Frequently asked questions

Am I covered if I (or my travelling companion or people we are due to stay with) test positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) within 14 days of my holiday?

Yes. Cover is provided if you have received a positive diagnosis of Coronavirus within 14 days of the start of the trip. You must have received a positive COVID-19 NHS test. However, you must not have had any symptoms or positive diagnosis before you bought your policy or booked your holiday.

Am I covered if I (or my travelling companion or people we are due to stay with) have been hospitalised because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Yes.Cover is provided if you are admitted to hospital due to Coronavirus within 28 days of the start of the trip. You must have received a positive COVID-19 NHS test. However, you must not have had any symptoms or positive diagnosis before you bought your policy or booked your holiday.

Am I covered if either I or my travelling companion are denied boarding by the transport operator (eg. airline) as a result of a positive test or temperature reading?

Yes.Cover is provided if you or your travel companion are denied boarding following either a COVID-19 diagnosis with an NHS or other government official test or receiving a temperature test reading or other medical test which falls outside of the transport provider’s terms of travel.

Am I covered for medical costs if I fall ill with Coronavirus (COVID-19) whilst I am abroad?

Yes.This would be covered under medical expenses section of the policy. If medically necessary we will also arrange for you to be brought back home.

Am I covered if I have checked in at my holiday accommodation, but they then need to close as a result of coronavirus?

Yes. provided that you have already checked in. If the accommodation closes after you have left home but before you check in and you are no longer able to enjoy the holiday you booked this is not covered because it will be the responsibility of your tour operator or travel company to assist you. You will need to approach them in this scenario.

Am I covered for any additional costs following the diagnosis of Coronavirus COVID-19 whilst abroad?

Yes. These would be covered under medical expenses section of the policy, within the terms and conditions. It will offer cover for room only and travelling expenses for you and a close relative or friend who might be required to help you.

Am I covered if I fall ill with COVID-19 whilst abroad and as a result need to extend my stay?

Yes. Your policy would also automatically extend to cover this.

Am I covered if either myself or my travelling companion have to self-isolate because we have come into contact with someone who has Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

No. You are only covered if a positive diagnosis has been made and you have received a positive COVID-19 NHS test and provide us with a medical certificate from the hospital to show your hospitalisation. If there has been no diagnosis and you are just asked to self-isolate, then you would not be covered under this policy.

Am I covered if I am shielding currently or my doctor has advised against travel because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

No. We would not expect people who are required to shield to be actively booking trips due to the current pandemic and the advice for them not to travel, as this would be a known risk. However, should the current pandemic disappear, shielding cease and you book a future trip and subsequently receive a positive NHS test or hospitalisation due to a future pandemic outbreak, cover would be provided.

Am I covered if my trip is going ahead as planned but I no longer wish to travel?

No. This is called disinclination to travel. This is because however valid you feel your reason is for not wanting to take the trip, it is still your choice as to whether to go. An insurer will not pay any claim for that reason.

Am I covered if the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or World Health Organisation (WHO) or local regulator advise against all but essential travel?

No. There would be no cover under any terms of the policy.

Am I covered if I am refused entry into a country due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

No. You would only be covered under the medical expenses section of cover if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and this is the reason entry is prevented. For any other reason your tour operator or travel company should help you and you should contact them for assistance.

Am I covered if the area I am staying is placed into lockdown by the local government and I cannot return home when I am due to come back?

No. You should contact your tour operator or travel company for assistance.

Policies purchased within this timeframe will not include cover under any section whatsoeverfor claims directly or indirectly caused by Coronavirus.
This includes any preventative containment or delay measures.

Am I covered if I catch Coronavirus in the UK and need to cancel my holiday?

Yes, you are covered under the cancellation and curtailment section for cancellation of your trip if, after you have purchased your policy, you test positive for Coronavirus and you are advised not to travel by your GP or Doctor.

Your policy will pay you up to the amount shown in the summary of cover for the unused portion of your travel and accommodation costs that you have paid or contracted to pay and you suffer a financial loss because you cannot get a full refund if you cancel before the start of your trip or cut your trip short and return home early during the period of insurance because of the following:

• the death, bodily injury, illness or being subject to quarantine of you, a close relative or any person you have arranged to travel or stay with during your trip;’

Am I insured if I travel against the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)?

None of the policies underwritten by Ageas will provide any cover if you decide to travel against the advice of the FCO. This would be for ‘All Travel’ and ‘All but Essential Travel’.

If the area is classified as ‘All but Essential Travel’ and customers are still planning to go, they must contact us in advance with their reasons for travel and cover must be agreed by the Underwriters.

Will my policy cover medical treatment for the Coronavirus? And will repatriation be covered?

