Annual Travel Insurance (consecutive policies?)

anotherday1

Do annual policies have to be consecutive with no gaps?

I have an annual policy that ends on 2nd September 2024.  In June 2024 I booked a trip abroad in Jan 2025 and in July 2024 I booked a trip abroad starting on 12th Sept 2024.  Both trips were booked whilst having an active travel insurance policy that ended on 2nd Sept (i.e., in June 2024 and July 2024). 

It might sound like a silly question, but I setup a new annual policy starting on 12th Sept 2024 because this is the start of my new trip in Sept.  I am definitely not travelling abroad between 3rd Sept and 11th Sept, hence I started the new policy on the 12th Sept and not the 3rd Sept.  

A friend of mine said I needed to start the new policy on the 3rd Sept, but I argued it should start on the 12th Sept for the reason given.  He said that if I got diagnosed with something between 3rd Sept and 11th Sept that meant I had to cancel my Jan 2025 holiday then I wouldn't be covered.  But I argued that at the time of booking the Jan 2025 holiday I had an active policy.

Who is correct?  

Should I have started my new policy on the 3rd Sept or 12th Sept to make sure the Jan 2025 was covered?


 

DullGreyGuy

If there is a gap then there is a gap in cover so if you had your idea and then fell down the stairs on the 9th September meaning you were unfit to travel then you'd have no cover as the illness/injury predates the inception of the new policy and is beyond the end of the old.

Your friend is therefore suggesting the prudent approach so you have continuous cover, your option is the risky approach but does give you a few more days cover at the tail as long as you are willing to run the risks.