Unusual Travel Insurance Requirement

badger09 · 19 July 2019 at 11:44AM

I'll try to keep this brief

2 friends want to come with us on expensive holiday to Australia & NZ for our 'big' birthdays in Feb 2020. Mine & other half already covered.

Friend 1 - UK citizen, permanently resident in Sweden
Friend 2 (her partner) - Swedish citizen, permanently resident in Sweden.
Both friends under 65
Both have elderly widowed mum, mid 80s, living independently, no health problems, resident in UK & Sweden respectively.

Friends' Home Insurance:cool: also covers them for medical treatment abroad etc but not for cancellation. 'Upgrade' of existing policy not possible

Because of obvious risk of potentially having to cancel, they need that cover.

I've looked at World Nomads, but a review said they only cover cancellation if the 'close relative' lives in the same country. So that looks like a non starter for Friend 1.

Can anyone recommend where else I can look?

Browntoa · 19 July 2019 at 11:48AM

Friend one takes insurance out in other country ?

Voyager2002 · 19 July 2019 at 11:59AM

They live in Sweden so should look at Swedish travel insurance.

peachyprice · 19 July 2019 at 12:44PM

^^^^This^^^^

Policies issued in the UK are for residents of the UK. Your status and insurance arrangements are irrelevant, they need to find a policy in Sweden which covers their requirements.

badger09 · 19 July 2019 at 5:45PM

Browntoa wrote: »

Friend one takes insurance out in other country ?

Voyager2002 wrote: »

They live in Sweden so should look at Swedish travel insurance.

peachyprice wrote: »

^^^^This^^^^

Policies issued in the UK are for residents of the UK. Your status and insurance arrangements are irrelevant, they need to find a policy in Sweden which covers their requirements.

Thanks for the comments. This situation cannot be that unusual:cool: and I've discovered that there are policies issued in the UK, which cover non UK residents.

For example, and in case it is of use to anyone else

https://www.goodtogoinsurance.com/non-uk-already-travelled

Moe_The_Bartender · 24 July 2019 at 10:14AM

There are also policies issued in the UK for UK citizens living in other countries. Try Staysure.

sazaccount · 25 July 2019 at 5:25PM

"Most" UK travel insurance requires you to be within the UK for 6 months within the last 12 to be classed as "resident" you can pay for non resident insurance or speak to the underwriter to see if they will cover this comes at a premium, however given their situation they will properly be best to look for Swedish travel insurance and see if the friend with the mum in the UK can get the underwriter to cover this.

zagfles · 25 July 2019 at 7:18PM

Have you looked at the price difference between cancellable flights and non cancellable? Sometimes it's not that big, and sometimes the cheapest ticket is a cancellable one! Was the case when we went to NZ a few years ago (ours were cancellable for a small fee, around $50 IIRC, cheaper than insurance!). On long haul there isn't usually the massive difference there is on sort haul (in % terms anyway).

Also look at similar for accomodation if you're prebooking. Again may not be much if any difference.

Most important thing you need insurance for is medical so if you're certain that's covered that's the main thing.

sazaccount · 25 July 2019 at 10:04PM

zagfles wrote: »

Most important thing you need insurance for is medical so if you're certain that's covered that's the main thing.

Just going to add onto this (still should have travel insurance) but Aus and NZ both have reciprocal health agreements with the UK so for friend 1 if something happens and they need to go to the hospital/doctor then take their passport for treatment (still have to pay to see a gp though between $40-150) NZ also as the ACC so you are covered if you have an accident (even if its your own fault) for medical bills. This agreement does not cover reparation or ambulances!

badger09 · 29 July 2019 at 4:03PM

I've been without broadband since Thursday:mad:, hence the delay

Thanks for all the comments.

My friends have managed to get the requisite insurance cover, including being non UK resident & mums being in different countries, from Voyager Insurance, through the link in my earlier post.

The cost of this 'once in a lifetime' trip with various components, are mounting steadily but everyone can now sleep at night.

Skitennis · 27 July at 1:47PM

Hi,
New on this forum, so hello.
I have a question regarding travel insurance, as a result of speaking to someone at the party.
I was told that travel insurance requires insured person to have at least 3 days of prebooked accommodation?
If true, does it mean that stays with family or friends abroad are not covered?
What about just booking flights and then travelling round the country purchasing accommodation on ad hoc basis i.e. Not prebooked.
Thanks and regards,
Skitennis

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