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Holiday Travel Insurance - A to Z Guide

Abandonment

If your departure from the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland is delayed for more than 12 hours, any non-recoverable deposits will be refunded if you choose to abandon your holiday.

Age Restrictions

Single trip travel insurance and Annual travel insurance policies are only available to persons aged up to 74 at the start of the policy.

Business Travel Insurance

Office-based meetings, conferences and business trips are covered but if the organiser should cancel the trip it would be their responsibility to pay any cancellation costs. Laptops and portable computers are not covered under this policy.
Manual work is not covered.

Cancellation (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

You are covered up to the sums insured if you have to cancel your planned trip due to:

The death, accidental bodily injury or illness of (a) yourself, (b) anyone you are intending to stay or travel with, (c) an immediate relative of yours or of any person you are intending to travel with or (d) a close business associate of yours.

You or any person with whom you have arranged to travel, being called for jury service or as a witness in a court of law.

Your redundancy or the redundancy of any person you are intending to travel with, provided you advise us of this within 14 days of you being made aware of the redundancy.

Your home becoming uninhabitable due to fire, storm or flood, or you being required by the police following a burglary at your home.

It proving impossible for you to Spacebank or re-let your Timeshare accommodation during the 12 month period immediately following your planned holiday date.

Claims

If you have a Medical Emergency then you must contact the Medical Emergency Assistance line immediately.

It is essential that you obtain written reports from the police or appropriate authority to substantiate your claim. Proof is required that the loss/theft actually occurred in order to make any payment on a claim.

Many Personal Luggage claims arise as a result of leaving items unattended at airports and beaches etc. Lack of proper care towards your property could result in your claim being turned down.

Cash/valuables left unattended in vehicles are not covered in the event of a claim. If the luggage has been stolen from a locked boot or covered baggage area the claim will be considered.

Most sections of the policy contain an excess which is the amount you must pay towards a claim. Therefore, if the amount you are claiming for is less than the excess the claim will inevitably be declined.

Claim forms must be fully completed, failure to do so can delay the assessemnt of your claim. It is essential that you enclose the original copies of any documents requested. Please remember to keep photocopies of the documents before sending.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are not covered under this policy. You are advised to purchase specialist cover from your Optician or Household Insurer.

Curtailment (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

If you have to return to the British Isles earlier than planned due to death, illness or injury to a relative, travelling companion or close business associate you will be covered for any portion of your travel costs which have not been used. You must, though, contact the Emergency Assistance company in the event of having to return earlier than planned.

Death in the United Kingdom

If a close relative passes away whilst you are abroad, you must contact the Emergency Assistance company who will make the appropriate repatriation arrangements.

Delayed Luggage (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

If, on your outward journey your luggage is delayed for at least 12 hours you are insured towards the cost of buying replacement items. You must have a written report from the carrier (airline, shipping company etc) and obtain receipts for all items purchased.

Dental Treatment

Your policy will only cover you for emergency pain relief

Dentures

Dentures/false teeth are not covered under this insurance policy.

EHIC Card

If you are travelling within Europe you should obtain form EHIC from your Post Office or local Social Security Office. This will provide you with free or reduced price health care in certain European Union countries, but it doesn't cover the cost of repatriation.The EHIC should be used in conjunction with your travel policy to provide you with full medical cover whilst you are away.

Emergency Medical Service

Our Assistance company will provide immediate help in the event of an insured person's illness or injury arising outside the United Kingdom. They are available 24 hours a day and can be contacted by telephone or fax. They can arrange admission to hospital, ambulance transfers and air repatriation if necessary.

If you are admitted to a hospital/clinic abroad as an in-patient the Medical Assistance company will arrange where possible for major medical expenses to be paid direct. Claims will not be paid unless authorised by the Medical Assistance company.

Under the terms of the policy, the Emergency Assistance company will provide as medically necessary;

- Multi-lingual assistance with hospitals and doctors
- Repatriation arrangements with escort by a medical attendant
- Travel arrangements for other members of your party or immediate relative

We can also assist your return home if you have suffered the unexpected bereavement of a relative in the United Kingdom (or if a relative suddenly and unexpectedly falls seriously ill)

Excess

The first amount that you would have to pay in the event of a claim. Not all sections of the policy have an excess amount and excesses are deducted for each incident and each section in the event of multiple section claims.

Geographical Area

United Kingdom British Isles, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man
Europe Republic of Ireland, Europe (west of the Ural mountains), Madeira, Canary Islands, Iceland,
The Azores, Mediterranean Islands and non European countries bordering the Mediterranean
Worldwide (excluding USA/Canada)
Worldwide (including USA/Canada)

Glasses

Glasses (spectacles) are covered under the Personal Possessions section of the policy. The value will be covered up to the Single Article Limit.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are not covered under this policy.

Hire Cars

If you are injured as a result of a road traffic accident whilst driving/passenger in a hire car then you are covered for Medical, Repatriation and associated expenses. Third Party (Personal Liability) is not covered by the policy and this should be obtained from the car hire company.

Hospital Benefit

This is compensation payable to you if you are medically confined to hospital. It will cover the cost of incidental expenses and basic essentials.

