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Given that our platinum card will be cancelled shortly and we’ll need some new travel insurance, does anyone have thoughts on companies/products they trust or don’t? Who’s good value for money? Obviously I’ll read the IPID and do my own research too but a little crowdsourcing never hurt either! Thank you all.
You won’t really know what is good value for money unless you need to claim!
A lot depends on what exactly you need from a policy and whether you or anyone in the family has any pre-existing conditions.
Some of the packaged policies are good value vs standalone ones, so if you are eligible for HSBC Premier you get a free policy with that account, although it doesn’t include car hire excess. The Nationwide FlexPlus policy (part of an account that costs £13/month) is changing from 1 May but still offers good value (also no car hire excess) particularly as you get AA cover (including Europe and for two people if a joint account) also included plus a few other benefits. The NW policy also enables you to buy certain policy extensions for age, pre-existing conditions. Both of these policies offer better cover than Amex Plat for travel disruption. NatWest and Lloyds have similar packaged policies on paid accounts.
It’s probably worth looking at some of the comparison sites so you can compare policies and Defaqto to check the ratings. Claims handling that is prompt and fair is an important consideration.
I was happy with Nationwide, made two cruise claims since I took it out in August and they paid within days. Now, not sure about future because of the loyalty points issue.
Friend was with Saga insurance on a cycling trip in South America. Started coughing up blood, went to the capital city and they said he’d got lung cancer. He’s a non-smoker. Insurer was vague about just what they were going to pay for medical-wise, and he ended up paying £35k out of his own pocket for immediate surgery to have the cancer removed.
Saga insurer paid for hotel stay, and replacement business class flights home – plus some medical expenses, such as diagnosis and fit-to-fly certificate. But it took the start of an FOS submission – thanks Creation for the experience so as I could advise! – for them to pay out the £35k.
Risk and reward. My opinion: Lose your suitcase, get a bit grumpy if the insurance doesn’t pay out. £35k – what’s that if it saves your life. But good if insurance pays. Hundreds of thousands (maybe millions!) for hospital care in the USA – insurance essential, ain’t going to bankrupt my family.
We use the HSBC Premier one because it’s “free” and they will cover a pre-existing condition that Amex plat won’t.
Never claimed so can’t offer any useful input really.
Virgin Travel Insurance. Covers our rather strange combination of ailments (including a rarer one that surprisingly their system recognised and even had additional questions for) for a somewhat reasonable price.
We even bagged a 10% discount as Virgin credit card holders 🙂
Like others – we haven’t had to claim, so don’t know yet – we were just happy to have obtained the insurance for the combination of conditions!
Last summer at the end of a 2 week holiday my husband had a medical emergency in Greece. It required an operation, 7 day stay in hospital & a further 7 before he could fly.
We had an annual multi trip policy with the Post Office they have economy/standard/premier. I had Standard. The claims assessors were Collinson. I actually found them quite unhelpful, and had to organise virtually everything myself.
He was treated in Argostoli Greek national health hospital, and his treatment was covered on his EHIC card, he had a brilliant surgeon who may well have saved his life. I felt like sending the hospital 10,000 litres of emulsion, but realised they wouldn’t be able to pay someone to put it up.
I managed to rack up approx 3000 Euros of spends, everything from finding a hotel in the Capital for me that would let me add him into the room on discharge. Return flights home, buying medication, buying DVT stockings, special injections to put in his stomach, foods for him, 100 Euros on professional laundry. All food and drink after discharge, Return flight home, it was endless.
I spoke to Collinson on day 1 & all they said was ‘I suppose we will have to add you to the claim as well’! Then hung up on me. That was it no further call or offers of help.
When I go back it took 10 weeks to sort the claim. We got back about £2000 by then I had lost the stomach for the fight.
I didn’t feel the claims operation was prompt or fair.
I could go on & on but I’m sure you’re bored by now.
