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How Do Travel Insurance Claims Work?

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Table of Contents

How travel insurance claims work

How to submit your travel insurance claim and get reimbursed, time limits for filing a claim, how long do claim submissions take, how to choose a travel insurance plan, if you need to file a claim from your travel insurer ....

Whether your flight has been canceled, your luggage is lost or you get sick or injured during your trip, travel insurance can protect you. But to get your benefits, you need to submit one or more travelers insurance claims, depending on your situation.

Here's how travel insurance claims work and what to watch out for when submitting your claim.

Travel insurance claims are the system through which a traveler submits documentation to their insurance provider for reimbursement of a covered expense. This reimbursement is not guaranteed; instead, it hinges on the approval of the claim from the insurance underwriter.

In general, the provider will need to verify the situation before remitting any reimbursements to travelers, and the level of coverage varies significantly. Insurance providers typically have very explicit, extensive requirements in order for claims to be confirmed and refunded.

Travel insurance 101 means knowing how travel insurance claims work. Hopefully, you’ll never need to file a claim, but it pays to know the following facts if the worst should happen.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

You must qualify for a covered reason

Insurance companies are very explicit about the situations they will cover, and coverage details vary by company and the type of policy that you've purchased.

In general, the more expensive your policy, the more benefits the policy will offer. While some policies cover only medical emergencies, others cover trip cancellation and interruption , lost or stolen bags, and other losses.

Even though policies can be dense or boring to read, be sure you look at the details of yours so you know what types of situations you're covered for .

The details of your claim matter

The details about your reason for canceling are important, and the specifics will determine your eligibility. For example, you may not be feeling well, but are you sick enough that a doctor would suggest that you cancel your trip? There's a big difference between having a small cough and having pneumonia.

You may have to go through extra steps, like seeing a doctor, to prove your eligibility.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

Reservations must be nonrefundable to qualify for cancellation benefits

When you’re traveling on miles and points, you can receive medical, trip delay and lost luggage benefits from a travel insurance policy you purchase. But if you want reimbursement for a canceled flight, travel insurance only covers nonrefundable expenses.

This prevents travelers from trying to "double-dip" and get a refund from both the airline and the travel insurance company.

Keep cancellation policies in mind before purchasing travel insurance. If you’re flying Southwest Airlines, which offers easy changes and refunds, and if your hotel has a 24-hour cancellation policy and you don’t have many activities booked in advance, you may not need travel insurance. The more flexible your plans, the less need you will have for travel insurance.

Claims should be submitted as soon as possible

Being proactive and timely with your claim ensures you won’t miss any deadlines that the travel insurance company may have. You don't want to go through the entire claims process only to find out that you missed the deadline by a few days. Instead, start your claim as soon as you can.

Organization is your friend

The travel insurance company will require documentation to support your claim, so you'll want to be organized as you collect the necessary records.

To stay organized with your documents, set up a folder in your email account for relevant messages, keep all paper receipts in an envelope and write down details of every conversation.

Many travelers digitize everything to make it easier to submit documents via email or an online portal. Your documentation should show that you have a valid claim that meets the insurance company requirements.

Time limits for filing a travelers insurance claim vary from company to company, so it is wise to refer to your specific policy to ensure you have a clear idea of the timeframe. Overall, most companies require claim submissions within 3 months of the incident.

For instance, according to insurance provider Seven Corners , "You must file your claim within 90 days of the incident, also known as the timely filing limit."

After you've submitted your claim — and assuming you have provided all of the required documentation and other elements — it can take up to two weeks for your reimbursement to be remitted.

Generally speaking, you should expect communication regarding your claim within that same timeframe. This could be to alert you of your claim's approval or to ask for additional evidence.

The more complex your travel insurance claim, the longer your approval and reimbursement process may take.

If your claim is approved, expect to receive a check or direct deposit of the amount owed.

Shop around if you’re looking to purchase a travel insurance plan. There are many online providers of travel insurance and the coverage amounts, limits, exclusions and other offerings can vary widely from provider to provider, not to mention policy to policy — even within the same company.

A comparison tool, like SquareMouth , can help you filter results based on what is important to you. You can filter your search to find policies that cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage, medical treatment or other needs. You can then compare the cost of one policy against others based on your preferences and budget.

Travel insurance offers valuable protection in case something goes wrong with your travel plans. Your policy benefits will vary based on the level of coverage purchased and which company is offering the protection. When evaluating travel insurance providers, learn about their claims process should the worst-case scenario come true.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Welcome to your RAC Travel Insurance portal

• View all your important travel insurance documents
• Update your personal details
• Make a claim
• Get a new travel insurance quote

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FAQs centre

Included as standard:.

