When To Take Out Annual Policy

[craft_Tel]

There's a lot to be considered in this. 
To start with; I have 2 trips planned, and both covered by individual policies, in October and November 2025, so logically cover should start AFTER both of those trips.
I have a bucket list trip planned and deposit only paid for May 2026, and most insurance companies won't start cover more than 180 days in advance, so it's been difficult getting quotes. 
As the main payment on the bucket list trip will only be due in February 2026, when would you take out cover?
As an additional aside; cover via the travel company was quoted at £525 for the single trip, but the offer said they would do annual cover for £460 - where's the logic in that!?!

[barry1010]

You should take out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip.  I haven't used this company, no nothing about them except they will insure you 18 in advance of a single trip

https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance/advance-travel-insurance-booking.html

There are others.  

[New Judge]

If you take out cover for a specific single booked trip, cover (against cancellation) should begin as soon as you have paid for the policy.

There is little point in taking out a policy to cover against cancellation for a trip due in (say) 18 months time if, in the event you had to cancel within the first 12 months you were not covered. 

Mrs NJ and I have had an annual policy for years. Our current one is provided with our bank account and costs £264 (£22 per month) for worldwide cover. We also get AA breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance for that.  It covers a long list of pre-existing medical conditions with no need to declare them. Cover for one long haul trip would probably cost us more than that.

If you have more than one trip planned I would take an annual policy. But, as always, shop around. It's very easy with tthe comparison websites. Beware, though, of the levels of cover, paricularly the cancellation cover.

[Bazile]

That's a good deal NJ 

Which bank is that ?

[New Judge]

Lloyds Club Platinum Account, baz:

https://www.lloydsbank.com/current-accounts/all-accounts/club-platinum-account.html

It mentions an additional £5 monthly fee but they waive that if you pay in £2,000 or more in a month. You don't have to have salary or pension of that sum - you can simply transfer it in from any non-Lloyds account and transfer it straight out again.

[Bazile]

Thanks NJ

[Hymie]

There was a case decided by the financial ombudsman in which someone had an annual policy that expired before a later planned holiday, but they fell ill (while their annual policy was in force) and could not take the later holiday.

 

The insurance company denied the claim, as the holiday was to be taken after the policy expired.

But the ombudsman ruled in favour of the policy holder, basically because otherwise the policy holder would have had to take out a second (annual policy) to cover the later trip.

 

Obviously had the policy holder fallen ill after the expiry of the annual policy, they would not have been covered for the later trip.