Travelling

Questions when you're travelling.

• I've lost my Insurance documents. How can I get my details?

  If you've mislaid your insurance documents, just log into My TT Policy where you’ll be able to see all your policies you've taken out with us, as well as download another copy of your Validation Certificate.

• I have to come home early. Can I get a partial refund on my Insurance?

  No, sorry! If you’re unsure how long you’re going to be away, take a shorter policy and extend it whilst you are away.

• What happens if I have to return home for a while during my trip?

  If you want to return home during your travels - say for the wedding of a close friend, or Christmas with your family, your cover allows you to do this. Your cover will be suspended from the time that you arrive in your home country, until the moment you resume your original journey. You don’t have to cancel your policy and buy a new one, and you do not need to notify us of any trip home, and you can return home for as long as you like, and as many times as you like.

  However, do note if you have to come back early as a result of a claim, then the insurance ends as it’s done its job, unless you took out Travel Resumption cover when you originally arranged your policy with us.

• A close relative is very ill, and I must return home early?

  This is what is called Curtailment, where you wish to come home if an immediate relative becomes very ill, or an immediate relative passes away and you wish to return home for their funeral.

  To arrange authority for this sort of scenario, please just go to the Claims page on our website and look at the Curtailment Claims section, as that tells you what you need to do. Essentially though, you can claim back any unused tours, flights or accommodation you cannot get a refund on. In addition, if you already have a flight ticket home, we will pay for any amendment fees you need to pay for that ticket or buy you a new ticket if your original ticket cannot be amended. Do note, if you don’t already have a return ticket back home, this isn’t something you can claim for as you would have had to buy one eventually in any event.

  If you’re away for a long period of time, for example on a working holiday, you may just wish to come home for a short period of time to visit your relative or attend their funeral. In this instance, rather than put in a Curtailment claim which will end your policy, you may wish instead to just exercise a “home visit”, and just fly back to recommence your working holiday afterwards. Doing this will not affect the validity of your policy.

  In all situations, the Claim form for your Curtailment would need to be completed by the patient’s Doctor confirming that at the time you took out your policy, or travelled, that they had seen no substantial likelihood that their patient’s condition (if any existed at that time) would have deteriorated to such a degree to require you to come back. If the patient’s Doctor cannot do this, then any curtailment claim would, in all probability, fail.

  Note: If you took the Travel Resumption option when you took out your cover, and then have a successful Curtailment claim, once you’re ready to recommence your original journey, your policy will pay for your flights back out to recommence your trip, and your flight home again at the end of your policy duration. In addition, your original policy will remain valid.

• Does this policy include Helicopter/Air Ambulances should I need it?

  Yes. When you contact the 24 hour Emergency Medical Assistance Service, should Helicopter/Air Ambulances be required if necessary on medical grounds it would normally be authorised by the insurers. Note in Nepal, if you need a Helicopter then a higher excess of £750/€900 applies.

• What do you mean by you’ll move me to a public service hospital?

  This policy covers accident and emergency expenses only and is not a private health insurance policy. This means that you are covered if there is a sudden and unexpected accident or if you become ill during a trip. We will pay for private treatment, but only if there is no appropriate reciprocal health agreement in existence and no public medical service available. Likewise, we would not expect you to be treated in a medical facility if it does not have the equivalent care that we would expect ourselves under European standards. However, if you have been taken to a private hospital and there is a good public service hospital in the area that we can move you to safely, then we reserve the right to organise a transfer where is it medically appropriate.

• I want to do an activity which you don’t cover!

  If there is any activity which you intend to take part in which isn’t in the activity packs, just contact us with the relevant details and we can see if we can get it included within an Adventure Pack, or at an additional premium.

• Can I add Winter Sports on as I've now decided to go skiing?

  If you need to add on an activity pack or add on Winter Sports, or even change the area of cover on your policy, just contact us and tell us what you need. We’ll reply back to you within 24 hours with any additional premium you have to pay and a secure link for you to pay on. You end up paying exactly the same as you would have done if you’d chosen those options from the get-go. We don’t charge administration fees. Do note though, the one thing we cannot add on after departure is the Zero Excess Option.

• Do you cover missed flight connections?

  No, and we’re not aware of any insurance which does, and we’ll explain why. Airlines cover missed flight connections themselves, but only if your flights are on the same e-ticket. If your delivering airline is late, they must, under IATA regulations, liaise with the onward airline to get you on another flight. If this results in an extended delay, they also must provide refreshments and even hotel accommodation if necessary. If you use separate tickets, then you lose all rights to have any airline do anything to help you.

  Sometimes it does work out much cheaper to use separate tickets, but if you do take this risk, ensure you book a minimum of 4 hours between flights, to try to mitigate any delays which may occur due to weather or mechanical breakdown.

• Do you cover Mountaineering?

