This isn't really a deal with a fixed price, but I'm trying to help out anyone who's navigating the travel insurance minefield to hopefully cut out a LOT of research time and get a decent price as well - the £88 is what I've just paid for my own policy, and it'll obviously vary hugely depending on individual requirements, but this was the price for our family of 4 worldwide with full 'travel disruption' cover, cancellation cover and unlimited medical expenses (other quotes for similar were £150ish).
I've tried to find info for the 'best' policy for people who don't just walk into Thomas Cook and book a package - speaking to friends and reading online boards, it seems that lots of people struggle to find a suitable policy. I came across Cigna after reading the small print and T&Cs on dozens of policies, and from what I've read (eyes and brain hurt much) this seems to be the most comprehensive and flexible policy with the fewest nasty exclusions. Cigna are also the provider for Sainsbury's Travel Insurance although getting a quote from Sainsbury's worked out dearer for us (try code T1774 if you're trying them for a price) I've read lots of articles about what to look for and MSE mention looking for scheduled airline failure and end-supplier failure, but it's really hard to find policies that include all of these (even with comparison sites), and when you do you find them, you need to then check the exclusions because so many of them have got so many 'catch you out' things in them that they're not worth having to begin with.
I'll link to the policy doc in the post below - please check the small print as I'm not saying it's going to be suitable for everyone, just that if you're looking for an annual policy that's got a reasonable selection of offerings for non-packaged holidays then it seems to be the best around that I can find, and also reasonably priced.
Main benefits that I found of this policy:
-Ability to reduce premium by selecting max trip duration to suit (24 days is enough for me as we'll never take more than 3 weeks holiday at a time)
-Ability to add pre-existing conditions online
-Cancellation cover option, with variable limits to suit
-Travel Disruption cover including airlines, hotels etc going bust or requiring evacuation (see the policy docs) if you're not package booked
-Variable baggage cover
-Much lower price than comparative policies elsewhere!
All comments/suggestions welcome - I don't claim to know everything (or much) about travel insurance, just trying to help others who are struggling to find decent policies.
14 comments
billybear
16 Aug 16#14
Be careful with the packaged bank accounts travel insurance, I just tried to update the medical conditions (fairly routine) on my Lloyds account to cover a forthcoming Euro holiday and they wanted over £100 extra in a single payment, that was included free last year, this on top of the £17/month fee. Obviously if you don't declare you won't be covered, found single trip cover on GoCompare for £8.50 including all conditions and cancelled the Lloyds packaged account!
MrSweeney
16 Aug 16#12
Thanks for effort OP, heat added. Do you know if they offer you any extra discount for having other products with them? I have a dental plan with Cigna through work.
Partialy agree with the other poster justmustard, they defintely don't make claiming for things easy which almost acts as deterrent in some cases. I know I experience a slight wave of stress when I realise I'm due to claim back some dental costs as it's time consuming.
Bargaingirl
16 Aug 16#11
Have a look at holidaysafe - highly rated - no problems claiming and they have a very good price top policy with no excess.
justmustard
16 Aug 16#10
Don't expect cover for your personals. The theft was on camera as well
justmustard
16 Aug 16#9
experience.
Dogeared
16 Aug 16#8
Thanks for posting that I'll look at Cigna. I understand how you feel trawling through the small print to check the exclusions. I have to do the same looking for holidays over 90 days touring on a motorbike after cancer treatment! Those bank account policies don't cover my holidays and I'm sure not many people check the small print to see what actually is covered.
eslick
16 Aug 16#7
The medical cover sounds good as they say it is no limits but then the policy document says the below which seems odd as the Medicare isn't what most Americans would use so that seems odd.
Not sure how it compares for independent travellers but the Nationwides current account has excellent travel insurance for most including 10 Million medical coverage for £10 a month this also includes breakdown cover and much more worth it for a family as insurance can be much more than this,
For travel to the United States of America medical, surgical, hospital, ambulance
and nursing fees and charges means costs that are incurred for approved, eligible
medical services or supplies up to 150% of the published medical rates for the
same or similar treatment as payable by US Medicare.
robertoegg
16 Aug 161#6
Don't forget that you can get a paid-for bank account which will provide this with mobile phone insurance, extended warranty and breakdown cover as well as free cash withdrawals for £120 / year for a family of four. Nationwide.
