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Original poster

Travel insurance query

78 replies

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 15:48

Hello everyone.

I paid for an annual travel insurance policy to start on 31 August, as was due to go on holiday the next day with family.

On 28th August, my Dad has a heart attack and was deemed not fit to fly (he was coming on holiday with us).

The travel insurance claim has been denied as only started from 31 August, but if I'd had single trip insurance, would have I been covered?

So annoyed at myself and gutted so please be gentle on me!

I've never had an annual policy before and it seemed like a good idea but obviously it's not as just cost me £1,000! 😭

OP posts:
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Cosyblankets · 01/09/2025 16:24

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:12

Annual

That means you can't take it out to start more than 31 days from now. That's not that you can't take it out before the holiday. It means if you buy it today you can start your policy in the next 31 days so up to 2nd October. If you book a holiday today. You start your policy today. So if you break your leg it whatever the week before you go you are covered

readytotumble · 01/09/2025 06:19

Now you know how the two types of policies work OP, just to add if you don’t already know, that if you’re travelling to Europe you also should also have a GHIC card for everyone in your party (used to be an EHIC and if you’re old like me you’ll remember when it was an E1-11) because travel insurance policies don’t cover you for anything that the GHIC covers. They are free from the government website and are valid for a few years at a time.

Also - though you probably know this as well now - your annual policy will cover you for cancellation of any trips for travel dates beyond the end of the policy (eg, October 26) but only up until the policy expiry date. You then need to either have a new annual policy starting from the date the current one ends, or have bought a single trip policy by then to ensure continuous cancellation cover.

And the advice to have a policy of either kind in place as soon as you’re booked is spot on.

Source - I sell travel insurance. I have to pass an annual test to remain licensed to sell it and these are exactly the kind of questions on the test.

Wishing your Dad a full and speedy recovery, and hopefully you can all get another holiday lined up soon, because it sounds as though you could do with one after this.

Fountofwisdom · 01/09/2025 05:02

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:01

That’s nonsense especially for annual travel insurance which you can’t often book until only 2 or 3 months beforehand. I know because I tried

People often book holidays months or over a year in advance so taking out annual insurance to start from the day you book the holiday won’t work

Show quote history

It’s not nonsense. If you book a holiday every year, you should make sure you have continuous annual insurance in place, you shouldn’t ‘stop and start’. That way, you will always be covered, regardless of exactly when you book your holiday.

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:12

Annual

Travel insurance query
PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:09

This

Travel insurance query
Cosyblankets · 31/08/2025 23:03

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:01

That’s nonsense especially for annual travel insurance which you can’t often book until only 2 or 3 months beforehand. I know because I tried

People often book holidays months or over a year in advance so taking out annual insurance to start from the day you book the holiday won’t work

Show quote history

You can take annual insurance out any time you like

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 23:01

Fountofwisdom · 31/08/2025 17:31

Always take out the insurance on the same day you book the holiday with that date as the start date. NOT the travel date. The whole point being that you are then covered for cancellation from time of booking onwards. As you put the start date as 31st, that’s when the policy starts. You are not covered before that date, regardless of when you bought the policy. Expensive lesson learnt.

That’s nonsense especially for annual travel insurance which you can’t often book until only 2 or 3 months beforehand. I know because I tried

People often book holidays months or over a year in advance so taking out annual insurance to start from the day you book the holiday won’t work

Cosyblankets · 31/08/2025 23:00

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 16:10

@Soontobe60 Took out insurance 9th August, but with a start date of 31st August, was due to fly 1st September and Dad had his heart attack 28th August.

I thought I would be covered (as I rang the insurance company and they said I would!), as I would have been covered with a single trip policy starting from 1st September.

