Travel Insurance - Cancellation Cover

Definition of Cancellation or Curtailment

Cover for any irrecoverable unused Travel and Accommodation costs (including Excursions) and other pre-paid charges, which you have paid or are contracted to pay together with any reasonable additional travel expenses incurred.

If Cancellation of the trip is necessary and unavoidable or the travel is Curtailed before completion as a result of any of the following events occurring; the death, bodily injury, illness or complication arising as a result of pregnancy of you or any person with whom you are travelling or have arranged to travel with or any person whom you have agreed to stay with or your close relative.

It should be noted the difference between Cancellation and Curtailment. The difference is that Cancellation cover is before your departure on a trip, and Curtailment is cutting short a journey that you are already on.

On our Travel Insurance website, we can provide Cancellation or Curtailment from £1,000 (JS Silver), £5,000 (JS Gold) and £7,500 (JS Platinum). This benefit is per person, so if you are a couple, the cover would be double the stated cover limits if you both have to cancel. We can cover up to £10,000 per person; if you require this level of cover, please contact us for a quote by email or telephone.

Suppose you have a pre-existing medical condition and declared this on our Medical Conditions website. In that case, you will be covered if you need to cancel your trip or curtail your trip if the medical condition was to prevent you from taking the trip or if you require medical treatment back in your home country.

The only exception to this is if you are on a waiting list for medical treatment for hospital admission and you are unable to travel, or you need to cut short your trip due to an appointment that you have been waiting for and has been confirmed after you have purchased a Travel Insurance policy. The claim would not be considered as you were aware of your trip’s possible clash or disruption.

One of the most frequent questions is, can a Travel Insurance policy only cover you for Cancellation or Curtailment? Unfortunately, we cannot offer this; our policies start with Medical Expenses as standard. You can add extra benefits such as Cancellation and even Baggage if you wish.

It is important to note that the cover for Cancellation on a Single Trip or an Annual Multi-Trip policy differs. If you purchase a Single Trip policy, the body for Cancellation begins on the date of purchase. If you are buying an Annual Multi-Trip policy, the commencement of the Cancellation cover begins when your policy starts from. So, for example, if you purchase an Annual policy today and the procedure begins a week from today, that is when the Cancellation cover will commence on that date.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Cancellation or Curtailment Cover

I have purchased a Travel Insurance policy that covers Cancellation. After buying the policy from my doctor, I was advised not to travel due to a recently diagnosed illness. How do I proceed with a claim?

You should contact the Claims Department on your Travel Insurance documents; in some cases, there is only a telephone number, and with some Underwriters, there is also an email address you can use. The Claims Department will send you the forms to complete and let you know the documents they require to process your claim. You should not send any documentation or financial details at this time. When sending the Claim Forms and additional documentation (for example, a flight invoice), make sure that you send originals and photocopy the paperwork to have a record in case the documents are lost or misplaced. Always send correspondence via recorded delivery and request a signature at the destination.

A close relative of mine has been taken ill, and I have decided not to travel. Can I claim for Cancellation?

Yes, you should be able to claim any Travel or Accommodation costs up to the limits on your Travel Insurance policy.

I am pregnant and have decided not to travel. Can I claim for Cancellation?

This will depend on your circumstances; pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing medical condition, so it does not need to be declared when purchasing a policy. However, if your Doctor has told you that you should not travel as this may put your pregnancy or the unborn child at risk, and they will be willing to write this, you can claim for Cancellation.

One of the people travelling with me has decided not to travel. Can I claim for Cancellation?

This will depend on the circumstances of the situation and the reason why the person or persons have decided not to travel. For example, if the person has been taken ill and advised not to travel, you should be able to make a claim. If, however, they have just decided they don’t want to go on the trip and there is no valid reason, it is unlikely to be a valid claim for Cancellation.

When is it unnecessary to include Cancellation coverage on a Travel Insurance policy?

Suppose you have purchased a Travel Insurance policy shortly before departure, for example, 24 hours before you leave your home. In that case, it is unlikely that having Cancellation cover on your policy is necessary as it is doubtful that you will require to claim to cancel your trip. This is the case with a Single Trip or Longstay policy, but in the case of an Annual Multi Trip policy, you should still include Cancellation as you plan to make more than one trip a year and will be travelling throughout the year.

If you have booked a flexible flight and need to change the travel dates for a small administration fee, you should be able to change the travel dates and not be required to cancel the trip itself.

If you are driving or taking a coach or train, you should consider if you require the cover for Cancellation.

It is always essential to read the Terms and Conditions of the Travel Insurance policy that you are considering purchasing or have purchased. There you will find the complete definition and exclusions of the benefit: Cancellation or Curtailment.

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or are unsure if you need Cancellation or Curtailment cover.