I know most people on here go long haul, but it’s worth noting that a lot of modern insurance policies will not pay out if their is local state facility, and you actively choose not to use it.
The Club M offering by Virgin Money is interesting. Just £12.50 a month. Someone posted a positive review as well on one of the threads.
Staysure have been easy to take out specialist medical insurance with…but as others have noted,
we’ve never claimed, so proof/pudding, etc.!We’ve got the Barclays travel pack. Have used the RAC cover twice, and also had to claim for a cancelled cruise over New Year, as I was hospitalised just before Christmas and had emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction. Easy claim, paid out in 4 days straight to our bank account, and only a £50 per person excess.
Underwritten by Aviva, who I believe Nationwide are moving to in May?
Obviously haven’t had any experience of claiming for a medical incident whilst on holiday, but they were very highly rated by Which during Covid times, so no reason to think it would be difficult.
HSBC Premier’s insurers have been excellent over the years paying out on 4 claims without making us jump through hoops.
And you can pay to extend cover for trips over 31 days and some pre-existing medical conditions.
Does hsbc premier travel insurance require you to pay for flights and hotels using their cards?
No, they don’t.
Sorry about hitting the report button!
I was happy with Nationwide, made two cruise claims since I took it out in August and they paid within days. Now, not sure about future because of the loyalty points issue.
I think Nationwide has boobed here! Their use of the ancient term ‘Air Miles’ in the new policy document when the current one uses the term ‘Avios’ is quite strange in itself. I think it’s a significant change that should have been in the headline notification and the single bald line under ‘we will not cover’ is really quite meaningless. It doesn’t look very thought through. I am raising the issue at a senior level and adding in a few googlies like the treatment of companion vouchers and upgrade vouchers which might really confuse them.
A lot depends on what exactly you need from a policy and whether you or anyone in the family has any pre-existing conditions.
Some of the packaged policies are good value vs standalone ones, so if you are eligible for HSBC Premier you get a free policy with that account, although it doesn’t include car hire excess. The Nationwide FlexPlus policy (part of an account that costs £13/month) is changing from 1 May but still offers good value (also no car hire excess) particularly as you get AA cover (including Europe and for two people if a joint account) also included plus a few other benefits. The NW policy also enables you to buy certain policy extensions for age, pre-existing conditions. Both of these policies offer better cover than Amex Plat for travel disruption. NatWest and Lloyds have similar packaged policies on paid accounts.
It’s probably worth looking at some of the comparison sites so you can compare policies and Defaqto to check the ratings. Claims handling that is prompt and fair is an important consideration.
We had the “free” NW cover for years as it covers the Mrs heart issues and Stent for a minimal extra as opposed to ££££££££ others wanted.
Claimed once for an emergency trip back to Uk due to sisters death. Fairly straight forward but NW kept asking for “more information” and then putting claim to the back of the Queue (just before Covid hit so they had a HUGE backlog)
Only got it sorted by complaining (after the “third we want more info”) to a higher up. eventually got it sorted with the excess fee waived.
Still with them, but now with the “£13 \month package” as they still are the best for pre-exisitng health issues.
Not hit with the recent change as we had just renewed for another year (60 day extension, pre exisiting medical)
I think Nationwide has boobed here! Their use of the ancient term ‘Air Miles’ in the new policy document when the current one uses the term ‘Avios’ is quite strange in itself.
Wouldn’t airmiles be a more generic term to indicate not just Avios but all airline miles/points programmes? Aviva use the term ‘airmiles, loyalty or points based……’ in their standard wording. Would expect them to use same terminology in schemes based wordings.
I use Cover For You but have never made a claim.
Policy holders can buy discounted gift cards from their portal. Useful for me as I no longer have access to things like perks at work. Saved multiple times the cost of my policy.
I think Nationwide has boobed here! Their use of the ancient term ‘Air Miles’ in the new policy document when the current one uses the term ‘Avios’ is quite strange in itself.