• 24/7 Emergency Helpline
• Cancellation & cutting short your trip
• Driving Holiday Pack
• Covid-19 Protection

So we can then direct you to the right information, please select below where you bought or are looking to buy your travel insurance policy.

Please select where you bought or are looking to buy your travel insurance policy.

If you can’t find the answer, speak to one of our agents via the 'Chat with Us' button. We're here Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.

Managing my policy

I have not received my insurance documents, what should I do?

If you haven't received an email from us with instructions on how to register for our online customer portal and view your travel insurance documents, please email us at [email protected] . We'll email you your documents within 1 working day. Please note, for data protection reasons, we can only send the documents to the email address provided at point of sale.

I want to cancel my policy

You can speak with one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button or email [email protected] to cancel your policy. We'll give you a full refund if you cancel within the 14 days of the receipt of your documentation and you've not started a trip, made, or intend to make a claim.

Please note, for data protection reasons, we can only cancel a policy if the request is made via the same email address used to purchase the policy.

What happens if my medical conditions change after I have purchased a policy?

If any of your details change then you'll need to contact us on 0330 159 0405 as soon as possible to update your policy.

If your details have changed and you travel without informing us of the changes then we may be unable to honour any claims which arise.

How do I amend my policy or change/extend my travel dates?

If you want to amend any of your personal details, you can speak with one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button.

If you want to make a change to your travel insurance cover, including changing your dates or extending your trip, please contact our team on 0330 159 0405 . Please note, any amendment on your policy may result in a change in premium.

COVID-19 Cover

What is included within your COVID-19 and Enhanced COVID-19 cover?

Our Standard COVID-19 cover is included within all RAC Travel Insurance policies at no extra charge. It provides you with:

• Cancellation if you've a COVID-19 diagnosis within 14 days of your departure.
• Emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you contract COVID-19 abroad.

Enhanced COVID-19 cover is available for an extra charge on policies purchased through the RAC Travel Insurance website only. It costs £11 for single trip and £15 for an annual multi-trip which covers everyone on the policy. To add it simply select the 'Enhanced COVID-19 Cover' when you get a quote.

The Enhanced COVID-19 Cover Add On includes:

• Full cover if you visit Europe even when the FCDO advises against all but essential travel if the advice solely relates to COVID-19.
• Cancellation due to self-isolation if you’re contacted by UK Test and Trace System.
• Cancellation if you've an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Cancellation for incomplete COVID-19 vaccinations due to illness.

COVID-19 cover is only available to customers who have taken vaccinations when offered to them.

Do I need to have received my COVID-19 vaccine to be covered under your policy?

To be covered, you need to have received all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that you've been offered, including any booster jabs. You'll also be covered if you can't have the vaccine due to a medical exemption. If you've refused any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or any booster jab, then you won't be covered for COVID-19 related claims.

Who is covered?

Do you family policies cover children over the age of 18?

Our family travel insurance covers up to 2 adults and up to 5 children under the age of 18. If your children are 18 years or over, you may want to consider buying a group annual multi-trip policy. We can only offer this type of policy over the phone, so please call us on 0330 159 0405 , Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, excluding Bank Holidays.

If I buy a couple, family or group annual multi-trip policy, can I travel alone?

You can travel alone on all our travel insurance policies if you're 18 years of age and over.

Does RAC Travel Insurance have an age limit?

If you purchase your policy through the RAC Travel Insurance website, we have no upper age limit for single trip policies. For our annual multi-trip cover you must be aged 80 or under at the start of the policy period.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 named on the insurance policy for the duration of the trip.

Are the benefit limits per person under the policy?

The benefits, limits and excesses within your policy are per person, per claim. Therefore, if you've a family or group policy, the limits and excesses will be for each of you individually.

The airline I am travelling with has cancelled my flight due to staffing issues, am I covered?

When an airline cancels a flight, you're entitled to certain refunds and compensation from the airline.

We ask that before you contact us in relation to costs arising from the recent spate of flight cancellations, that you first directly approach your airline, tour operator or packaged holiday organiser.

If you're unable to get a refund or compensation from any of the above companies and you paid for your trip with a credit card you may also be able to recover your costs through section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act or via a 'chargeback claim'.

How do I make a claim before or after my holiday or when I am abroad?

You can contact us on the following numbers should you need assistance abroad or to make a claim before or after your holiday:

• Medical emergency assistance (24 hour) +44 (0)1403 289 148 If in the USA or Canada call +1 844 780 0663 or if you're in Mexico, please call 00 1 819 780 0662
• Claims, excluding gadget and financial failure: call 01403 289 151 or email [email protected]
• Financial failure claims: call 0345 266 1872 or email [email protected]
• Gadget claims: call 0330 880 1751 or email [email protected]

What is covered?

