Travel insurance for group - 1 or 3 policies??

mutley74

Travelling to Spain with my folks in a few weeks time, booked under same booking. Need some advice on travel policies.....
My mum has free insurance from her bank that cover her pre-existing conditions.
Mr Dad usually takes out separate policy for himself with pre-existing conditions.
I used to buy a separate policy for me and my kid, although i now get free cover for myself and child (extra cost) through Nationwide cover.

Options.
1. I can either keep as 3 policies which works out the cheapest overall. Costs ~£30, but means 3 policies to deal with if any problems with holiday.

2. I could take out a single policy with say Columbus that covers all 4 of us for the single trip. Cost ~£80, but advantage we are covered under 1 policy number.

Welcome any advice on if one recommends best method to insure all of us for travel.

mutley74

bump for any advice....

mutley74

DAK know is it makes a difference having 3 policies or just 1 for a group?

Mariner13

My advice would be to stick with the separate policies. If you take out an extra policy and need to claim, one of the questions you will be asked is if there is cover under any other policies, which there is. The insurers will then argue over who should pay, and may all have to make contrubutions to the total claim. Plus if the claim is for belongings and there is cover under a home insurance policy, they too could end up being involved!

Worked in insurance for 20 years before i got out of the rat race last year btw.

mutley74

Mariner13 wrote: »

My advice would be to stick with the separate policies. If you take out an extra policy and need to claim, one of the questions you will be asked is if there is cover under any other policies, which there is. The insurers will then argue over who should pay, and may all have to make contrubutions to the total claim. Plus if the claim is for belongings and there is cover under a home insurance policy, they too could end up being involved!

Worked in insurance for 20 years before i got out of the rat race last year btw.

Thanks for reply! Interesting point as a few years ago when my dad was mugged overseas the travel insurance company made the house insurance share the claim!!

i thought it would be easier if we were under one policy, but do we have to declare any "free cover" with any other insurer even though we dont use it?

Mariner13

mutley74 wrote: »

i thought it would be easier if we were under one policy, but do we have to declare any "free cover" with any other insurer even though we dont use it?

If they ask and you know about it, then yes really you should, however in practice there probably is no other way they could find out.