When did you ring them?
That call will be recorded

Ksibeij · 31/08/2025 22:58

Check your bank cards to see if you are covered on any travel insurance policy that may be offered by then as a perk

PeonyBulb · 31/08/2025 22:56

Single Trip insurance starts from the day you take it out even though it covers the days you are away to cover for events like yours

Annual insurance starts from the day you ask them to start it but they advise to start at least 14 days beforehand in case of flight cancellations or other disruptions

You need to read it all properly before taking it out which I did which is how I know

HoskinsChoice · 31/08/2025 22:41

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 18:36

@HoskinsChoice I just find him so shouty! 🤣

He would have saved me £1k though, so maybe I could watch him with subtitles! 😂

I'm totally with you there. Shouty and so, so smug! Can't stand him! I wouldn't leave him alone with my kids - he gives me the ick. But does know what he's talking about I suppose.

Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 18:39

@londongirl12 Thank you, I know that now, learnt the hard and expensive way, but if one person reading this doesn't make the same mistake, then it will be worth it.

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londongirl12 · 31/08/2025 18:36

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 16:07

@autienotnaughty I took the policy out on 9th August, but with a start date of 31st August as we were due to go on holiday on 1st September.

Just kicking myself as I should have put the start date as 9 August but not so DSis, said oh no, put 31 August (last time I listen to her!)

I've never done an annual policy before, so if I'd just had a single trip policy, then I'd be covered, which was an expensive lesson to learn!

You always put the date you book anything, not the date you travel. That way it’s covered should anything happen. Money saving expert Martin always bangs on about this.

Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 18:36

@HoskinsChoice I just find him so shouty! 🤣

He would have saved me £1k though, so maybe I could watch him with subtitles! 😂

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HoskinsChoice · 31/08/2025 18:21

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 16:37

@Trickabrick Thank you! I just used Compare the Market. I've never had to claim on travel insurance before (luckily) so even though I've always bought travel insurance, I've never thought too much about it!

Live and learn though!

You need to start watching Martin Lewis. Booking insurance from the day you go is pretty common and he rants about how we shouldn't do it!

Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 18:09

@ScaryM0nster The free one! 😭 Hope my luck changes tomorrow for a Premium Bond win! 🤞🏻

OP posts:
ScaryM0nster · 31/08/2025 18:03

Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 17:42

@MsRosewater Thank you, he's much better now.

I'm with Nationwide and they did used to include travel insurance with their current account, but annoyingly I think they stopped this a while ago.

Thank you though, was a good idea.

The plus account or the standard one?

Nationwide premium account that you pay for still has travel insurance but not the free ones.

Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 17:56

@RedRiverShore5 Thank you, I know that now about the single trip policies, I just stupidly didn't know when I took out my annual policy. Gutted.

I can't go on holiday as other sister has cancelled the trip.

Plus, Dad is still in hospital, so feel like I should stay close by.

OP posts:
Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 17:55

@MouldyCandy I can't go, as my other sister has cancelled the holiday as she booked it 😭

OP posts:
RedRiverShore5 · 31/08/2025 17:53

Yes, if your dad is recovering can you go with maybe some of the family.

MouldyCandy · 31/08/2025 17:48

Why can't you continue with your holiday? If you are not getting your money back anyway, why can't you just go?

RedRiverShore5 · 31/08/2025 17:44

A single trip cover covers you for your holiday dates and for anything that happens, within the T and Cs for which the holiday would be cancelled from the date you buy it

Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 17:42

@MsRosewater Thank you, he's much better now.

I'm with Nationwide and they did used to include travel insurance with their current account, but annoyingly I think they stopped this a while ago.

Thank you though, was a good idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
Travelinsuranceclaim · 31/08/2025 17:41

@IGaveSoManySigns Thank you, I wish I'd taken out a single trip policy now!

Oh well, if wishes were horses! 🐎

OP posts:
MsRosewater · 31/08/2025 17:41

You’ve probably excluded it but if not, check if your bank account has insurance included. I hadn’t got around to getting insurance for a trip to South Africa last year. My mum broke her hip and we had to cancel the trip but I was covered by my bank.

Hope your dad is on the mend xx