Annual Travel Insurance Review

A child is classed as a dependent person living at the same address as the insured adults, aged under 19 (or under 24 if in full time education)

• The single trip travel policy has a maximum age limit of 79. (Economy cover 59 years)
• The annual travel policy has a maximum age limit of 75. (Economy cover 59 years)
• The backpacker travel policy has a maximum age limit of 49.

A single trip policy can be taken out for up to 365 days. This is reduced to 35 days if you are between the ages of 68 - 79.

The annual travel policy allows for an unlimited number of trips. The economy policy restricts the number of days per trip to 35. The super and super plus policies increases the number of days per trip to 60 (provided you are aged 65 or less). For travellers aged between 66 and 69 it is reduced to 31 days and between 70 and 75 to 21 days.

The backpacker policy allows you to travel for up to one year.

Wintersports can be added by anyone under the age of 65.

Wintersports cover can be added to single trip, annual or backpacker policies. Under the annual travel policy, the maximum number of days skiing is restricted to 18 days in any one period of insurance.

Activities covered include Guided cross country skiing (Nordic skiing), glacier skiing, mono skiing, off piste skiing or snowboarding except in areas designated as unsafe by local resort management unless accompanied by a locally qualified guide, recreational racing, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tobogganing and snow sledging. Anything not in this list is excluded.

The cover provided is as follows

Ski Equipment: Economy, Super and Backpacker £400 (single article limit £200  Super plus £600 (single article limit £300)

Ski Hire, Ski Pack and Piste Closure: Economy £10 per day max £300 Super £40 per day max £400  Super Plus £50 per day max £500 Backpacker £30 per day max £300

Avalanche closure: economy upto £350 Super upto £300 Super Plus upto £500 and Backpacker upto £400

According to the website wintersports cover starts from $24.99

The policy defines Family cover as up to two adults and any number of children (although there is only room on the quote to include a maximum of 8 children), step children, or foster children, aged under 19 (or under 24 years if living at home and in full time education).

Under the annual policy any child under 16 cannot travel independently of their parents. Any child aged 16 or over can travel independently provided, they are travelling on an organised school or college trip and are with a responsible adult aged 18 years or over.

The policy states you should obtain an EHIC card if you are travelling to any country in the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland.

If you are travelling to Australia, you must enrol with a local MEDICARE office, after the first occasion you receive any treatment at a public hospital.

Sports and Activities are split into four seperate Grades. Grade 1 list over 60 pursuits that you are automatically covered for, things like (but not limited to)  Windsurfing, whitewater rafting (grades 1 - 3), Jetskiing, Suba Diving down to 30 metres, provided you hold the relevant qualification.

Whilst there is no additional premium to pay, some of the activities exclude personal liability cover.

Grade 2 activities carry a 50% loading (or a charge of £30 per additional activity) For example Parasailing, or trekking between 2000 and 4200 metres. The medical excess is increased to £320, Personal accident is reduced by 50% and personal liability is excluded.

Grade 3 pursuits carry a 100% loading (or a charge of £75 per additional activity) For example Grade 4 Kayaking, or grade 4 white water rafting. The medical excess is increased to £650, personal accident cover reduced by 50% and personal liability excluded.

Grade 4 pursuits carry a 200% loading (or a charge of £112.50 per activity) For example motor cycling over 125CC, rock climbing under 2000m or hang gliding. The excess, personal accident and personal liability is the same as for grade 3.

Any other activities not listed are excluded. Read the policy documentation for a full list.

The policy excludes cover for you drinking too much alcohol, alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency. They do not expect you to avoid alcohol on your Trips or holidays, but they will not cover any claims arising because you have drunk so much alcohol that your judgement is seriously affected and you need to make a claim as a result (for example, any medical claim where in the opinion of the treating doctor, excessive alcohol consumption has caused the Bodily Injury)

All policies include Airline Supplier Failure, the super and super plus policies include third party supplier failure as standard.

The backpacker policy includes both scheduled airline failure and end supplier failure, although the sum insured is restricted to £300 in both cases.

The policy provides a list of minor medical conditions. If you only have one of these, there is no need to contact the Insurer. For any thing else, either the medical condition is excluded under the policy, or you need to contact them by phone if you wish to get the condition included under the policy.

There is no facility to underwrite the condition online at the point of sale. Read our guide for taking medication abroad.

The policy states Receipts for items lost, stolen or damaged or proof of ownership should be retained as these will help you to substantiate your claim. There will be a deduction made for wear, tear and or depreciation.

The policy excludes cover for terrorism, except in relation to a claim under Emergency Medical Expenses, Hospital benefit and Personal Accident

Any complications of pregnancy and childbirth is covered under the policy and means any of the following only:

- Toxaemia (toxins in the blood)
- Gestational diabetes (diabetes arising as a result of pregnancy)
- Gestational hypertension (high blood pressure arising as a result of pregnancy)
- Pre-eclampsia (where You develop high blood pressure, carry abnormal fluid and have protein in Your urine during the second half of pregnancy)
- Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside of the uterus)
- Molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole (a pregnancy in which a tumour develops from the placental tissue)
- Post-partum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding following childbirth)
- Retained placenta membrane (part or all of the placenta is left behind in the uterus after delivery)
- Placental abruption (part or all of the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus)
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting as a result of pregnancy)
- Placenta praevia (when the placenta is in the lower part of the uterus and covers part or all of the cervix)
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Emergency Caesarean section
- A termination needed for medical reasons
- Premature birth more than 8 weeks (or 16 weeks if You know You are having more than one baby) before the expected delivery date.

The policy specifically excludes cover for our engagement in or practice of manual work including:
• hands-on involvement with the installation, assembly, maintenance or repair of electrical, mechanical or hydraulic plant (other than in a purely managerial/supervisory, sales or administrative capacity).
• work in connection with a profession, business or trade for example: plumber, electrician,  lighting or sound technician, carpenter, painter/decorator or builder.
• working with wild animals of any kind.

However the policy does cover non manual work described as (bar and restaurant work, amateur
musicians and singers, chalet maids, au pair/nanny, retail work, fruit picking and occasional
light manual work at ground level but excluding the use of power tools or machinery) 

The Super, Super Plus and Backpacker policy provide cover in the event you are forced to move accommodation or to return home, as a result of a natural disaster.

However you have the option to pay an additional premium to increase this to cover to include extended cancellation, delayed departure, holiday abandonment, missed departure, additional accommodation.

This policy is only available if you have been permanently resident in the United Kingdom for the past six months prior to the date of issue.