Brexit and Your Travel Insurance
Posted in General on 29 March 2019
As the situation regarding Brexit continues to change, as it stands the UK is still currently set to leave the European Union following the 2016 referendum which set in motion Article 50; the formal process of leaving the EU. While there hasn’t been a shortage of holidaymakers booking their 2019 trips abroad, there is a level of uncertainty about what this means for those holiday plans and what the implications of this are for your travel insurance policies.
Whilst we are not fully aware of what the outcome of Brexit will mean for your travel arrangements and travel insurance, whether there is a deal in place or in-fact a no-deal, there are three things which we can currently feel positive about;
(1) Your Travel Insurance is still valid
Voyager Insurance Services would like to reassure you that any travel insurance policy already purchased for travel post Brexit will still be valid according to the terms and conditions of the policy. Any Single-Trip or Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance policies will remain in place and cover will continue as scheduled per the contract at the time of sale.
(2) Flights to the UK to all EU countries will continue
ABTA states that UK citizens can rest assured that regardless of the Brexit outcome, flights will still continue between the UK and the EU. If a deal is agreed then up until December 2020 everything will remain as is and flights will continue as normal. If we do find ourselves in a no-deal scenario, the European Commission has stated that UK airlines will still be in operation between the UK and the EU.
In the event there is a flight disruption during your holiday, you do not necessarily need to make a claim via your travel insurer as in the first instance you should seek a refund from your airline or tour operator. If you have booked a package holiday deal, any disruptions should be covered by your provider.
Plus, if you booked your travel arrangements with a credit card, debit card or through PayPal, you should first seek recovery from your payment provider before seeking to claim on your travel insurance for unused travel and accommodation costs that you are unable to recover elsewhere.
(3) Emergency Medical Treatment abroad can still be obtained
An estimated 27 million UK citizens carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) whilst on holiday in Europe which entitles them to state provided healthcare abroad should it be needed. In the eventuality that the UK leaves the EU without a deal then this card may become invalid.
However, the section of cover within your travel insurance policy which offers protection for Emergency Medical Expenses will still remain effective, so it is still vitally important to still purchase your travel insurance before you go on holiday. Remember, the EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and will NOT cover any private medical costs, repatriation and is also not valid on cruises.
Please notewith the ongoing uncertainty in regards to Brexit, in the event of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ where the UK leaves the EU, Single Market and Customs Union without a Withdrawal Agreement, there could be consequences which are unknown at this point that could impact your travel arrangements and that travel insurance and the sections of cover may not cover all eventualities. You are encouraged to read your Travel Insurance Policy carefully to ensure it meets your demands and needs. Please contact your intermediary or our customer services team on +44 (0) 1483 562 662 if you have any questions.
For continued up to date information and guidance on travel insurance for foreign travel, please visit the government’s website at www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance
You can also find additional up-to-date information on the ABTA website at www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/
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