When do you buy holiday insurance?

[Ali1cedowntherabbithole]

Sorry for the boring questions.

We've just booked our holiday for next August and declined the travel agent's policy so need to sort our own.

I've not considered the options for a few years as we usually just roll over our annual policy, but I let it lapse at the end of Nov as we wont be going abroad again before August and it didn't seem worth it.

Does anyone know if I can buy an annual policy to start on the date we go away or do they start on the day you buy them?

Also, if I can buy the policy to start in August - would we be covered for cancellations if the reason occurred between now and August?

If not I might be better off looking at a single use policy for our specific dates.

Finally DH and I both hit the big 50 before we go away - so the 3rd option I suppose would be to buy an annual policy while we are both still 49. Is that likely to be any cheaper?

I get it as soon as I book the holiday

You're actually supposed to get it as soon as you book. In case anything happens to stop you going between then and the holiday

You need the cover to start from when you book the holiday otherwise you won't be covered if something awful happens to stop you going on it.

If you want it to cover you for cancellations between now and Aug you need to buy it now. Holiday insurance covers from when it's bought, you wouldn't buy it now for cover to start in Aug.

You should really buy it as soon as you book your holiday. It would then cover you should you have to unexpectedly cancel - illness etc. It's happened before to me.

I have rolling insurance. Check your bank account and see if it's a benefit!

Sorry I wasn't clear I meant if I buy an annual policy today can it be dated to run from August or would it be dated to run from today?

If I buy a single use policy it would be dated to start on the day we go away but we would be covered for cancellations before that if that makes sense?

Whatever type you decide, buy it now or you won’t be covered for cancellations etc,

Annual policy to start from today. This will cover all eventualities between now and your holiday start.

I had a single use policy for a trip, starting on day we went. My Stepdad died two days before we went. I wasn't covered to cancel.

With Insureandgo you can specify the date you want it to start from but as everyone else is saying if you get it to start the day of your holiday you're not covered for any cancellations. Read the small print with Insureandgo. I think it covers you cancelling if a death in the family but it might just be immediate family plus it has to have happened fairly close to the day you leave on holiday. Check it covers what you want it to cover.

I had a single use policy for a trip, starting on day we went. My Stepdad died two days before we went. I wasn't covered to cancel.

This is wrong, single trip policies cover you from the day you take out cover. More likely cancellation cover was refused for another reason, such as pre existing condition not declared, or the death of a third party not being one of the reasons why cancellation is covered.

You can start the holiday cover anytime , a calendar usually pops up that you can pick a date from so if you wanted it to start in August it can but as previously said better to start it sooner or now in case of any insurable incidents that prevent the holiday e.g. injury or illness etc. Check the policy you take out.

To clarify, the date you specify when booking a single trip policy is the date of travel. However the policy kicks in immediately for cancellation cover.

We have an annual policy. You should have insurance I think as soon as you book a holiday

Thanks Bombardier that’s what I was trying to bottom out.

I’ll look at the two options - single use for the specific dates, and annual cover from today and see what the cost is.

I've bought my annual policy much like you had one lapse then a new one
, you can start it from whatever date you want between purchasing it and going away but if you are ill ( or something else ) before you go and it hasn't yet started you cannot claim

Before you buy any insurance check your bank account , lots of accounts ( if you pay gor the account ) have travel insurance as part of thd deal .
Also post office insurance is generally much cheaper than travel agents regardless as to when you take it out .

Thanks Angie - have used the PO previously for DD and found it was good!

We don't have a premium bank account so no freebies there - not bothered though as prefer free banking

Ali1cedowntherabbithole

I agree free banking is better in most cases but two years ago we set up a paid for account as RAC was getting expensive plus we were planing on going abroad , DH fell ill so we did not go away but a week after we had a burst pipe about three months later the car broke down so in a period of 5 months we used the travel , home insurance and breakdown recovery so it worked for us then .

All that said I still have the same account but no car , a rented home so repairs are sorted by HA and no passport now ( expired ) so I should change my account !