What kind of travel insurance do I need?

This will all depend on what you want to be covered for and who you're travelling with. You may want to consider how much your holiday has cost you and whether you've any pre-existing medical conditions that you could potentially need emergency treatment for abroad.

If you're only planning to travel once in a year, then single trip travel insurance could be more appropriate for you. Single trip policies do cover you to travel to multiple destinations, but you'll need to ensure that you advise us of all destinations when you get a quote.

If you're planning to go on holiday more than once in a year, then annual multi-trip travel insurance could be more cost effective and save you having to take out a new policy each time you travel. You'll also be covered for cancellation from the start date of your annual multi-trip policy, offering you value and peace of mind from the start.

You should ensure that each of the holidays you're planning will be covered by the policy you've selected.

What do your policies offer?

The benefits, limits and excesses within your policy are per person, per claim. Therefore, if you've a couple, family or group travel insurance policy, the limits and excesses will be for each of you individually.

You can find a full list of what our policies offer in our policy wording .

What is the maximum trip duration I can take?

For annual multi-trip cover the maximum trip duration is 62 days for Orange and Silver cover and 92 days for Black cover. Trips within the UK are covered when you've pre-booked accommodation for a minimum of 2 nights.

For single trip cover, the maximum trip duration 94 days.

Do I need the extra gadget cover to insure my gadgets?

All policies offered via our RAC Travel website provide you with gadget cover as standard. The amount of cover will vary depending on what cover level you purchase. All benefits are per person, per claim.

If you think you'll need additional cover for your gadgets, we offer an optional gadget extension that you can select when you get a quote with us.

Our policy wording will provide you with what cover your policy provides as standard and what our gadget extension cover will increase these limits to.

Can I buy RAC Travel Insurance if I live overseas or if my journey starts from another country?

No, only UK residents who are registered with a UK GP can purchase travel insurance from the RAC. You must purchase travel insurance before leaving the UK, if you purchase a policy after leaving the UK there will be no cover and the policy may be void.

Does my travel insurance cover me for holidays in the UK?

Yes, our single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance covers holidays in the UK. You're covered for any trip not exceeding the maximum trip length as confirmed in your policy schedule, where you've pre-booked at least two nights' accommodation.

Travel delay is not covered for any trips within the UK (except for trips to the Channel Islands).

I'm travelling today. Can I get cover immediately?

Provided you've not already started your holiday, RAC Travel Insurance policies will provide you with cover as soon as your purchase has been confirmed.

I am pregnant, will I be covered for medical costs?

With RAC Travel Insurance you're covered for bodily injury and illness whilst travelling when pregnant. Please check your transport provider's guidelines before travelling as they may have restrictions.

There is no cover available for medical costs associated with normal pregnancy. This policy is designed to provide cover for unforeseen events, accidents, illnesses and diseases and normal childbirth would not constitute an unforeseen event. Any costs arising from your pregnancy or childbirth, if the expected date of delivery is less than 12 weeks (16 weeks for a multiple birth) after the end of the trip, are excluded.

Which activities am I covered for?

An activity or sport that I want to take part in on holiday is not covered under your policy, what can I do?

If you want to know more about the activities our travel insurance covers, or if one that you're looking to take part in is not listed within our policy wording, you can speak to one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button or email us [email protected] and we'll see if there's anything we can do.

What activities am I covered for as standard under your policy?

You can find a full list of activities covered within our policy wording .

If an activity or sport that you're looking to take part in is not listed within our policy wording , you can speak with one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button.

Please note, you won't be covered under this policy whilst taking part in winter sports unless you select this cover which will incur an additional premium. Winter sports insurance provides cover for emergency medical treatment caused by your participation in winter sports activities, the delay, loss, theft or damage to your ski equipment, cover for ski pack expenses, piste closure and avalanche closure.

Do you offer cruise cover?

Cruise is covered as standard within our single trip travel insurance policies however you can choose our cruise add on which will provide additional cover for an extra charge.

Our cruise add-on provides cover for the specific activities and risks associated with cruise holidays such as increased cover for your personal possessions, cover if you're confined to your cabin and missed excursions, or cruise itinerary changes.

As cruise holidays cover many different destinations, please ensure you're covered for each country you'll be visiting. Cruise cover is only available on single trip policies, not annual multi-trip policies.

If you haven't received an email from us with instructions on how to register for our online customer portal and view your insurance documents, please email us at [email protected] and we'll email your documents to you within 1 working day Please note, for data protection reasons, we can only send the documents to the email address provided at point of sale.