Medical Warranty

You are not covered if, when you took out this insurance policy or you booked your trip, you or anyone on whose health the trip may depend:

Were aware of any reason why the trip could be cancelled or curtailed or of any medical condition which could result in a claim.

Have, during the 12 months before this insurance started, suffered from any chronic or recurring illness for which you have received treatment or been a hospital in-patient.

Are waiting for the results of tests or investigations for an existing medical condition.

Are travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner or in order to get medical treatment.

Have been diagnosed as having a terminal illness.

Receiving, recovering from, or on a waiting list for in-patient treatment.

If you or any other person to be insured under this policy cannot comply with the above you must contact Travel Insurance Discounts Healthline.

Failure to comply with these conditions means that pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered under the Cancellation, Curtailment or Medical Sections of this Certificate.

Should the health of yourself or anyone upon whom the cancellation of this trip depends, change before the balance payment is due, you must contact the Travel Insurance Discounts Healthline immediately to confirm cover for any relevant medical conditions.

This is not a private medical insurance policy and only gives cover in the event of accident or illness if emergency medical treatment is required.

Medical Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency abroad you must contact the Emergency Assistance company, details of which can be found in the policy wording.

Medical, Repatriation and Associated Expenses

This policy provides cover for your medical expenses following bodily injury, illness or death. It will also reimburse any additional travel and accommodation costs following death, illness or injury of a travelling companion or close relative in the United Kingdom. In the event of an emergency the policy will guarantee bills to overseas hospitals and arrange repatriation. If it is a minor medical problem that only requires a prescription you should settle payment, keep receipts and claim when you return home.

Please take note:

Cover will not be provided for journeys that are for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment abroad.
Repatriation costs will only be met if authorised by the Assistance Company

Missed Departure

If you miss your flight, train or sailing due to the failure of public transport, breakdown or accident of the vehicle in which you are travelling you are covered to claim for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses incurred in reaching your holiday destination.

Money

Travellers cheques (unless the issuer provides a replacement service), prepaid travel tickets, driving licences, phone cards and cash up to £250. This only applies if the loss or theft occurs whilst the money is on your Person or in a safety deposit box within a bank or hotel.

You must also exercise reasonable care and attention and ensure that money is kept in a safe place at all times.

Passports

You are entitled to claim for travel and accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement passport if yours is lost or stolen whilst outside the British Isles.

Period of Cover

Maximum stay per trip on Annual cover is 45 days. Trips within the British Isles must be pre-booked and for a period of at least 2 nights away from your home address.
Maximum stay per Single trip is 31 days.

Personal Accident

Following an accident which results in death, disablement or loss of limb(s) or sight the policy will pay a benefit subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the policy wording.

Personal Liability

This covers for damages caused to third parties by yourself in respect of injury to any person or damage to property, including temporary holiday accomodation. Certain exclusions do apply to this section and these are shown on the policy wording.

Personal Possessions (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Your personal possessions are covered up to the amount stated in the schedule with a Single Article Limit and a Valuables limit applying to the cover. Be careful to ensure that any items you take with you are fully insured.

The cover is based on the value of any item at the time it is lost. If you must take valuable items on holiday with you it is worth checking under the "All Risks" section of your Household Contents Insurance as this should provide 'new for old cover'

Any losses must be reported to the local police within 24 hours of the loss or incident and a police report must be obtained.
If luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier it must be reported at the time and a Property Irregularity Report obtained.

Pushchairs (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Pushchairs are covered under the Personal Possessions section whilst being conveyed by public transport. Pushchairs left unattended will not be covered for loss or theft.

Redundancy (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Written confirmation of Redundancy will be required and also confirmation that you were not aware of any impending redundancy at the time of booking. You must have been in continuous employment with the same employer for 2 years and be over 18 years of age.

Sailing

Sailing in European waters is covered with the exception of competitions and there is no Personal Liability cover. You should check that the boat owner has Third Party insurance to ensure that you are adequately covered.

Tents and Camping Equipment (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Tents and camping equipment can be covered under the Personal Possessions section of the policy. The value will be covered up to the single article limit.

Tickets (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Prepaid tickets for events are covered under the Personal Money section of the policy excluding those tickets that are fully refundable.

Travel Delay

You are covered if your flight, train or sailing is delayed at the airport, international rail terminal or port due to industrial action, bad weather or mechanical breakdown. If the delay exceeds 12 hours you can opt to abandon your holiday, Written confirmation of the delay must be obtained from the Carrier at the departure point.

Valuables (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

The definition of Valuables within the policy is "watches, furs, jewellery, photographic equipment, camcorders and audio equipment"
There is a limit on the amount of cover provided for Valuables and it is advised that valuable and fragile items should be left at home where possible. Alternatively you could insure the items under the "All Risks" section of your Household Contents Insurance.

Wheelchairs (Providing the appropriate premium has been paid)

Wheelchairs can be covered under the Personal Possessions section up to the value of the Single Article Limit. Wheelchairs left unattended will not be covered. Please note there is no cover for motorised wheelchairs.