Aon partners with Space Expedition Corporation
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aon partners with Space Expedition Corporation
Aon Risk Solutions has formed a partnership with Space Expedition Corporation (SEC), the Netherlands-based space tourism company. The two have designed an insurance policy providing customised protection for space tourists regarding losses related to flight cancellation, postponement or temporary interruption. Based upon regular non-appearance cancellation cover, the policy also includes additional supplemental coverage. SEC will [...]
Aviva urges snow-sporters to get covered
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Aviva urges snow-sporters to get covered
Research commissioned by Aviva has revealed that whilst for a quarter of skiers and snowboarders their holiday this winter will be their first winter sports holiday only 40% of them will have winter sports travel insurance. There is a significant correlation between experience with winter sports and insurance, with 70% of those who consider themselves [...]
New rules for banks selling insurance in packaged accounts
by Gill Montia
Story link: New rules for banks selling insurance in packaged accounts
From 31st March 2013, banks and building societies selling packaged accounts will have to adhere to new rules just published by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Around one in five UK adults have a packaged account, which is current account bundled up with a range of insurance policies and other features. The regulator wants to [...]
ACE and RAC form partnership
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ACE and RAC form partnership
ACE Group has announced that it has entered a partnership with RAC in the UK, whereby it will offer travel insurance under the RAC brand. RAC has seven million private and corporate members to whom it provides a wide range of motor-related services. The new travel insurance offering will be provided via a dedicated online [...]
Gallagher Heath offers cover for pancreatic cancer suffers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Gallagher Heath offers cover for pancreatic cancer suffers
Gallagher Heath has teamed up with Pancreatic Cancer UK to provide a service to people affected by the condition, as well their carers and other supporters of the charity. The package includes travel, home and motor insurance. The travel product can cover an entire party on one policy with premiums based on each individual’s declaration [...]
Holidaymakers shaky on travel disruption cover
by Gill Montia
Story link: Holidaymakers shaky on travel disruption cover
Nearly one third of Brits who have trips abroad booked in the next 12 months are concerned that their travel plans could be disrupted by factors outside of their control, according to new research from Lloyds TSB. However, while nearly two-thirds of travellers surveyed already have insurance in place for their next trip, 40% of [...]
Better access to insurance for older customers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Better access to insurance for older customers
Older people should, in future, find it easier to get motor and travel insurance following an agreement between the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Government and the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). From 6th April, if an insurer or broker is unable to offer cover to an older motorist or traveller, due to upper [...]
OK To Travel targets elderly and ill travel insurance market
by Brian Turner
Story link: OK To Travel targets elderly and ill travel insurance market
No upper age limit on both single-trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance and cover for severe medical conditions where other insurers may decline cover are just two of the eye-catching features on offer from Britain’s newest travel insurance provider. OK To Travel specialises in competitively-priced insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions and also for [...]
Which? finds fault with aggregators
by Gill Montia
Story link: Which? finds fault with aggregators
Which? is claiming that the price you see isn’t always the price you pay, when it comes to buying insurance through aggregator sites. Having tested out 11 of the most popular sites, Which? found many of them using pre-selected answers and assumptions in their online forms and the consumer group warns that this can lead [...]
ABI: new motor and travel agreement for older customers
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI: new motor and travel agreement for older customers
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced a new agreement to improve access to motor and travel insurance for older customers. In a speech to the Age UK conference yesterday, ABI director general, Otto Thoresen, announced that ABI members that don’t provide insurance because they apply age restrictions will have to “signpost” customers to [...]
Online booking blunders cost holidaymakers hundreds
by Gill Montia
Story link: Online booking blunders cost holidaymakers hundreds
Holidaymakers booking online are paying out hundreds of pounds to correct mistakes, with the average cost of an error amounting to £232. New research from LV= travel insurance suggest that almost one half of UK holidaymakers now book online but nearly one in twelve make mistakes when doing so. Almost a quarter of respondents who [...]
Travel firm insolvencies inevitable
by Gill Montia
Story link: Travel firm insolvencies inevitable
The UK’s travel sector is facing severe economic headwinds, with a 49% increase in companies suffering “critical” financial distress, compared with this time last year. According to Begbies Traynor’s latest “Red Flag Alert”, further insolvencies in the sector are inevitable. Putting aside the sharp annual rise in “critical” cases, the third quarter of 2011 saw [...]
One-fifth of Brits holiday abroad uninsured
by Gill Montia
Story link: One-fifth of Brits holiday abroad uninsured
One in five British holidaymakers are crossing borders uninsured and running the risk of sky-high medical bills. According to the 2011 ABTA Consumer Trends survey, 21% of Brits abroad with no insurance believe that the UK Government will cover their bills in the event of a mishap, with one in four 15 to 24-year-olds suffering [...]
Nationwide extends travel insurance age limit
by Gill Montia
Story link: Nationwide extends travel insurance age limit
Nationwide is claiming a UK first as it adds free travel insurance for those aged up to 75 to its free current account. Previously, the upper age limit was 65 for new customers but from 21st September, the Society is extending the upper age limit on its FlexAccount travel package, where the account is used [...]
ABI urges travellers to take out insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ABI urges travellers to take out insurance
The number of British travellers falling ill abroad has recently hit a record high, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has reported. Last year emergency medical treatments cost travel insurers £275m in claims, with medical expenses surging by 270% over the course of the last six years. Over the same period of time the number [...]
AXA warns against dangerous new crazes
by Richard Kilner
Story link: AXA warns against dangerous new crazes
Travel insurer AXA has warned British travellers that claims made due to dangerous new crazes will be rejected. AXA has seen a spike in such claims, with as many made in the summer of this year as in the whole of 2010. The insurer blames the rise in claims (such as falling off of balconies) [...]
Brits opt for the “XL” family holiday
by Gill Montia
Story link: Brits opt for the “XL” family holiday
Esure has detected a growing trend among Brits as an increasing number of couples opt for the “XL” family holiday. According to the insurer, one in four families are now jetting off abroad in the company of at least six relatives, with over half of this group convinced they will save almost £400 by extending [...]
Lloyd’s and Aon team with bedbug offering
by Gill Montia
Story link: Lloyd’s and Aon team with bedbug offering
Lloyd’s underwriters have teamed up with insurance broker Aon and Global Excess Partners, an innovator in new insurance products, to develop a comprehensive bedbug insurance solution for travellers and the hospitality industry. According to Lloyd’s, bedbug infestations are on the rise, causing hotel owners, landlords and businesses major problems. High levels of infestation have been [...]
Overseas stag parties put revellers at risk
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Overseas stag parties put revellers at risk
Stag and hen parties held overseas can lead to more serious after-effects than bleary eyes and a hangover, new research by Direct Line Travel Insurance has revealed. Of the 5.7m people who held stag and hen parties overseas in the last two years 115,000 knew someone who had had a piercing or tattoo that they [...]
Aviva revamps group personal accident offering
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva revamps group personal accident offering
Aviva has revamped “People and Places”, its group personal accident (GPA), sickness and business travel policy, as it looks to grow business in this area. New extensions including closure of airspace, kidnap and ransom cover, nuclear, chemical and biological cover, war cover outside the policyholder’s country of domicile, cover for rehabilitation expenses, search and rescue, [...]
