Travel insurance query

[twinklerose]

I'm planning on booking a holiday soon for my husbands birthday. I am looking at late 2021. Deposit is due. I want to take out travel insurance to cover us in case we cannot travel but I'm wondering:
What exactly should I need to be looking for in a policy when their is so much uncertainty with travel at the moment.
My mil recently lost a large sum of money due to insurance not paying out when she was advised not to travel.
Would really appreciate any advice thank you.

Might be worth using an insurance broker. Go for better coverage over cheaper premiums.

@twinklerose, the simplest way to check is to get an email / something in writing from the company you're booking with to say that in the event of a cancellation you will get a full refund. Some airlines and tour operators are claiming force majeure (and have severe cash issues) and using this to offer credit vouchers against future travel rather than a refund. Don't fall for that.
I've spent the last 3 months issuing full refunds so don't pay anyting until you get this confirmation in writing.

Thank you, everyone for your replies. We managed to get an extension to the courtesy hold on the booking so I can have more time to look into it further

Hi, I am the process of an insurance claim they will not give me a refund as the airline has offered a credit voucher for 12 months. The voucher is no use to me. I bought my insurance last July with Direct Line. Apparently in the t&c there is a clause (not in my policy so they have just introduced this and can change it anytime to suit) that any company offering a credit if voucher they will not pay out.

Some insurers will not cover bookings more than 13 months in advance.

Most insurers now are not covering COVID on new policies.

We have just taken a policy out with Staysure for a holiday we have moved to June 2021

you always need to buy travel insurance the day you book the holiday. I'd be surprised if any policy would cover coronavirus now.

is it actually essential to book so far ahead?

I'm amazed anyone is booking new holidays - you can't get insurance! I have a 1 year policy running from 1st Jan - 31st Dec. I've rescheduled a holiday from Easter to October, and my insurance company is still honouring that, but I also have another holiday in July that's just been cancelled and I'd like to move it to next July (mainly because they're offering us an awesome deal) BUT I'm not sure whether to just get a refund, because my insurance company won't insure me for anything that has to be rescheduled past 31st December.

In some ways, I'm not too bothered about losing the money for the holiday, it's not massively expensive, but we'll need some kind of insurance in place before we go, so that we're at least covered for medical emergencies while on holiday. I can't decide whether to take my chances and assume I'll be able to get insurance nearer the time.

no insurance means a small chance of a massive, massive bill. Then you will be bankrupt or gofundme fodder.

Most travel companies are not covering if you can't go because of COVID (of course if your holiday is cancelled by the operator you get your refund). You need to make sure you have travel disruption cover so if something happens whilst you are away you are covered.