  We cover mountaineering up to a maximum altitude of 6,000M on our Ultimate Activity Pack. We define mountaineering as climbing mountains involving ice climbing, rock climbing and mixed climbing where you carry all your belongings with you at all times. Note we do not cover mountaineering without ropes, harnesses, or other protective equipment, climbing in remote or inaccessible regions, exploratory expeditions or new routes. For specialised mountaineering cover, for example to cover the summit of Everest, we suggest you approach the British Mountaineering Council for cover.

  Do not confuse mountaineering with trekking. If you can trek to the top of a mountain then that is fine, like Kilimanjaro in Tanzania or Mera or Island Peak in Nepal, you should choose Trekking cover from either the Adventure (to 4,600M) or Extreme Activity Pack (over 4,600M) depending on the altitude you’re trekking to.

• Does your Insurance cover riding a Motorbike?

  Yes. On the basic Traveller Activity Pack you can ride a Motorbike "on road" under 125cc when you’re away, as long as you hold an appropriate licence valid in your country of residence and wear a crash helmet, you are covered medically. Do note for residents of the UK, to drive a moped under 125cc you must have taken a Compulsory basic training (CBT) course, or of course have a motorcycle licence. However, we would advise you to be very cautious on doing this if you are not familiar with riding a scooter. In Thailand, according to Sky News, 48 people get killed every day riding motorbikes; that’s almost 15,000 a year, which, to put into context, is ten times more than everyone who gets killed on the roads in the UK every year from any type road traffic accident, from car drivers, motorbike riders and pedestrians. On the Adventure Pack, if you hold the appropriate licence, you can ride a Motorbike on road over 125cc, and on the Extreme Adventure Pack, you can ride a motorbike off-road under 250cc. Again in both instances, you must wear a crash helmet. In all cases, if you ride any motorbike without a crash helmet, you have no cover whatsoever!
  Also note we only cover occasional motorbike use. If you’re using a motorbike as your main mode of transport or going motorbike touring, then we can’t cover that.
  Motorbike Taxis: You are covered when riding pillion on a Motorbike Taxi under 125cc and wear a crash helmet. You will come across Motorbike Taxis throughout Asia and in some parts of South America. They are cheap, but many are unregulated and the drivers have in some cases, no licence, insurance, nor training and may well be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. The bikes themselves are usually poorly maintained. In the case of an accident and a subsequent medical claim, you may find yourself uninsured. So, we have one word of advice when it comes to Motorbike Taxis. Don’t.

• Will my claim be declined if I have been drinking?

  Our insurer excludes cover for claims relating to the effects of alcohol. This does not mean you can’t relax and enjoy yourself by having a glass or two whilst travelling. Please however be warned, if you consume so much alcohol that you decide you can fly off a 10 storey building, it is highly likely that any claim will not be paid for by this travel insurance. Please remember to drink responsibly.

• Do I have to pay for my own medical bills?

  For any very minor outpatient treatments which you may have on your trip, you would normally pay locally and just claim it back from the insurers when you get back. If you don’t have enough money you can contact the emergency service as they are there to help. If treatment is likely to exceed £500/€600 you will need to contact the Emergency Medical Assistance service for authorisation. Obviously any large medical emergencies are totally dealt with by the 24 hour Emergency Medical Assistance Service.

  For other claims, you must inform our claims handlers within 60 days of the date of the occurrence of any possible claim.

  For more information and advice about how to make an insurance claim, please go to our How to make a Claim page.

• Does this Insurance cover Acts of Terrorism?

  For travel delay, where this is caused due to acts of terrorism, then you are not covered for the delays that may cause. However, if you get caught up in an act of terrorism which is not relating to a region or country on the Foreign Office "No Go" list, then full medical cover (including repatriation) will be provided under the terms of this policy. Note however that terrorism involving any form of nuclear, chemical or biological agents are specifically excluded.

• Am I covered if I travel to a country or region against British Foreign Office advice?

  If you travel to a region or country where the British Foreign Office has an "advise against all travel to" warning against it, then this policy will not pay any claims if you're travelling in such a region or country. If you're travelling to a region or country where the Foreign Office has an "all but essential travel" warning then we may be able to offer cover to you. However, this cover will exclude any claims made as a direct result of the warning being in place, i.e. terrorism. Please contact us for further advice if you’re going to such a region or country.

  Please check our Coronavirus FAQ section for further information about cover if travelling against Foreign Office advice due to COVID-19 risks.

• I'm taking an expensive Camera/Laptop/Phone with me. Will this Insurance cover it?

  It all depends how expensive it is! If you elect to take out Baggage & Personal effects cover, you will see that each of the policies detail how much your "valuables" are insured for. However, with us you also have the ability of adding the up to 3 Specified Items up to a maximum value of £450/€550 each (£750/€900 on the Traveller Plus) including mobile phones, based on what is called an indemnity value, which is basically the value of your items at today’s prices less deduction for wear, tear and depreciation. Any items lost, stolen or damaged must be reported to the Police and a written Police Report obtained. No cover is available if items are left unattended and all claims must be supported by the original purchase receipt.