Yes, you are covered as follows; if you travel to a country that the FCO has not advised against travel to and catch Coronavirus or require medical treatment, then yes cover will be in place for emergency and necessary treatment. Customers should be aware that our policies are travel insurance policies and not private medical insurance meaning that there is no cover for any medical expenses incurred in private medical facilities if we have confirmed that medically capable public facilities are available.

Please contact our Assistance Team if you require medical treatment.

Our policies will provide cover for repatriation (bringing you home) that is medically necessary. Our Assistance Team will liaise with your treating doctor(s) about your treatment plan and if required obtain a ‘fit to fly’ certificate. We also liaise with you and advise on, and put in place, suitable repatriation plans to get you home as soon as it is medically safe to do so in order to achieve your optimal recovery. Our team are unable to make arrangements to repatriate you where it is against local advice, where travel is restricted or where you would pose a risk to other passengers.

Am I covered for cancellation due to the Coronavirus?

Under all Ageas underwritten policies there is ‘specified cause’ cancellation cover, which does not extend to cancellation due to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advising against travel to a country (or parts of a country).

In the first instance customers with travel booked to areas that the FCO have advised against travel to should contact their airline or tour operator in order to obtain a refund or arrange an alternative holiday.

If I am stuck abroad due to the Coronavirus and cannot come home on my planned return date, will my travel insurance be extended to cover me until I can get home?

Depending on your policy, cover may be extended for the following reasons:

• If you are hospitalised, require medical treatment and are unable to fly.

• If your transport is disrupted or delayed.

• If you cannot return home for any reason beyond your control

If I am quarantined due to the Coronavirus, what cover is in place?

If you are admitted to hospital with the virus your policy will usually provide medical emergency cover and assistance with returning home when you have been discharged.

Please contact our Assistance Team if you are admitted to hospital.

If you are confined to your trip accommodation in a quarantine situation, Ageas policies will not cover any additional accommodation or other additional costs, the local governments and authorities imposing quarantine should be assisting with these costs.

What happens if I arrive at my holiday destination and they refuse entry due to the virus?

If you travel to an area which the FCO advise against travel to, there would be no cover under the travel insurance policies as this would be considered as a known event.

If you travel to an area and the FCO advice changes after leaving home, you should contact your travel agent or tour operator for information on the availability of flights or refunds in the first instance.

If you are refused entry at passport/border control, you should contact your airline or transport provider to arrange changing your return ticket to allow you to come home early.

Will I be covered if I want to cut my trip short due to the Coronavirus?

Travel insurance policies have different terms and conditions regarding what is and what is not covered in regards to cutting short a trip.

This type of event is usually not covered across the travel insurance industry for cutting short a trip. This is because most policies have specific reasons for cutting short your trip and the “fear of an epidemic, pandemic, infection or allergic reaction” is not one of those reasons.

We would advise travellers who have booked package holidays to a destination affected by the viral outbreak and looking to cut your trip short they should contact their travel agent or tour operator for information on the availability of flights in the first instance.

If you are travelling independently from a tour operator or travel agent, you should make your own arrangements to leave by either altering return tickets where possible or booking onto an alternative commercial flight or mode of transport. Claims for independent traveller’s additional expenses in returning home earlier than planned, where medically justified, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If I go out on an excursion for the day and then am not allowed back to my travel accommodation (or cruise ship) due to quarantine, what cover do I have?

You should follow any instructions issued by the local authorities as it is more than likely that you will have to enter some form of quarantine.

Traveller’s should contact their travel agent or tour operator for assistance in the first instance.

If I have a stop-over in an area which the FCO advises against travel to, am I still covered?

Yes, but where possible should remain at airport.

Can my policy be changed to suit a ‘new/different’ holiday or trip?

Yes, policy can be transferred to an alternative booking if you are unable to go on your trip, but Tour Operator is happy to transfer holiday to alternative destination/dates.

What can I do with my policy if I am no longer travelling and have received a refund for my holiday?

You may cancel your insurance policy within 14 days of purchase without penalty and we will provide a full refund providing that you have not made a claim during the 14 days. After 14 days, you may cancel the policy at any time but you will not receive a refund.  

This is not a private health insurance policy. The Insurer will pay for private treatment only if there is no appropriate reciprocal health agreement in existence and no public service available and the Insurer reserves the right to organise a transfer from a private medical facility to a public medical facility where appropriate.

 If you are taken/or go to a private medical facility, costs that arise will only be covered if you have contacted  the emergency medical assistance company and any treatment has been authorised by them.

Yes, cover is included for pregnancy. However it relates solely for complications that arise during the course of the pregnancy because being pregnant is not considered to be a medical condition. This means that only certain circumstances that are caused by complications in a pregnancy are covered. It is really important that you check this cover in the policy wording.

