Travel insurance question

AubreyMac

It's been said many times to get insurance as soon as you book to cover yourself incase you fall ill or whatever before the holiday.


I've booked a trip to New York in June, I bought travel insurance immediately after. I have the documents and have 2 questions on this (of course I will call insurers tomorrow when they open but wanted your advice first).


1) documents says 'policy start date' being the date of outbound travel in June. Does that mean I'm not covered from now until June?


2) although I leave NY on 19th June, when I return to UK it'll actually be 20th June. My insurance ends on 19th June, should it really end on 20th?


Thanks for any help.

BorisThomson

The policy is valid for cancellation before the start date. It is only valid for travel related claims (delays, medical expenses etc) on the dates specified.

Yes, it should end on the 20th.

BoGoF

It would have asked what date you wanted the policy to start - what date did you put?

shaun_from_Africa

BoGoF wrote: »

It would have asked what date you wanted the policy to start - what date did you put?

It normally only asks when you want it to start if it's an annual policy, otherwise it asks when the travel commences.
Even though the cover for the trip begins on the specified date, cancellation cover normally starts as soon as the policy has been issued.

maman

BoGoF wrote: »

It would have asked what date you wanted the policy to start - what date did you put?

That's what I was thinking. If you wanted to have cover for possible cancellation before you go then it should start from now. Then you'd be covered for this holiday to NYC or any other trip that you take beforehand. It sounds to me that you've only taken out cover for the actual single trip. Definitely need to clarify tomorrow.

BoGoF

Just done a dummy quote on one of the MSE recommended companies.

It did ask when I wanted policy to start....I put today. The end date options were 5 days, 7 days etc....or other date in the future. Putting the end date to July made it much more expensive than an end date 14 days from now, which makes sense.

Voyager2002

maman wrote: »

That's what I was thinking. If you wanted to have cover for possible cancellation before you go then it should start from now. Then you'd be covered for this holiday to NYC or any other trip that you take beforehand. It sounds to me that you've only taken out cover for the actual single trip. Definitely need to clarify tomorrow.

No, that is not how single-trip cover works. The starting date is the first day of the holiday, but cancellation cover commences as soon as the policy is taken out.

Voyager2002

AubreyMac wrote: »

I
2) although I leave NY on 19th June, when I return to UK it'll actually be 20th June. My insurance ends on 19th June, should it really end on 20th?

Probably it should end on the date when you first arrive at your home or work after your holiday, so telephone your insurer and ask them to extend it.

shaun_from_Africa

Voyager2002 wrote: »

No, that is not how single-trip cover works. The starting date is the first day of the holiday, but cancellation cover commences as soon as the policy is taken out.

Such as this (Direct line)

Period of insurance
Your cover begins when you leave your home
at the start of each trip and ends when your trip
ends. The only exception to this is cancellation
cover – see below.

Cancellation cover
Your insurance covers you in case you have to
cancel your trip before it starts. This cover begins
on the start date shown on your schedule or the
date you booked the trip, whichever is later, and
ends when you leave your home area at the start
of your trip (or your home for a trip solely within
the UK) – see Section F.

AubreyMac

Thanks guys.


It is a single trip insurance.


It asked for 'journey start date' and then how many nights which I put in 7. but the time difference from when I leave and land back in uk makes it an extra night.

AubreyMac

PS - the insurance is with coverwise.