Simple Travel Insurance question

don9999

I always take out annual travel insurance.
My current insurance ends mid-July.

I booked my current Summer holiday (due to go mid-August) in June. So, any issues arising for now eg. need to cancel, would be covered by my existing insurance.

I will take out new insurance when current one runs out. May renew, but as always, will look around to find best value-for-money, so 'may' change company.

Would a new company 'take on' the risk of a holiday purchased 'before' I took out insurance with them?

Surprisingly, I've never been in this position before. In the past, I have always booked and taken a holiday during the insurance period covered by a single insurance company. This time it may straddle two different companies, and I am weary I may need to tread carefully when re-insuring.

Perhaps it is safer just to renew with the same insurance company.

Advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Don

FH_Brit

Don yes, simple answer is to renew with existing IC, but you should be alright if when you look at renewal you are honest and tell them you have a holiday already booked.(and there is nothing stopping you buying now with the policy to come into effect when your current one runs out)

don9999

Just checking if I AM covered.

My current insurance policy actually expires on 2nd August. With Insureme4.co.uk, taken out through Moneysupermarket.com.
My holiday was booked in June, and we are due to go on August 10th.

I called them to see if I could renew the policy and retain my existing cover, especially cancellation cover. They initially said no!

I further queried, how I could obtain cancellation cover for my holiday since my current insurance expires before I leave. After various discussions between themselves they confirmed I would be covered if I took out another policy with them when the current one expires. They even told me to go through moneysupermarket.com.

I even got them to e-mail me to confirm, and I received a one-line reply stating:

"I can confirm that your cancellation cover will be covered under your renewal of your annual multi trip insurance."

I'm still not convinced.
I have now taken out a new policy - exactly the same one (Diamond Plus) with the same company, again through moneysupermarket.com (per their advice) to commence as soon as the existing one expires.

I think I need to write to them to confirm that this new policy will be treated as a 'renewal' and that I WILL continue to be covered, especially for cancellation cover.
But I am also concerned whether I am covered for other things like baggage cover, personal posessions, medical treatment etc..., where the new policy commences (3rd August) 'after' the holiday booking was made.

Surely this must be a common scenario for annual policies!
Most people book holidays 6 months or more before they are due to leave, so surely many annual policies expire between the time of booking, and the time the holiday is actually taken......?

To make matters worse/more complex, my father was taken seriously ill a few weeks ago ie. after the holiday was originally booked. He is not expected to live long. What if the worse happens a few days before my holiday and I need to cancel? Would I be covered.....?

Cheers,
Don

FH_Brit

Non renewal is always a "get rid of the costly custmer" as you are only on a year's contract. Keep the e-mail that "confirms" continued cover - that should be enough if you needed to prove if they back out - the FSA would accept it.

don9999

Thanks.

But one concern is that their e-mail refers to the cover being continued on the 'renewal' policy.

But my new policy is effectively a different policy - differeent number etc.

When I rang them to 'renew' they advised me to go through Supermarket.com as it would be cheaper for me.

It definitely won't be cheaper, if my holiday is not in fact covered.

I'm even wondering whether my holiday will be covered at all........

Don

FH_Brit

Sorry Don, I miss-read and thought they put the "get it through money supermarket" in your e=mail.

I then suggest you reply to their e-mail and ask them to confirm as you wee verbally told by one of their reps that buying a new policy through moneysupermarket.com would be counted as re-newal.

Better be safe than sorry for sure - Good luck!

luci

I may be wrong, but I think that taking out a policy once one has expired is a totally new policy and not a renewal. If it was a renewal you wouldn't have to declare all your PEMC's again.

There is an Ombudsman ruling on this that dacouch may be able to link to.

You will need to declare your father's illness on the new policy and have it accepted before it will be covered. It would have been covered on the old policy if you had needed to cancel during the term.

don9999

Thanks Luci, that's what I feared. Though they effectively refused my request for a renewal, telling me to go through supermarket.com

I have written to them asking for confirmation on whether this new policy will be deemed a renewal. 'If' they reply saying it IS, would that be enough? Or could they still rely on the Ombudsman rulilng you refer to?

If not, then I could cancel the new policy and insist they offer me a 'proper' renewal.

Either way, with an 'official' renewal policy, would it cover my father's illness, or do such things need to be declared at each renewal? (I assume so, but not sure).

Finally.........Will my August holiday actually be covered by the new policy?
For example........if I made some sundry claim, eg. for a lost possession, could they claim that the holiday was taken out before the policy was in effect? And hence decline the claim?

Cheers,
Don

don9999

Have received a second reply from the insurance company.

It states:

Dear Don

Thank you for your email dated: 21st July 2010

Yes I can confirm that your annual policy is treated as a renewal of your previous insurance.


Kind regards

XXXXXXXXX
Customer Service Advisor


So have some comfort. But am still no sure if a 'renewal' still covers a prior-booked holiday and/or my father's illness.....

luci

Yes it will cover a pre-booked holiday. You can take insurance out at any time although it should be taken out as soon as the holiday is booked in the case of single trip insurance.

It will only cover events that happen after the insurance is taken out so I doubt the "renewal" will cover your father's illness as that was known about before the policy was renewed. You should still declare it though.

Quentin

FH_Brit wrote: »

I then suggest you reply to their e-mail and ask them to confirm as you wee verbally told by one of their reps that buying a new policy through moneysupermarket.com would be counted as re-newal.

It makes no difference whether the replacement policy is a "renewal" or "new".

With all annual policies there are always two dates when you have to make declarations:

1) When you take out the policy AND at each renewal

2) When you book a trip

(Some also ask you to inform them of any changes between booking and taking a trip - check your policy to see if they have that requirement)

Regarding cover for a holiday booked prior to the policy being taken out, the policy will cover you for everything from the date the policy was taken out - ie an already booked holiday will be covered, subject to the insurer agreeing to offer cover in view of any declarations that have to be made when renewing (or taking out a new policy)