Most sections of the policy carry an Excess. You have agreed to pay towards a claim under each section of the policy. The amount may vary depending on the level of cover you have chosen. It is applicable per person per section. The Excess will be reduced to NIL if you have used an EHIC (formerly E111) to reduce your medical expenses bill.

1. Any medical condition where You have been prescribed medication, including repeat prescriptions, or received treatment or attended a GP or a specialist as an outpatient or inpatient in the last 2 years or for which You are currently on a waiting list for treatment or investigation; and
   
   
2. Any heart, heart-related or circulatory condition; or any respiratory condition or any liver condition; any stress, anxiety, depression or any other psychological condition or any cancerous condition.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions please call 01293 855855 to assess if you are eligible to obtain full cover for the condition(s) disclosed.

For more information, please refer to the "Important Conditions Relating To Health" section of the policy wording.

For Claims relating to Policy A - Your Travel Policy

If you need to make a claim, please call 02380 177285 or you can submit a claim online at www,imr-claims.com.

For Claims Relating to Section B - Optional Gadget Cover Upgrade

Claim forms can be obtained by calling the claims helpline on 01285 626020 or emailing [email protected], giving your name and insurance schedule number along with a brief description of your claim.

The maximum number of dependent children under 18 living at home is 4 on a family policy.

Terms and Conditions are another expression for the Policy Wording. You need to read the Policy Wording carefully because it sets out the cover that you have purchased and also the conditions that you need to meet in order to make a claim.

If after reading the policy wording you decide the terms of the insurance contract do not meet your requirements you can, WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE DATE YOU RECEIVED YOUR DOCUMENTS, return it for a full refund. No refunds will be given for policies cancelled outside 14 days.

Provided you have paid the Winter Sports upgrade, and you are under the age of 60, you are covered for: ski equipment, piste closure, avalanche cover, ski hire, ski pack costs up to the limits shown on the summary of cover. Activities covered are:

• Bob Sleighing
• Skiing, Big Foot
• Cross Country Skiing
• Ski Bobbing
• Curling
• Sledging
• Dog Sledging
• Snow Boarding
• Dry Slope Skiing
• Snow Cat Skiing
• Heli Skiing
• Snow Kiting
• Luging
• Snow Mobiling
• Mono-Skiing
• Snow Shoeing
• Skiing
• Tobogganing

If You have a medical emergency, please call 00 44 (0) 2380 177474. These lines are open 24 hours a day.

International Medical Rescue will provide immediate help if you are ill or injured outside your Home Country. They provide a 24-hour emergency service 365 days a year. When contacting them you will need to quote your Policy Number, your name, address and a telephone number.

You must contact the medical emergency assistance team as soon as possible before incurring expenses over £500.

You must retain receipts for medical and additional costs incurred and the excess must be paid by you at the time of treatment.

Note: If you are physically unable to contact the assistance team then you or someone designated by you must contact the team within 48 hours.

Adults over the age of 18 can travel independently, all children must be accompanied by an insured adult.

The policy lasts for the complete 12 months, and you can take as many trips/holidays as you wish during the year. Any individual trip or holiday must not last longer than 31 days. If a trip is for a longer period you will need to purchase a Single Trip policy for that particular trip. Winter Sports cover, Golf and Cruise Cover are available at an additional premium.

These are the different levels of cover offered under this policy. Essential offers the most basic level of cover with the highest excesses. Super Plus cover provides the widest range of cover and the highest levels of protection for you and requires you to pay the least amount of excess. As a result Super Plus cover is the more expensive choice however ensures that you have the highest protection.

Your policy can be emailed directly to your email address shortly after being issued. Please note that some internet providers filter our automated e-mails as SPAM so please check your SPAM/junk folder if the e-mail has not been received. If you have any difficulties receiving your policy documents, please call us on 01293 665898.

Yes. The maximum age for our policy is 85 for a Single Trip or 79 on an Annual Multi-trip at the commencement of the period of insurance. NOTE that the maximum age to add Winter Sports cover is 60 when you buy the policy.

No, we can only offer cover to residents of the United Kingdom.

Scuba diving to a depth of 18 metres (within organisers guidlines) is covered. The policy can be upgraded to include scuba diving to a depth of 30 metres for an additional premium.

Yes, but they must pay the adult premium for their cover and must comply with any airline rules in terms of travelling as a minor. The policy can only be issued by calling Sunmaster on 01293 665898.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Visa Electron and Delta.

You must report theft or losses to the police or relevant authority within 24 hours of the event and obtain a written report. These reports are the only proof that the loss/theft did actually occur. Without them the insurer cannot make any payment to you. If you leave luggage and personal items unattended in a public place then we cannot be held responsible for any resultant claim. You should always take reasonable care to look after your property and treat it as if it were not insured. There is no cover for cash or valuables left in an unattended vehicle at any time, even if the vehicle is locked.

