Groupama upgrades PMI to include travel insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Groupama upgrades PMI to include travel insurance
Groupama Healthcare has made some improvements to Santé, its private medical insurance product.
Santé was launched in 2006 and is aimed at the corporate SME sector. Its comprehensive cover provides a full refund on eligible inpatient treatment as well as various levels of outpatient cover.
The product has now been extended to include the option of annual […]
Winter sports enthusiasts should read small print
by Gill Montia
Story link: Winter sports enthusiasts should read small print
According to Moneysupermarket.com, one-quarter of the three million UK holidaymakers that will be headed for a skiing break this year will not be insured properly.
Some will not have read the small print and be unaware that their travel insurance does not cover skiing. Others do not believe that travel insurance is worthwhile.
It is estimated that […]
FSA to regulate Connected Travel Insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: FSA to regulate Connected Travel Insurance
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation paper setting out its plans for regulating Connected Travel Insurance (CTI), that is to say travel insurance sold alongside a holiday.
The FSA already regulates travel insurance bought directly from insurance firms and brokers, and the consumer group Which? has campaigned to extend the regulation to CTI […]
BIBA welcomes new Travel Insurance Review
by Brian Turner
Story link: BIBA welcomes new Travel Insurance Review
BIBA has welcomed the publication today by HM Treasury of its legislation to bring all travel insurance providers under FSA regulation.
Eric Galbraith Chief Executive of the British Insurance Broker’s Association, said: “The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has long campaigned for this legislation to protect the 20 million people who buy travel insurance every year. We […]
Gapyear travellers under-insured
by Gill Montia
Story link: Gapyear travellers under-insured
Gapyear.com, the website dedicated to young people who want to travel before completing a university course, has raised the alarm about the level of insurance taken out by a large number of gapyear travellers.
According to Tom Griffiths, the founder of gapyear.com, over 25% of those embarking on a gap year abroad have inadequate insurance or […]
Insure Pink heralds new era in travel insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Insure Pink heralds new era in travel insurance
A new brand of travel insurance, Insure Pink, has been launched in association with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The policy is aimed at anyone who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer and has then been turned down for travel insurance or charged a high premium.
The disease, which affects both men and women, may have been […]
BIBA critical of new ATOL APC
by Richard Kilner
Story link: BIBA critical of new ATOL APC
Independent travellers are not adequately protected by the new ATOL APC (ATOL Protection Contribution) system, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has warned.
Internet sales have increased hugely in recent times, resulting in many more people booking their own hotels and flights separately rather than using a more traditional travel organiser.
Consequently, the numbers of ATOL protected […]
ABI opposes changes to holiday protection scheme
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI opposes changes to holiday protection scheme
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has expressed dismay at the government’s plans to replace the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) protection scheme with a £1 levy on holidays.
ATOL is a scheme set up to protect consumers in the event of their tour operator ceasing to trade.
It is administered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) […]
New specialist website by Heath Lambert
by Richard Kilner
Story link: New specialist website by Heath Lambert
A new website has been launched by Heath Lambert, making specialist travel insurance available for brokers for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
The specialist scheme has been designed to make it easy for brokers to get cover for clients who are either older or have pre-existing medical conditions. A simple website has been built under the […]
Holiday claimants less than honest
by Gill Montia
Story link: Holiday claimants less than honest
Direct Line has been surveying holidaymakers who have claimed on their insurance for lost, stolen or damaged items.
More than one in 10 respondents admitted to increasing the value of their claim by 5%.
Of this group, 18% justified their actions by saying that they had not previously made a claim and were therefore somehow “owed” money […]
Gardeners and adventurers should check small print
by Gill Montia
Story link: Gardeners and adventurers should check small print
Gardener lovers and adventurers would be well advised to check their insurance policies.
According to Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans, almost a third of the people participating in their recent survey would spend more time in their gardens if only they were more attractive.
Those aged in their twenties and early thirties were particularly keen on more […]
Sharp rise in lost luggage claims
by Gill Montia
Story link: Sharp rise in lost luggage claims
InsureandGo, the travel insurance company, has reported a steep rise in the number of claims received for lost baggage.
During the period January to June 2006, the company received 1,133 baggage claims, but for the same period in 2007 claims increased 85%, to 2,094.
According to the number of people insured by the company, the figures for […]
Excellent Value from Small Travel Insurers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Excellent Value from Small Travel Insurers
Monseysupermarket.com, the price comparison website, is warning consumers that travel insurance policies issued by well-known insurers do not necessarily represent the best value for money.
Research conducted by the website shows that some little known firms are currently offering excellent value for money and consumers would be well advised to shop around as buying travel insurance […]
FSA to Regulate Travel Insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: FSA to Regulate Travel Insurance
New Government plans will give the Financial Services Authority (FSA) responsibility for regulating the sale of travel insurance that is purchased alongside a holiday. Currently the FSA only regulates travel insurance not sold as part of a holiday package and the move will give consumers the statutory protection afforded by FSA regulation.
Once the authority takes […]
Lloyds refuses diving claim
by Brian Turner
Story link: Lloyds refuses diving claim
A British scuba diver who fell victim to decompression sickness, also known as the bends, while diving on vacation in Egypt has been denied his insurance claim by Lloyds TSB.
The insurer’s position is that the man exceeded the depth provision written into his policy, that this is what caused his illness, and that […]