You can speak with one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button or email [email protected] to cancel your policy. We'll give you a full refund if you cancel within the 14 days of the receipt of your documentation and you've not started a trip, made or intend to make a claim.

If you want to make a change to your policy cover, including changing your dates or extending your trip, please contact our Team on 0330 159 0405 . Please note, any amendment on your policy may result in a change in premium.

What is included within your COVID-19 cover?

Our Standard COVID-19 cover is included within all policies at no extra charge. It provides you with:

• Cancellation if you've a COVID-19 diagnosis within 14 days of your departure

Our family policy covers up to 2 adults and up to 5 children under the age of 18. If your children are 18 years or over, you may want to consider buying a group annual multi-trip policy. We can only offer this type of policy over the phone, so please call us on 0330 159 0405 , Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, excluding Bank Holidays.

You can travel alone on all our policies if you're 18 years of age and over.

If you purchase your policy through Compare the Market, Go Compare and Confused.com, you must be 85 years and under at the start of your policy for single trips. For our annual multi-trip cover you must be aged 75 or under at the start of the policy period.

We ask that before you contact us in relation to costs arising from the recent spate of flight cancellations that you first directly approach your airline, tour operator or packaged holiday organiser.

You can contact us on the following numbers should you need assistance abroad or to make a claim.

• Claims, excluding gadget and Financial Failure, 01403 289 151 or email [email protected]
• Financial Failure claims 0345 266 1872 or email [email protected]
• Gadget claims 0330 880 1751 or email [email protected]

If you're only planning to travel once in a year, then a single trip policy could be more appropriate for you. Single Trip policies do cover you to travel to multiple destinations, but you'll need to ensure that you advise us of all destinations when you get a quote.

If you're planning to go on holiday more than once in a year, then an annual multi-trip policy could be more cost effective and save you having to take out a new policy each time you travel. You'll also be covered for Cancellation from the start date of your annual multi-trip policy, offering you value and peace of mind from the start.

The benefits, limits and excesses within your policy are per person, per claim. Therefore, if you've a couple, family or group policy, the limits and excesses will be for each of you individually.

For annual multi-trip cover the maximum trip duration is 22 days for Orange cover, 32 days for Silver cover and 45 days for Black cover. Trips within the UK are covered when you've prebooked accommodation for a minimum of 2 nights.

For single trip Cover, the maximum trip duration is 94 days or 21 days a for a trip to the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Our Black Essential and Black Essential Plus policy offered via Compare the Market, Go Compare and Confused.com Websites provide you with £1,000 of gadget cover against accidental damage, theft, malicious damage and loss and unauthorised usage as standard.

If you think you'll need additional cover for your gadgets, or want to have gadget cover on your Orange and Silver Essential or Orange and Silver Essential Plus policy and did not select for this to be added within your quote, we offer an optional gadget extension that you can add to your policy for an additional premium, by contacting us on 0330 159 0405 .

No, only UK residents who are registered with a UK GP can purchase travel insurance from RAC. You must purchase travel insurance before leaving the UK, if you purchase a policy after leaving the UK there will be no cover and the policy may be void.

Yes, our single trip and annual multi-trip policies cover holidays in the UK. You're covered for any trip not exceeding the maximum trip length as confirmed in your policy schedule, where you've pre-booked at least two nights' accommodation.

Provided you've not already started your holiday, RAC travel insurance policies will provide you with cover as soon as your purchase has been confirmed.

You're covered for bodily injury and illness whilst travelling when pregnant. Please check your transport provider's guidelines before travelling as they may have restrictions.

If you want to know more about the activities we cover, or if one that you're looking to take part in is not listed within our policy wording , you can speak to one of our agents via the 'chat with us' button or email us [email protected] and we'll see if there's anything we can do.

Please note, you won't be covered under this policy whilst taking part in Winter Sports unless you select this cover which will incur an additional premium. Winter sports insurance provides cover for emergency medical treatment caused by your participation in Winter Sports activities, the delay, loss, theft or damage to your ski equipment, cover for ski pack expenses, piste closure and avalanche closure.

Cruise is covered as standard within our single trip policies however you can choose our cruise add on which will provide additional cover for an extra charge by contacting us on 0330 159 0405 .

If you purchase your policy through MoneySuperMarket, you must be 85 years and under at the start of your policy. for single trips. For our annual multi-trip cover you must be aged 75 or under at the start of the policy period.

If you're only planning to travel once in a year, then a single trip policy could be more appropriate for you. Single trip policies do cover you to travel to multiple destinations, but you'll need to ensure that you advise us of all destinations when you get a quote.

