Annual travel insurance needs taking out before booking ?

Molly1919

We luckily had a couple of holidays booked so rather than pay for single trip policies we bought an annual one. Just before one of the trips (the insurance period had started)one of us was ill - the customer service line said we were unlikely to be able to claim compensation as we booked the holiday before taking out the policy. Is this correct? If so what’s the point of taking out travel insurance before a holiday? Is it really only valid if you have the insurance at time of booking?

comeandgo

It is advised you take out insurance at time of booking.  

DullGreyGuy

Molly1919 said:

We luckily had a couple of holidays booked so rather than pay for single trip policies we bought an annual one. Just before one of the trips (the insurance period had started)one of us was ill - the customer service line said we were unlikely to be able to claim compensation as we booked the holiday before taking out the policy. Is this correct? If so what’s the point of taking out travel insurance before a holiday? Is it really only valid if you have the insurance at time of booking?

Not normally, you need to look at the timeline of when the holiday was booked, when the person first started having symptoms and what day your insurance commences on. Assuming holiday was bought before and insurance commenced before symptoms then you'd have cover.

Unfortunately many people buy annual policies to commence on the first day of their holiday and so if you are sick before the holiday there is no cover. 

Single trip insurance is different, you say the dates of travel and it commences immediately.

Molly1919

I thought this would be the case too but the insurers say even though symptoms started after policy cover started we are still not covered as we booked the holiday before the travel insurance start date. They said this applies to annual policies only. 

lincroft1710

Molly1919 said:

I thought this would be the case too but the insurers say even though symptoms started after policy cover started we are still not covered as we booked the holiday before the travel insurance start date. They said this applies to annual policies only. 

If that is clearly stated in the policy T & C's, then you are not covered

Molly1919

It’s not clear in the T&Cs at all sadly - they seem pretty vague. 

sheramber

What company is it?

LV state 

If you have an annual multi trip policy, you are covered for trips booked throughout the 12 month period of the policy. Provided you renew your policy with us and have continuous cover, any trip can be covered indefinitely for cancellation.

Grumpy_chap

sheramber said:

What company is it?

LV state 

If you have an annual multi trip policy, you are covered for trips booked throughout the 12 month period of the policy. Provided you renew your policy with us and have continuous cover, any trip can be covered indefinitely for cancellation.

Hmmmm, that seems harsh - guess I need to be more careful in future.  I typically book my holiday and then take a policy later the day.  Looks like I'd be at risk of getting caught out.