Can you be "doubly insured"?

jeanniebeanie_2

My husband has worldwide travel insurance through work, which is good cover and covers him for leisure trips as well. I am not covered.

For the last few years we have bought an annual couples policy of our own, the reason being that on the only trip we ever had to cancel (pre DH's cover) it was a complete nightmare claiming. We don't do package trips, so we had to provide evidence of losses, deposits paid and cancellation policies of each individual part of the trip along with doctor's evidence and tickets etc. (originals, not copies) and there were constant requests for more and more information.

They paid out in the end, but we really don't want to have to deal with two different companies and the extra hassle that would bring especially in the event of an emergency abroad.

I have recently been told, though, that they ask about possible other cover in the event of a claim and being "double covered" invalidates BOTH policies. It this true? Would they know? We travel mostly to the USA, so we are talking big numbers if we get this wrong.

callum9999

jeanniebeanie wrote: »

My husband has worldwide travel insurance through work, which is good cover and covers him for leisure trips as well. I am not covered.

For the last few years we have bought an annual couples policy of our own, the reason being that on the only trip we ever had to cancel (pre DH's company cover) it was a complete nightmare claiming. We don't do package trips, so we had to provide evidence of losses, deposits paid and cancellation policies of each individual part of the trip along with doctor's evidence and tickets etc. (originals, not copies) and there were constant requests for more and more information.

They paid out in the end, but we really don't want to have to deal with two different companies and the extra hassle that would bring especially in the event of an emergency abroad.

I have recently been told, though, that they ask about possible other cover in the event of a claim and being "double covered" invalidates BOTH policies. It this true? Would they know? We travel mostly to the USA, so we are talking big numbers if we get this wrong.

ETA I know the solution would be to add me onto DH's company policy, but they are not keen (admin, having to offer it to all.....)

I'm pretty sure "double cover" doesn't invalidate your policies, but when I've done it before they've wanted to know about any other policies you have so they can share the costs. I have no idea how this would work in practise though regarding varying levels of excesses and having to provide evidence to both of them. I'd imagine you just deal with one of them and then they do the rest behind the scenes - but this is insurance so it's not necessarily that simple!

vegasvisitor

Check your policies for wording to this effect 'this Policy of Insurance will not indemnify you to the extent that you have the benefit of other Insurance' - if both of them say this then you would effectively have no cover because each policy would be cancelled because of the existence of the other.

It's a difficult one, for obvious reasons you would not be allowed to claim on both policies. Some insurers I believe would allow you to claim a portion (relative to proportional premium) on each. So this is pretty much ruining your plan of having you both on the same policy to avoid hassle. You could effectively be creating more paperwork, and maybe even more losses due to excess. You must not claim both in full - I'm sure it would be illegal to benefit from insurance.

I think you might be best to call them both if you can't be certain from the policy booklets.

jeanniebeanie_2

lesley74 wrote: »

Check your policies for wording to this effect 'this Policy of Insurance will not indemnify you to the extent that you have the benefit of other Insurance' - if both of them say this then you would effectively have no cover because each policy would be cancelled because of the existence of the other.

It's a difficult one, for obvious reasons you would not be allowed to claim on both policies. Some insurers I believe would allow you to claim a portion (relative to proportional premium) on each. So this is pretty much ruining your plan of having you both on the same policy to avoid hassle. You could effectively be creating more paperwork, and maybe even more losses due to excess. You must not claim both in full - I'm sure it would be illegal to benefit from insurance.

I think you might be best to call them both if you can't be certain from the policy booklets.

Thanks. I will check the wording. I have no desire to benefit, or double claim, I am solely worried they will find a way not to pay out!

It isn't just cancellation I am worried about.

In the event one of us were to need emergency hospital treatment for example, the other would need to contact two separate companies to clarify the position for each (assuming travel plans disrupted- we move around). The last thing you need when thousands of miles from home and probably worried about the sick/injured party as well as mounting $$$$s.

luci

We have two annual policies, one with the Nationwide and another I took out separately, both for worldwide cover.

I have just checked and the clause mentioned above isn't mentioned on either. However the Nationwide ones states in their exclusions "Property more specifically insured by another policy" under certain sections including baggage. The other one doesn't appear to any such exclusion.

The reason for having two policies is that the Nationwide one doesn't cover Close Relatives if they have been in hospital in the previous 12 months. With elderly parents we need cover in the event of anything happening to them.