For annual multi-trip cover the maximum trip duration is 22 days for Orange cover, 32 days for Silver cover and 45 days for Black cover. Trips within the UK are covered when you've pre-booked accommodation for a minimum of 2 nights.

All policies offered via the MoneySuperMarket website provide you with gadget cover as standard. The amount of cover will vary depending on what cover level you purchase. All benefits are per person, per claim.

If you think you'll need additional cover for your gadgets, we offer an optional gadget extension that you can add to your policy for an additional premium, by contacting us on 0330 159 0405 .

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Travel Insurance

How do i make a claim.

Claims can be lodged either online , by phone, or by email. If lodging by phone or email the applicable claim form will be provided for completion together with details of the documentation that needs to be provided.

Providing the information needed helps the insurer to make a timely and accurate decision about your claim. You can contact us either during your trip or once you have returned and we will guide you through the process. The insurer will not be able to process your claim unless you provide us with all of the necessary information. Full details should be submitted within 30 days of your return.

For all claims, evidence of the medical condition treated, incident or loss must be supported by the relevant documentation e.g. police report, medical report, receipts, proof of ownership etc. If you cannot provide it, then the insurer may reduce or refuse to pay your claim.

Phone: 1300 209 352

Web: Claim online

Email: [email protected]

Mail: RAC Travel Insurance Claims C/- TMNFA GPO Box 4616 Sydney 2001

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Your Trip Didn't Go As Planned? Here's How To File A Claim With Your Travel Insurance

L et's paint an all too familiar picture. You've been carefully planning that dream trip and mapping out each detail, from flights to hotels. But life, as it often does, throws a curveball. Suddenly, you're dealing with lost luggage, a non-refundable hotel room you can't use, or -- to make matters worse -- an unexpected illness.

That's when buying travel insurance comes into play, a financial safety net for unexpected trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. Travel insurance can make the difference between a total loss and a simple mishap while ensuring you're not left out in the cold and footing the bill.

But filing a claim with your travel insurance company can send you for a spin, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of disrupted travel plans. That's why understanding how, when, and where to file a claim when things go haywire is so important -- and might even increase your chances of getting that money back.

Filing A Travel Insurance Claim

With its fine print, novel-long contracts, and industry jargon, understanding your travel insurance policy can be daunting. Luckily, most providers are clear about what they cover and don't from the get-go. As a rule of thumb, generic travel insurance plans typically take care of baggage delays or losses, accidental death, medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and non-refundable bookings. Beyond that, more comprehensive policies like the ones by World Nomads and Allianz can also cover adventure sports, car collisions, and pre-existing conditions.

Once you've figured out if your situation qualifies within the scope of your plan, the most important thing is to file a claim quickly and efficiently. Many insurance providers impose strict deadlines -- often within 20 to 90 days of the incident, which means time is of the essence! Contact your travel insurance provider immediately after an incident to notify them and express your intention to file a claim.

Then, gather all the necessary documentation to back up what you've told them. This may include everything from medical records to police reports, receipts, confirmation emails, or any other paperwork that support your claim. After submitting your case and paperwork, you can expect to hear back from your provider within two weeks on whether or not your claim has been accepted and when you can expect to receive reimbursement.

Choosing The Right Travel Insurance Provider

When it comes to choosing a travel insurance provider, it's not as simple as picking the plan with the lowest premium. Let's face it: cheap travel insurance isn't always better, and it's worth paying a little extra to make sure you're properly being looked after. After all, peace of mind while traveling is priceless, and the right travel insurance provider can provide just that.

Using comparison tools like SquareMouth , take your time to dive deep into each policy to see what's covered and what's not, and to learn more about the insurer's reputation, their claim handling process, and the flexibility of their plans.

Lastly, don't hesitate to ask questions. If you're unsure about anything, contact the provider for clarification. At the end of the day, the right travel insurance provider won't just sell you a policy -- they'll take the time to educate and support you, so you can be confident about your coverage and jet off without a worry.

Read this next: Hotel Reservation Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

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Tin Leg Travel Insurance: An In-Depth Review

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Before finalizing your travel plans, look into various insurance policies to safeguard yourself against potential risks. Travel insurance is an invaluable resource that can protect you from many unforeseen issues, but not all companies provide the same level of coverage. And some companies' policies may cost more than others.

That's where Tin Leg Travel Insurance comes in. Created by travel agency Squaremouth, Tin Leg Travel Insurance offers eight different plans with varying coverage levels and benefits, with the option to add Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage to select plans. Keep reading to see if Tin Leg Travel Insurance is the right travel insurance for you.