I can recommend it, my wife and I use it. I've used both the extended warranty (laptop failed at 14 months, collected, fixed, returned at no cost) and the mobile phone insurance (dropped it, smashed screen, collected, fixed and returned for £25 excess). I've thankfully not had to use breakdown or travel insurance.
kalico to robertoegg
16 Aug 16#13
Is the Nationwide account still the number one recommendation of MoneySavingExpert? Cigna is quoting me just £32 for annual EU travel, and I've already got breakdown, but I'm still minded to get the Nationwide account.
catbeans
15 Aug 16#4
Cigna policies are good, nor is claiming from them hard, as long as you haven't lied.. Sorry misunderstood on your application documents.
They are the underwriters for alot of high street insurance, like certain banks and other shops. So cut out the middle man and give them a call.
panddda to catbeans
16 Aug 16#5
That's what I found - I initially got to the stage where I had decided Sainsbury's seemed to offer the best cover, but the price was around £150, so I went directly to the company providing their insurance and the price was much less, as well as having more flexible options available. Good to hear something positive about Cigna as I hadn't heard of them before today. Fingers crossed I won't have to think of them again for another year!
justmustard
15 Aug 16#2
Try claiming on it and you'll see why it's such a good price
panddda to justmustard
15 Aug 161#3
Spoken from experience with this company, or just insurance companies in general?
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Opening post
I've tried to find info for the 'best' policy for people who don't just walk into Thomas Cook and book a package - speaking to friends and reading online boards, it seems that lots of people struggle to find a suitable policy. I came across Cigna after reading the small print and T&Cs on dozens of policies, and from what I've read (eyes and brain hurt much) this seems to be the most comprehensive and flexible policy with the fewest nasty exclusions. Cigna are also the provider for Sainsbury's Travel Insurance although getting a quote from Sainsbury's worked out dearer for us (try code T1774 if you're trying them for a price) I've read lots of articles about what to look for and MSE mention looking for scheduled airline failure and end-supplier failure, but it's really hard to find policies that include all of these (even with comparison sites), and when you do you find them, you need to then check the exclusions because so many of them have got so many 'catch you out' things in them that they're not worth having to begin with.
I'll link to the policy doc in the post below - please check the small print as I'm not saying it's going to be suitable for everyone, just that if you're looking for an annual policy that's got a reasonable selection of offerings for non-packaged holidays then it seems to be the best around that I can find, and also reasonably priced.
Main benefits that I found of this policy:
-Ability to reduce premium by selecting max trip duration to suit (24 days is enough for me as we'll never take more than 3 weeks holiday at a time)
-Ability to add pre-existing conditions online
-Cancellation cover option, with variable limits to suit
-Travel Disruption cover including airlines, hotels etc going bust or requiring evacuation (see the policy docs) if you're not package booked
-Variable baggage cover
-Much lower price than comparative policies elsewhere!
All comments/suggestions welcome - I don't claim to know everything (or much) about travel insurance, just trying to help others who are struggling to find decent policies.
14 comments
Partialy agree with the other poster justmustard, they defintely don't make claiming for things easy which almost acts as deterrent in some cases. I know I experience a slight wave of stress when I realise I'm due to claim back some dental costs as it's time consuming.
Not sure how it compares for independent travellers but the Nationwides current account has excellent travel insurance for most including 10 Million medical coverage for £10 a month this also includes breakdown cover and much more worth it for a family as insurance can be much more than this,
For travel to the United States of America medical, surgical, hospital, ambulance
and nursing fees and charges means costs that are incurred for approved, eligible
medical services or supplies up to 150% of the published medical rates for the
same or similar treatment as payable by US Medicare.
I can recommend it, my wife and I use it. I've used both the extended warranty (laptop failed at 14 months, collected, fixed, returned at no cost) and the mobile phone insurance (dropped it, smashed screen, collected, fixed and returned for £25 excess). I've thankfully not had to use breakdown or travel insurance.
They are the underwriters for alot of high street insurance, like certain banks and other shops. So cut out the middle man and give them a call.
https://quote.cignainsure.co.uk/travel/sale/travel_core/pdf/CIGTRVPW.pdf