I renewed the insurance as a single trip in March for the holiday with a different insurance company. I have paid £2500 off the holiday. This family member is ill again and has come to stay with us which means it is unlikely we will be able to now take the holiday. Will I be able to get any money back on the insurance bearing in mind the family member did not have this condition when we booked. If so which insurance company would I make the claim off? Also as they were not travelling with us will we be able to make a claim.
Alternatively if we cancel and are unable to make a claim on the insurance can we ask the travel company to sell our flight? Can we ask Royal Carribbean to postpone our cruise or put the money for the cruise in an account for us for us to use on another cruise At a later date? I know other cruise lines have done this for friends I have spoken to. But going through a cruise company would this be possible. I am now due to pay the balance of the holiday and don't know what to do I am desperate for advice.

sheramber

colette32 wrote: »

I booked a holiday of a lifetime for myself and my husband to Australia and then a cruise around New Zealand in March 2016 for October 2017. A family member became ill in October 2016 spending 4 months in hospital. I had 12 months insurance up until March 2017. I renewed the insurance as a single trip in March for the holiday with a different insurance company. I have paid £2500 off the holiday. This family member is ill again and has come to stay with us which means it is unlikely we will be able to now take the holiday. Will I be able to get any money back on the insurance bearing in mind the family member did not have this condition when we booked. If so which insurance company would I make the claim off? Also as they were not travelling with us will we be able to make a claim.
Alternatively if we cancel and are unable to make a claim on the insurance can we ask the travel company to sell our flight? Can we ask Royal Carribbean to postpone our cruise or put the money for the cruise in an account for us for us to use on another cruise At a later date? I know other cruise lines have done this for friends I have spoken to. But going through a cruise company would this be possible. I am now due to pay the balance of the holiday and don't know what to do I am desperate for advice.

duplicate thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5680570

koru

colette32 wrote: »

I booked a holiday of a lifetime for myself and my husband to Australia and then a cruise around New Zealand in March 2016 for October 2017. A family member became ill in October 2016 spending 4 months in hospital. I had 12 months insurance up until March 2017. I renewed the insurance as a single trip in March for the holiday with a different insurance company. I have paid £2500 off the holiday. This family member is ill again and has come to stay with us which means it is unlikely we will be able to now take the holiday. Will I be able to get any money back on the insurance bearing in mind the family member did not have this condition when we booked. If so which insurance company would I make the claim off? Also as they were not travelling with us will we be able to make a claim.
Alternatively if we cancel and are unable to make a claim on the insurance can we ask the travel company to sell our flight? Can we ask Royal Carribbean to postpone our cruise or put the money for the cruise in an account for us for us to use on another cruise At a later date? I know other cruise lines have done this for friends I have spoken to. But going through a cruise company would this be possible. I am now due to pay the balance of the holiday and don't know what to do I am desperate for advice.

Since this is the right place to have posted the question, I'll answer it here.

The old policy is now irrelevant, as you did not cancel during the policy period. It depends on the wording of the new policy regarding cancellations. Does it cover cancellations due to ill health of family who were not due to travel with you? If not, you aren't covered. If yes, does it restrict such claims to exclude pre-existing conditions? If not, then you seem to be covered. If yes, then does the current illness meet their definition of pre-existing conditions?

Chordeiles

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I can't find it.

In April I bought an annual travel insurance policy for the first time, having a couple of trips in mind for the following 12 months. Now we decided to book a further holiday which starts just after the expiry of this policy, and of course we will have paid for it in full by the time the policy ends. Of course I can cover this trip by renewing the policy, but what if something goes wrong to scupper the holiday before my policy expires ?

Just been on the 'phone to LV= and they insist that I am covered at that time (which sort of makes sense otherwise this would be a major flaw in annual multi-trip policies). Yet the policy talks about cover in terms of "trips" and clearly defines "trip" as "a journey that takes place during the period of cover".

I'm not doubting what I've been told, but would definitely feel more comfortable to hear whether this is the same understanding as others have about annual multi-trip cover.

harz99

In a very similar place to Chordeiles post above; I have an annual multi trip policy which I renew each year adjusting the maximum trip length to cover my needs for the forthcoming policy year.


So I'm in the process of doing this for Aug 17 to Aug 18 and reducing from 60 days to 35 days maximum trip, when I asked about the likely maximum days coverable under my policy/circumstances for the Aug 18 to Aug 19 year as I will have a holiday of 100+ days to cover in that period, some of which is booked and deposits paid already.


