travel insurance

[sammmo]

I'm going to the usa in a couple of months time I booked it up about 5 months ago.. i've just taken out insurance for myself and my wife just for this holiday..a friend of mine said that if i had to cancel my trip the insurance will not pay out because i did'nt take out the insurance when i booked the holiday.. I said it does'nt make any difference .. who's right?

[coccinelle]

All depends on your policy.
It's true that a cancellation policy usually holds from the day you book the holiday, however other policies can be taken out at any time prior to departure ie medical problems whilst on holiday...

[jno]

I don't think when you take out the insurance matters, as long as you didn't take it out after cancelling of course. After all, you can insure a car you've already got. But check the terms of the policy to be sure.

[jack daniels]

have they (insurers) kept the travel dates that you're going & coming back?

[sddsddean]

I've been looking into insurance for my holiday in November, which we booked this time last year. All the companies I've looked at say you are covered from the date of the start of the policy, so if you took it out today, you are covered from today(even if the dates you have given are 5 months in the future). I've left it until today, as we will return from another holiday in July 2010, so its cheaper to get an Annual policy.

[sammmo]

thanks sdd thats what i did last year..but my friend thinks it could be a way for the ins companys to opt out of paying.. not for the medical insurance etc but for the holiday cancellation side of the insurance..as if you are taking out the insurance just to claim on the cancellation because somethings happened and you have to cancel.. if you get my drift

[jack daniels]

2 years ago, the day before we were due to fly out, my son was admitted to hospital, we claimed back on the insurance & re booked at a later date, all we did was give them the hospital/doctors evidence and it was all sorted without a fuss.
we now have to declare this when we take out insurance & I am diabetic with a thyroid probem which we have to inform them of & yes it does bump up the price but at least we're covered. (post office insurance - in case you're wondering)