Cancellation and Curtailment Cover

Cancellation and curtailment aren’t the same thing

Cancellation happens before you leave Ireland. For example, you may have to cancel because you become seriously ill and a doctor advises you not to travel.

Curtailment (cutting your trip short) happens after the holiday has started. You might need to return home earlier than planned because you become ill abroad or because a close relative at home is seriously ill.

What reasons may be covered

The policy lists specific events that can give rise to a cancellation claim. These include the unexpected death, bodily injury or illness of you, a travelling companion, a person you planned to stay with, a close relative or a close business associate.

Other listed reasons include certain pregnancy circumstances, jury service, being called as a court witness, qualifying redundancy, specified emergency-service leave being cancelled and serious damage or burglary at your home in the circumstances set out in the policy.

Curtailment cover is more limited. It mainly deals with unexpected illness, injury, death and the serious hospitalisation or imminent death of certain people. COVID-related cancellation and curtailment have their own conditions and time limits. Make sure to read the policy wording – don’t assume that a reason covered before departure will also be covered after the trip has started.

What costs can be claimed

For an eligible cancellation, the policy can cover irrecoverable deposits and amounts paid or contracted for travel and accommodation that you cannot use. For an eligible curtailment, it can cover unused accommodation and necessary additional travel expenses. Payment is limited to the amount shown on your Schedule of Cover for each insured person, and the relevant excess may be deducted.

Irrecoverable is the key word. You must first seek any refund, rebooking or other remedy available from the airline, hotel, tour operator, travel agent or another provider. The policy does not pay an amount that is recoverable elsewhere, and it does not automatically refund every part of the holiday. Tours, excursions and rental vehicles are among the costs excluded under this section.

If illness means you cannot travel

Do not cancel first and look for medical evidence afterwards. For a cancellation caused by a medical reason, including a mental health condition, the policy requires evidence that you sought medical advice and that a medical practitioner advised you to cancel before you actually cancelled.

Pre-existing medical conditions need to be declared, and you must also tell InsureandGo if a relevant medical condition develops or changes between buying the policy and travelling. The policy has further health requirements where another person’s condition gives rise to the claim, so read the policy wording or contact the team if you are unsure.

If you need to come home early

Call the 24-hour emergency-assistance team on +353 91 545 907 before making arrangements to cut the trip short and return home. If the reason is medical, obtain a certificate from the attending doctor abroad confirming that it is necessary for you to return home.

You also need prior consent before incurring more than €500 in expenses, curtailing the trip or extending it because of illness or injury. If a medical emergency leaves you physically unable to make contact right away, you or someone acting for you should contact the assistance team within 48 hours. Keep the original tickets, new tickets and receipts for any additional costs.

If the airline or holiday provider cancels

A provider cancelling your flight or holiday is different from you cancelling because of an insured event. The cancellation and curtailment section excludes a provider’s failure to supply the booked service, including due to default or insolvency, and it excludes costs that the provider or another source can repay.

Contact the provider first and ask about a refund, replacement trip or rebooking. Package-holiday and passenger rights may also apply. If part of the trip remains non-refundable, check the relevant policy section and contact the claims team before assuming it is covered.

Changing your mind is not covered

Cancellation cover is for listed, unexpected events. It does not cover deciding that you no longer want to travel, a circumstance you already knew was likely to cause a claim, ordinary work commitments, an employer changing your holiday entitlement, or failing to arrange a valid passport or visa.

What to do if you have to cancel

• Tell the travel agent, tour operator, airline and accommodation provider as soon as you know you need to cancel. Waiting can increase the cancellation charge, and the extra amount may not be covered.
• Ask each provider what can be refunded or rebooked. Get the answer in writing.
• If the reason is medical, obtain advice from a medical practitioner before cancelling and keep the supporting certificate.
• Keep your original booking invoice, cancellation invoice, refund details and any medical or death certificate that applies.
• Call the claims team on 091 545 907 or download the relevant form from the InsureandGo claims page.

Buying cover at the right time

Cancellation cover can only help with an event that happens after the cover starts. With a single-trip policy, cancellation cover starts when you pay the premium and the insurance certificate is issued. With an annual multi-trip policy, it starts on the policy start date or the date you book the trip, whichever is later.

That is why it usually makes sense to arrange travel insurance soon after booking. Buying a policy after you already know about the illness, disruption or other problem will not turn it into an unexpected insured event.