Booked holiday before COVID, travel insurance runs out just before we travel, how do I renew?

muggahtee

Hello

In February 2020 we booked to go to Disneyland Paris (end of September). At the time we had travel insurance that we were renewing each year which just so happens to run out the week before we travel to France. When trying to renew (or find alternative cover) I'm finding places are saying they don't cover holidays booked before March 2020 because of the Coronavirus.

How do I get cover for my holiday?

SpreadableToast

Are you sure they're saying they won't cover you at all or that they won't cover you for Coronavirus-related reasons?

Because when you booked the holiday is completely irrelevant...

muggahtee

SpreadableToast said:

Are you sure they're saying they won't cover you at all or that they won't cover you for Coronavirus-related reasons?

The wording from Spectrum (who are our current provider) is as follows:

For cancellation cover to begin immediately, the start date of your multi trip policy should be set to today. Please also note,

• We cannot provide cover for trips which were booked before the 17th March 2020.
• We can only provide cover for trips that start on or after the date that travel resumes for all British Nationals and the country you are due to visit has lifted restrictions.

Are you happy to continue on this basis?

SpreadableToast

muggahtee said:

SpreadableToast said:

Are you sure they're saying they won't cover you at all or that they won't cover you for Coronavirus-related reasons?

The wording from Spectrum (who are our current provider) is as follows:

For cancellation cover to begin immediately, the start date of your multi trip policy should be set to today. Please also note,

• We cannot provide cover for trips which were booked before the 17th March 2020.
• We can only provide cover for trips that start on or after the date that travel resumes for all British Nationals and the country you are due to visit has lifted restrictions.

Are you happy to continue on this basis?

RIght, which is basically Coronavirus related cover.  You're going to have to accept that Coronavirus related stuff is no longer covered.

muggahtee

I don't see anything in that message that specifies it's for Coronavirus-related reasons only though? Say if we need to cancel for another reason, we can't because it was booked before 17th March 2020

SpreadableToast

muggahtee said:

I don't see anything in that message that specifies it's for Coronavirus-related reasons only though? Say if we need to cancel for another reason, we can't because it was booked before 17th March 2020

So find a different insurer then?

Nebulous2

That might not necessarily be the case. There was an agreement with insurers to extend cover for prebooked holidays under annual policies. 

What does the current policy say about cancellation if FCO advise against ‘all but essential travel?’

Edited to add: Here’s a link which explains the situation with renewing and keeping your cover. 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/#alreadybooked