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Policy coverage includes most pre-existing health conditions
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous medical and evacuation amounts for peace of mind
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. COVID coverage included by default on all insurance plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers a wide range of plans for various budgets and travel needs
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some plans offer CFAR, “cancel for work reasons,” financial default, and unemployment coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited add-on coverage options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage loss and delay coverage is low compared to competitors

Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.

• Tin Leg was founded in 2014 by the travel insurance industry experts at Squaremouth. Designed to meet the most common needs of travelers, these policies offer comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits, and a range of Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation limits.

Overview of Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Tin Leg Travel Insurance is a travel insurance provider founded in 2014 by travel insurance aggregator SquareMouth. With eight different plans, Tin Leg Travel Insurance is one of the providers listed in our guide on the best travel insurance companies , specifically for travelers with pre-existing conditions. We chose Tin Leg Travel Insurance because seven of its eight plans offer pre-existing condition waivers, with a 15-day purchase window and no extra cost.

That said, Tin Leg Travel Insurance has other coverages that are noteworthy. Its coverage limits for emergency evacuation go up to $1 million, which is great particularly if you have nautical travel plans as water-to-land rescues can be costly.

Additionally, sports equipment loss is included with seven of Tin Leg Travel Insurance's eight plans. However, you will need to call for more information on adventure sports, as Tin Leg Travel Insurance doesn't guarantee coverage.

Tin Leg's Travel Insurance Plans

Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans: Economy, Basic, Standard, Luxury, Adventure, Silver, Platinum, and Gold. Each plan offers varying levels of protection that correspond to the premium costs.

Here's a look at what you'll get with each plan. We've split the eight plans into two tables to make things easier to follow.

Here's how the Adventure, Silver, Platinu, and Gold plans compare:

Additional Coverage Options

Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance offers additional coverage options, but they're only available on specific plans.

You can add rental car damage coverage to the Luxury plan for an additional fee. And both the Gold and Silver plans allow you to add on CFAR (cancel for any reason) coverage . With CFAR coverage travel insurance, you can cancel for any reason not listed in the base policy and be reimbursed — in the case of Tin Leg Travel Insurance, for 75% of your trip costs.

How to Purchase and Manage Your Tin Leg Policy

Travel insurance coverage varies greatly, and  the amount you pay reflects the range of protection . However, since travel insurance protects your financial investment, it's typically worth spending a few extra dollars for higher coverage maximums, especially for medical insurance and evacuation expenses.

Getting a quote from Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance is an easy process. You can do so from their website or an insurance aggregator like SquareMouth. You should be prepared to provide the following information:

• Number of travelers
• Age of traveler(s)
• Duration of trip
• Whether you want trip cancellation coverage
• Date of booking
• If you have any trip payments left to make
• One country you're traveling to
• Country of residence/citizenship

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for the plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimate Tin Leg Travel Insurance's coverage costs.

As of April 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following  Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance quotes:

Premiums for Tin Leg Travel Insurance plans are between 1.8% and 3.9% of the trip's cost, well below the average cost of travel insurance . It's also relatively cheap compared to many of its competitors

Tin Leg Travel Insurance provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

Once again, premiums for Tin Leg Travel Insurance plans are between 3.4% and 5.2%, below the average cost for travel insurance.

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New Jersey for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following Tin Leg Travel Insurance quotes:

Premiums for Tin Leg Travel Insurance plans are between 6.9% and 9.4%, which is roughly in line with the average cost for travel insurance. This is to be expected, as travel insurance is often more expensive for older travelers.

How to File a Claim with Tin Leg Travel Insurance

One exceptionally nice aspect of Tin Leg Travel Insurance is that you can report a claim online or over the phone. You can contact Tin Leg Travel Insurance's claims department at 844-240-1233 or by email at [email protected] . It's available on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET.

You'll be asked to fill out a claims form that asks about your trip details and the issue you faced. Tin Leg Travel Insurance will then ask you to file supporting documents related to your claim. If you're filing a claim because you canceled a flight due to an illness, they'll likely require medical documentation that supports this claim. 

Tin Leg Customer Service and Support Experience

Tin Leg Travel Insurance is well reviewed, receiving an average of 4.6 stars out of five on SquareMouth across nearly 3,800 reviews. Reviews on its Better Business Bureau are consistent with its SquareMouth score, also averaging 4.6 stars across over 110 reviews, admittedly a limited sample size. Additionally, Tin Leg Travel Insurance is not certified with the BBB.

