Is holiday after current travel insurance policy ends covered until that date?

LankyMoneySaver

Apologies if this is already answered, I tried to search but didn't manage to find anything, probably because I wasn't sure exactly how to search for the answer.

I know it is advised to get travel insurance in place as soon as possible to give you cover against cancellations etc. I already have an annual policy that expires in April. However the holiday I have just booked is in May. Is it currently covered by my policy?

Obviously I will be taking out another policy after my current one expires, but I want to know if the holiday is already covered by my existing policy from now until the date it ends even though that is before the actual date of the holiday? Or would this depend on the T&Cs of my current cover?

dzug1

It would be normal for your current policy to cover events relating to your future holiday until it expires - eg if you become seriously ill and have to cancel now you would be covered. Your new policy would cover events happening after that


There's always the risk (hopefully slight) that you might be unable to get a new policy - eg you develop a pre-existing condition

agrinnall

Interesting question, and as your last point suggests, it may well be down to the T&Cs of your policy. However, my view is that it should be covered, and my reason for thinking that is that if you renew the annual policy when it is due to expire then there's no reason for the holiday not to be covered at all times, so even if you don't renew that equivalent cover should exist until expiry. I might have to dig out my own (free from Nationwide) cover to see what it says.

sheramber

Check your policy as you may only be covered for trips that you take within the 12 months of the policy.
e.g The Post Office policy states

The Period of Insurance is for 12 months
during which You are covered for each Trip
You book and undertake within that period
subject to a maximum of 17 consecutive
days unless otherwise stated on Your Policy
Certificate for persons aged up to 75 at the
start date of this policy

LankyMoneySaver

A similar question was the question of the week in this week's email (06/07/2016) and had the following response, suggesting that it would be covered with no mention of it being down to specific T&Cs of the policy:

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: My annual travel insurance policy ends in Dec this year, but I want to book a holiday now for a date that falls after this - in Jan 2017. If I fall ill and have to cancel the holiday, will I be covered? Zoe, by email.

MSE Tony's A: If you need to make a claim to cancel between now and Dec you will be covered, as insurers base their decision on the date you cancel the trip, NOT the date of the trip.

To be covered if you have to cancel between December and your departure date, avoid having any gap in cover. So have a new policy in place to start as soon as the old one ends.

If you plan to take more than one holiday next year, consider an annual travel policy from £9, but if the January trip will be your only holiday in 2017, a single trip policy (from £5) could be better. See full help in Cheap Travel Insurance.