insurance query

flea72

i have a policy due to start on 1st october, but have been told by a friend, that if something arises in the meantime, that causes me to cancel my travel plans in october, then i cant claim for cancellation of holiday

now im trying to think, what could happen in the meantime that would mean i might need to cancel - and under what circumstances i would need to contact the insurance company, prior to my date of departure to notify them of a claim

the only thing i can see (being female) is that i could fall pg, and then not want to travel, such a distance - but other than that, what could i know of in advance, that would make me cancel my trip

are all insurance policies not run like this, as in cover doesnt start, until you start your holiday, and if in the meantime something arises, you just dont put in your claim, until the day the policy would have come into affect, as up until that point, you are planning on travelling?

Bossyboots

You could break a limb and not be able to travel. You could become ill. Both would be unforeseen now, but could cause you to need to cancel your holiday.

mrcow

Good grief, there are so many scenarios where you could have to cancel, and many of them are too horrible to even contemplate.

Falling pregnant is actually one scenario where you probably would still want to travel (unless advised otherwise by a doctor or you felt too poorly to go), but how about the loss of a loved one? change of circumstance in terms of job which meant that you couldn't travel? breaking a limb which was to put you in plaster for six weeks or more? any other type of injury from an accident or illness?......etc

Most insurance policies, if they are for a specific trip (ie not an annual policy) will cover you for cancellation whether you cancel on the day of departure or however far in advance (be it six months, two months etc.) as long as you are within the terms of the policy (eg. are cancelling due to medical advice).

If you cancel well in advance, you'll often get back some of the money from the travel company (check your T&Cs) and the insurance company will make up for any money lost. If you cancel just before departure, you'll most probably find that the travel company will not give you anything back, and so you'll have to recoup 100% back from your insurance.

Who is the policy with? As if it is single trip insurance, it would be interesting to hear what the T&Cs say about cancellation of your trip, as the scenario that you are describing sounds unusual.