Wouldn’t airmiles be a more generic term to indicate not just Avios but all airline miles/points programmes? Aviva use the term ‘airmiles, loyalty or points based……’ in their standard wording. Would expect them to use same terminology in schemes based wordings.
The new terms use ‘Air Miles’ with the M capitalised (the A also, but it’s the first letter of the clause) which means or meant something quite special. Had they used lower case, I would agree with you. These details seem small but matter in this sort of document. Also, the current terms do use the term Avios so now to change this and use a thirteen year old term is frankly bizarre.
The bigger issue is that it is totally unclear what this all means. I would be amazed if they really mean what a literal interpretation would imply.
I’m trying to understand in my mind the impact of points and miles cover
The areas I believe Nationwide currently provide points cover for that Aviva will not are as follows: Do we agree?
1) cancellation within 24hrs of travel. Really an edge case but as a parent of toddlers not completely. My interpretation of the Nationwide changes are that Aviva will not pay out in this scenario the value of lost points
2) need to return home early. If you had a hotel on points any unused cost that the hotel wouldn’t refund
3) abandonment of travel (e.g. 12+ hr delay)
Areas I actually think are a non issue
1) departing early or later. The insurer has to get you home. If the airline are unhelpful with the points ticket then the insurer buys you a new one (minus any recoverable taxes)
2) missed departure. Nationwide cover £1k towards costs of replacement travel. This is actually potentially lacking already if you missed a Avios biz ticket
I was looking at the Halifax policy and that has exclusion wording “More than the lowest market value of equivalent accommodation, transport charges and other travel expenses, if payment was made using frequent flyer points, Airmiles, loyalty card points, redeemable vouchers or another similar scheme.”
which could leave you in a position of arguing with the claims team on the value. One I’ll be exploring further though as they do allow adding guests which I find preferable to do with a parent if they travel with us. Virgin Money Club M seems to work on a similar basis
Will review other packaged account offerings today too as I do find with the gadget/mobile insurance + breakdown I get good value out of those
@SamG – I think Nationwide will need to clarify what it means by the single line on page 26 re ‘Air Miles’ and loyalty points. A literal reading would make it a wholly unfair and therefore unenforceable term. That literal reading wouldn’t seem to provide for a flight needed if eg cutting short a holiday.
I find Nationwide to be a very straight dealing and fair bank; I think this will be addressed and clarified. I hope they haven’t printed too many copies of that booklet. I’m expecting to speak to them in the coming days. They have already recognised that the use of the capitalised term ‘Air Miles’ that was rebranded away thirteen years ago is “unfortunate”.
If it helps others then the Club Lloyds Platinum Account appears to meet our needs best – £16pm if you deposit £5500 a month and includes what appears to be a decent travel insurance policy inc coverage for points bookings and AA breakdown including national recovery
@SamG – I think Nationwide will need to clarify what it means by the single line on page 26 re ‘Air Miles’ and loyalty points. A literal reading would make it a wholly unfair and therefore unenforceable term. That literal reading wouldn’t seem to provide for a flight needed if eg cutting short a holiday.
I find Nationwide to be a very straight dealing and fair bank; I think this will be addressed and clarified. I hope they haven’t printed too many copies of that booklet. I’m expecting to speak to them in the coming days. They have already recognised that the use of the capitalised term ‘Air Miles’ that was rebranded away thirteen years ago is “unfortunate”.
I agree, I’ve dealt with Nationwide in a professional capacity and they are very demanding as a partner, so I am sure this will get addressed. Keep us posted!
I use HSBC Premier and have never had a problem with claims of any size (most is probably £3000ish). The last small value claim went straight to payment after automatic approval. I’ve found them to be good and they even offered to upgrade a flight to business class after my wife hurt her back but we were already flying business.
The Virgin Money Club M account covers the cost of airmiles and points for cancellations which is interesting. Many policies say these have no value.
HSBC Premiere. I made one claim and it was promptly paid.
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