• If I lose something, do I really need a Police Report?

  Yes. Obviously if you are in a very remote area where there is no Police Station, any other authority will normally suffice, for example the Hotel Manager.

• I'm going to Australia. Must I enrol in Medicare?

  Yes, you must, although you can enrol after the first occasion you need treatment. Australia has a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Malta, Italy and the Republic of Ireland, so it makes sense to enrol anyway as the Australian medical system is one of the best in the world, and it helps keep the premiums down! Obviously if you’re not a resident of one of these countries you can’t enrol, and your treatment will be paid by the insurers. There are Medicare offices in most large towns and cities in Australia, so just pop in with your passport and sort out your Medicare cover when you get there. If there’s no queue, it usually takes about half an hour to sort out.

• Does your insurance pay for Ambulances in Australia? I've heard they're expensive?

  If you are involved in an accident and an ambulance is required, then of course the insurance company will settle the claim with the relevant ambulance service. And you've heard correctly – ambulances services in Australia are monstrously expensive!

• I've heard that you need approved Travel Insurance if visiting Cuba?

  Yes that's correct. As of May 2010 the Cuban Authorities insisted that all travellers to Cuba have proper medical insurance, which they will check on arrival. If you don't have medical insurance, you have to buy their insurance there and then, and it isn’t cheap. Inter Partner Assistance are on the Cuban Government approved list.

• Do you cover Cycle Touring?

  No, unfortunately we can no longer cover Cycle Touring, which we define as where your bicycle is your main mode of transport over long distances. In 2019 we had a succession of very large claims where our customers were hit by motor vehicles and very badly injured, and continuing to cover cycle touring became commercially unviable, regardless of what premium was charged.

  We still cover, as standard, you for occasional use of cycles, if you rent one for a few days on your holiday, for example, or if you're partaking in an organised cycling holiday with a tour operator.

• How does the 21-day Winter Sports work?

  You’ll see you can take out unlimited Winter Sports, if you’re going to be in resort continually, or a 21-day option if you’re just going to be doing Winter Sports occasionally during the whole period of your policy. These 21-days can be taken consecutively or non-consecutively, and should you have a claim we will just check your electronic ski pass with the resort management to ensure you haven’t exceeded the 21-day limit. If you find you’re going to exceed the 21 days, just contact us and request to upgrade to the unlimited option. Note the premium you paid for the 21-day option will be deducted from the unlimited option, so you won’t be paying twice.  

• Why is there a QR Code on my Validation Certificate?

  We do print a QR Code onto all our Certificates with a “Scan to Authenticate” message next to it. Over the years, some people have amended the dates on Certificates to obtain medical treatment when their policies have expired, and some have been changed to prove other forms of insurance by third parties; once as a receipt for a rent deposit!

  If you scan the QR Code with your smartphone, it simply opens a page on our website stating if the insurance cover is live, has expired or has been cancelled.

  You don’t need to scan it to confirm or validate your insurance.

• What documents do I need to show to Canadian Immigration for the IEC?

  If you’re on the IEC Work Permit scheme for Canada, you may be asked by the CBSA Officer on arrival for proof of insurance. We suggest you print out your Validation Certificate as well as Page 3 of the Policy Document, which shows the cover levels.

  We issue thousands of policies for IEC participants every year, so there’s a good chance the CBSA Officer is familiar with our documentation.

  Do note your insurance must be valid for your intended length of stay in Canada. For UK, Irish, French and Portuguese applicants, it’s 24 months, and for everyone else it’s 12 (including Italy from 2023). If you provide insurance for a duration of less than this, then your work permit may be issued for the length of your insurance, and you will not be able to extend it. See this Canada.ca page for more information.

• Do you cover freestyle skiing or snowboarding?

  Like most insurers, we cover conventional skiing/snowboarding only. There is no cover for any freestyle skiing, jumping, ski-flying or acrobatics, as the claims experience on these activities is very high.

  You can ski in a Terrain Park, and use a rail, mailbox, tabletop, kink etc., (list goes on) without ever leaving the ground/feature. The rail (for beginners) for example, is a flat surface, which you can mount via the man-made snow ramp and dismount the other end using a same man-made snow ramp.

  Not many people need freestyle ski cover anyway, but one specialist insurer who will cover you, for UK residents, is the Ski Club of Great Britain. Do note the premiums they charge do reflect the risk!

• What happens if an airline cancels my flight?

  If an airline cancels your flight, this isn’t something which you can claim for on travel insurance as the airlines, by law, must handle this correctly, by either offering you a different flight at no extra expense to you, or refunding you in full. If they offered you a refund and you accepted it, then, as far as the airline is concerned, that is the end of the matter.

  You can read up more on the ADR website.

  Do note some “low cost” airlines may refuse to book you on another airline, but they must refund you or put you on another of their own flights at no extra cost.