While most customers reported a smooth and speedy claims service, some noted that communication from Tin Leg Travel Insurance during the process can be spotty. Additionally, customers complained about their claims being denied due to requirements they were unaware of when purchasing coverage. One customer wrote about how they had to cancel a trip because of work, but hadn't been working at their company long enough to qualify for trip cancellation coverage.

See how Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance stacks up against the competition. 

Tin Leg Travel Insurance vs. AIG Travel Guard

To compare Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance to Travel Guard , we'll consider the coverage limits from their highest-rated, Gold and Travel Guard Deluxe plans, respectively.

With AIG Travel Guard's Deluxe plan, you'll get:

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $150,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $225,000
• Emergency medical coverage of $100,000
• Coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage up to $2,500
• Travel delay coverage of up to $1,000

Comparing those coverages with Tin Leg Travel Insurance's Gold plan, you'll see that AIG's coverages are better than Tin Leg Travel Insurance's in all areas except one – emergency medical. While AIG offers emergency medical coverage of $100,000, Tin Leg Travel Insurance's coverage limit is $500,000 (in primary coverage).

If the medical coverage piece is what's most important to you, Tin Leg Travel Insurance would be the right choice in this scenario. That said, having $100,000 in emergency medical coverage is nothing to scoff at, so it may come down to comparing premium costs.

Remember that the premium costs will depend on the traveler's age, trip destination, and trip cost. So you'll need to compare these two insurers using your trip-specific information to get a solid idea of the costs associated with each plan.

Read our AIG Travel Guard insurance review here.

Tin Leg Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Both Allianz Travel Insurance and Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance offer a variety of travel insurance plans designed for different types of travelers with varying types and degrees of coverage.

In this comparison, we'll look at Allianz Travel Insurance's most popular single-trip plan, the OneTrip Prime plan, compared to Tin Leg Travel Insurance's Basic plan.

With Allianz Travel Insurance's most popular single-trip OneTrip Prime plan, you'll get:

• Up to $100,000 in trip cancellation coverage
• Up to $150,000 in trip interruption coverage
• $50,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage
• Up to $800 in travel delay coverage

In looking at Tin Leg Travel Insurance's basic plan, you'll find that these two policies offer the same $50,000 coverage limit for emergency medical. Still, Allianz Travel Insurance's plan exceeds Tin Leg Travel Insurance's in the other coverage limits. That said, you'll have to quote both of these policies using your personal trip information to make an informed decision, especially if cost is the most important factor to you.

Read our  Allianz travel insurance review here.

Tin Leg Travel Insurance vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

Do you have a travel credit card? If so, consider the type of insurance coverage it may (or may not) offer. Some basic coverages, like primary rental car insurance, are provided through your credit card's travel protection . And if you don't need medical coverage or don't have a lot of non-refundable trip expenses, the coverage offered by your credit card could suffice.

That said, don't forget that credit card coverage is sometimes considered secondary coverage. That means you'll have to file a claim with any other applicable insurer before filing a claim with your credit card company.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Tin Leg Travel Insurance FAQs

All policies except Economy cover pre-existing medical conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 15 days of trip deposit.

You have 14 days after you purchase your policy to refund your Tin Leg Travel Insurance policy, as long as you haven't left for your trip. 

All Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance policies include 24/7 emergency assistance services.

Tin Leg Travel Insurance claims can be submitted online or over the phone at 844-240-1233 during business hours. You'll need to provide details about your trip and the problem that arose during your trip. The claims process is quick, according to customer reviews, but be sure to review your policy for guideline related to claims. 

Yes, all tiers of Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance offer cancellation coverage if you or a non-traveling loved one contracts COVID-19, though you will need to provide a positive test to receive reimbursement. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Tin Leg

To review Tin Leg Travel Insurance travel insurance, we looked at several different factors. These included premium costs, coverage categories, and claim limits. In addition, we compared the policies and premiums available through Tin Leg Travel Insurance to those from the best travel insurance providers to see how they stack up — and also considered any additional add-on coverages available and the ease of getting a quote and filing a claim.

In the end, the best policy for you will be the one that provides the coverage you need and limits you're comfortable with while also staying within budget.

Read more about how Business Insider rates insurance products here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

Money latest: JD Sports introducing tagging sprays in stores

JD Sports is introducing tagging sprays across its stores nationwide as part of a ramping up of security measures. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 21:02, UK

• State pensions 'could be in doubt for future generations'
• Average UK rents hit new high
• Higher food prices warning as new Brexit checks begin
• JD Sports introducing tagging sprays in stores

Essential reads

• Turns out supermarket boss was right about self-checkouts
• Swap rates are the reason mortgage rates are rising - what are they?
• Gameboys and 1950s furniture: Items in your attic that could be worth small fortune
• Money Problem : 'Builders won't repair dodgy work - what are my rights?'  
• '£2,000 landed in my account' - The people who say they're manifesting riches
• Train strikes in May - everything you need to know

Ask a question or make a comment

Taxpayers will be forced to cover £85bn of losses made by the Bank of England on its quantitative easing programme, estimates suggest. 