At the time of booking your travel arrangements to make sure that you have cancellation cover in place for that particular trip. If your travel arrangements change then you must call Sunmaster immediately on 01293 665898. You must be able to provide the correct Period of Insurance on your documentation in the event of a claim.

Please ensure that you take a copy of your certificate of insurance and a copy of the full policy wording - these documents contain important numbers that you may require whilst travelling.

If you have paid the appropriate premium, you are covered for cancellation of your holiday for the reasons stated in the policy wordings. You may be able to claim (subject to the policy terms and conditions) for any travel or accommodation costs that you have either already paid or are contracted to pay, that you cannot reclaim from the tour operator.

If you intend travelling to European Union (EU) countries, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, we would advise you to obtain a Form CM1 from your local main Post Office. On returning this, duly completed, to the main Post Office you will be issued with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which will entitle you to certain free or reduced cost health arrangements in the EU, EEA or Switzerland. (Full details are given in the DSS Leaflet No. SA40).

NB: In the event that you have used the EHIC to effectively reduce the cost or your treatment or medicines; then you will not have to pay an Excess in relation to any medical related claims.

You should check with your doctor as soon as possible, your doctor will be best advised to tell you what vaccinations are required, if any.

You can change or upgrade your policy at any time as long as you have not made a claim. Please contact Sunmaster on 01293 665898 for amendments and upgrades.

Your insurance automatically covers you for the following activities:

Aerobics
Roller skating
Archery
Rounders
Badminton
Scuba diving (to 18 metres)
Basketball
Skateboarding
Beach games
Snooker, pool and billiards
Bowls
Snorkelling
Cricket
Squash
Cycling,*No Personal Liability cover – no tours
Surfing, *No Personal Liability Cover
Fell walking, rambling and trekking (up to 2,000 metres altitude)
Swimming (in pool or on inland waters or coastal waters within a 12-mile limit from land)
Fishing
Table tennis
Football
Tennis
Golf
Volleyball
Ice-skating (rink only)
Water Polo
Mountain Biking (excluding competition)
Water-skiing (only on inland waters or coastal waters within a 12-mile limit from land) * No Personal Liability cover
Parascending (towed by boat) *No Personal Liability cover
Windsurfing (only on inland waters or coastal waters within a 12-mile limit from land) * No Personal Liability cover
Racket Ball
Yachting, boating, sailing and rowing (only on inland waters or coastal waters within a 12-mile limit from land) * No Personal Liability cover
Rambling
Rafting, canoeing and kayaking * No Personal Liability cover

Table B - Providing you have paid the appropriate premium you will be covered for all activities listed in Table A as well as the following:

Bungee Jump No Personal Accident cover
Hydro Zorbing
Camel/Elephant Riding
Martial Arts (Training only)
Deep Sea Fishing
Motorcycling (over 50cc and under 250 cc - no racing) as a rider or passenger when wearing a helmet provided the rider holds an appropriate motorcycle licence to ride the motorcycle.
Dog Sledging
Rafting, canoeing and kayaking (including white water up to grade 3) * No Personal Liability cover
Go Karting
Rugby
Gymnastics
Safari ( not involving use of firearms)
Hiking (between 2,000 and 4,000 metres altitude)
Scuba Diving (between 18 and 30 metres)
Hockey
Sea Canoeing
Horse riding (no Polo, Hunting, Jumping or Racing)
Trekking (between 2,000 and 5,000 metres altitude)
Hot Air Ballooning (non-UK organised)
Triathlon – Road Bike

Table C - Providing you have paid the appropriate premium you will be covered for all activities listed in Table A and B as well as the following:

• Abseiling
• Paragliding
• Parasailing
• Parascending (over land)
• Rafting, canoeing and kayaking (including white water up to grade 4) * No PL cover
• Sail boarding
• Sand boarding
• Sand yachting
• Skiing (Dry slope)
• Snowboarding (Dry slope)

Table D- Providing you have paid the appropriate premium you will be covered for all activities listed in Table A, B and C as well as the following:

• Animal Riding (other than camel and elephant riding)
• Canyoning
• Hand gliding
• High Diving
• Horse jumping (no Polo or Hunting)
• Ice hockey
• Land yachting
• Micro lighting * No PL cover
• Motor rallies
• Parachuting
• Rock climbing
• Rock scrambling
• Scuba diving (up to 30 metres) is BSAC, PADI, DIWA, SSI or SSA member
• Show jumping (no Polo or Hunting)
• Sky diving
• Triathlon – Ironman
• Wrestling
• Work abroad (manual, ground level only, no machinery)

Yes, cover is provided irrespective of how your Trip / holiday has been packaged together.