My understanding has always been that future holidays beyond the immediate period of insurance are covered against cancellation etc., however the call centre agent I was speaking to rather threw me when she asked for details of the number of days that holiday would be in total, and then proceeded to tell me that my current renewal would need to also be for that 100+ days otherwise the future holiday wouldn't be covered.


Is that correct, or was she trying to sell me something I don't need?


I would be grateful if anyone with specialist knowledge could advise me further please.

katejo

Chordeiles wrote: »

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I can't find it.

In April I bought an annual travel insurance policy for the first time, having a couple of trips in mind for the following 12 months. Now we decided to book a further holiday which starts just after the expiry of this policy, and of course we will have paid for it in full by the time the policy ends. Of course I can cover this trip by renewing the policy, but what if something goes wrong to scupper the holiday before my policy expires ?

Just been on the 'phone to LV= and they insist that I am covered at that time (which sort of makes sense otherwise this would be a major flaw in annual multi-trip policies). Yet the policy talks about cover in terms of "trips" and clearly defines "trip" as "a journey that takes place during the period of cover".

I'm not doubting what I've been told, but would definitely feel more comfortable to hear whether this is the same understanding as others have about annual multi-trip cover.

This also causes me concerns and has stopped me ever booking a trip for after the current policy expires. Let's look at a possible example: My current annual policy for Europe is valid until next February. I book a trip now for next April. Just as my renewal date approaches, a GP decides that I need a hospital referral for tests with a 6 week waiting list. I am not expecting it to be anything which would prevent me going on holiday but my current insurer refuses to renew because I have pending tests/unconfirmed diagnosis. I therefore have no cover in case of any further illness before departure.
I don't have an issue with length of trips as in the previous question as mine are all 2 weeks or under.

katejo

harz99 wrote: »

In a very similar place to Chordeiles post above; I have an annual multi trip policy which I renew each year adjusting the maximum trip length to cover my needs for the forthcoming policy year.


So I'm in the process of doing this for Aug 17 to Aug 18 and reducing from 60 days to 35 days maximum trip, when I asked about the likely maximum days coverable under my policy/circumstances for the Aug 18 to Aug 19 year as I will have a holiday of 100+ days to cover in that period, some of which is booked and deposits paid already.


My understanding has always been that future holidays beyond the immediate period of insurance are covered against cancellation etc., however the call centre agent I was speaking to rather threw me when she asked for details of the number of days that holiday would be in total, and then proceeded to tell me that my current renewal would need to also be for that 100+ days otherwise the future holiday wouldn't be covered.


Is that correct, or was she trying to sell me something I don't need?


I would be grateful if anyone with specialist knowledge could advise me further please.

My guess here is that you need to cover for up to 100 days in aug 17/18 simply because you have already started booking a trip of over 100 days for Aug 18/19 to make it continuous.

WAYT

harz99 wrote: »

In a very similar place to Chordeiles post above; I have an annual multi trip policy which I renew each year adjusting the maximum trip length to cover my needs for the forthcoming policy year.


So I'm in the process of doing this for Aug 17 to Aug 18 and reducing from 60 days to 35 days maximum trip, when I asked about the likely maximum days coverable under my policy/circumstances for the Aug 18 to Aug 19 year as I will have a holiday of 100+ days to cover in that period, some of which is booked and deposits paid already.


My understanding has always been that future holidays beyond the immediate period of insurance are covered against cancellation etc., however the call centre agent I was speaking to rather threw me when she asked for details of the number of days that holiday would be in total, and then proceeded to tell me that my current renewal would need to also be for that 100+ days otherwise the future holiday wouldn't be covered.


Is that correct, or was she trying to sell me something I don't need?


I would be grateful if anyone with specialist knowledge could advise me further please.

Which company allows you trips of 100+ days on an annual policy.

harz99

WAYT wrote: »

Which company allows you trips of 100+ days on an annual policy.

It's a policy I have packaged with a Nationwide Flexplus bank account. Up to the age of 75 and subject to medical conditions etc.they consider up to 180 days on request and payment of the appropriate additional premium. Underwritten by UK Insurance PLC.

WAYT

harz99 wrote: »

It's a policy I have packaged with a Nationwide Flexplus bank account. Up to the age of 75 and subject to medical conditions etc.they consider up to 180 days on request and payment of the appropriate additional premium. Underwritten by UK Insurance PLC.

I remember enquiring with them a few years ago. Didn't remember the up to 180 day bit. Though probably overall it didn't make sense for me to change at the time.