The £895bn bond-buying scheme was carried out between 2009 and 2021, and had aimed to support the UK during economic shocks - but it has been blamed by some for allowing inflation to take root. 

Recent chancellors have agreed to indemnify the Bank against any losses on the scheme - meaning the taxpayer will be paying for them.

Greene King is moving from its 200-year-old brewery in Bury St Edmunds. 

The pub chain will be opening a new £40m facility in a town that will produce more modern, fizzy craft beers alongside its traditional cask ales. 

The majority of Greene King's brewing will be moved to the new site, as part of a wider shift away from traditional cask beers. 

It will take about three years to complete. 

Butlin's has launched legal action against its insurance company Aviva over who foots a £60m bill.

The holiday park operator's Minehead resort was forced to close in September 2023 because of flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

It has said the incident cost the business £60m and has filed a claim at the High Court against Aviva for not covering the entire bill.

In legal documents seen by  The Telegraph , Butlins have questioned the definition of a "storm" and argued that a "named storm" had not been declared when the flooding happened.

Oil traders working for the US firm Exxon Mobil Corp in Brussels could lose their job if they refuse to move to London, according to reports.

Under the new proposal employees moving to the UK capital would be expected to be in the office five days a week.

But traders working for the oil giant said in an internal union-led survey they did not want to move to London due to "uncompetitive" pay and a "lack of flexibility", a union statement reads, according to  Bloomberg .

Up to 37 trading employees now face having their contracts terminated as a result of this.

ExxonMobil has said it "remains open to resolving the situation".

The sports retailer is introducing tagging sprays across its stores nationwide as part of a ramping up of security measures. 

It will start using SelectaDNA sprays, which can be misted on property and criminals. 

The sprays work by leaving a synthetic DNA and UV marker which does not wash off and can be used to link assets to owners and criminals to crime scenes. 

JD Sports said the measure was in response to a significant increase in shoplifting in UK.

In particular, it said it had seen a rise in "steaming" - where large gangs run into stores, threaten staff with violence and then run off with armfuls of stolen products.

The SelectaDNA spray reportedly does not cause any harm or damage to skin, clothing or property.

Lidl plans to open hundreds more supermarkets across Britain.

The German discount chain, which is now the UK's sixth biggest supermarket, is targeting thousands of new shoppers as it continues its expansion.

It currently has about 960 stores but is targeting more than 1,100 across England, Wales and Scotland.

In the coming months, the chain will welcome shoppers to new stores across the country, from Bristol, Birmingham and Berwick in Scotland. 

In London, it will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town.

But it says it is eyeing growth in more locations. If it successfully finds a good location, it is willing to pay a finder's fee of 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price, or 10% of the first year's rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.

A finder's fee can be paid to any member of the public who identifies a suitable site for it to open a new store.

Richard Taylor, Lidl Great Britain's chief development officer, said the company was "continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion".

"As we look ahead, we're excited to welcome even more new shoppers to our existing stores, as well as those we're planning to open across the country in the coming months and years," he said.

Mortgage approvals rose to 61,300 in March - the highest number since September 2022.

They had been at 60,500 in February, according to the Bank of England.

While this is positive, industry experts are reporting that uncertainty over the direction of interest rates this year is prompting caution.

Mortgage rates have risen in the last few weeks as markets went from pricing in a base rate cut in June to thinking it may be August.

US inflation proving stubborn has led to concern here that the path to the 2% target may be bumpy - meaning the base rate may have to stay high in order to constrain spending and thus ease price rises.

Forecasts of three cuts this year from the current 5.25% have been scaled back to two.

Hina Bhudia, partner at Knight Frank Finance, said: "The sun is out and buyers are returning from their Easter break, so we'd usually expect these to be the busy weeks before the summer; however, the uncertain outlook for mortgage rates will undoubtedly weigh on activity.

"It's not just buyers that are frustrated. The lenders are eager to rebuild their businesses after a subdued 2023; however, they are constrained by stubborn inflation and the resulting impact on their cost of funding."

Following Sainsbury's boss Simon Roberts' claim that Britons like self-checkouts...

...we asked Money blog readers, and followers of our LinkedIn page , for their views.

While our inbox was filled with a lot of hate for self-checkouts, our poll of 2,613 people on LinkedIn shows that, overall, Mr Roberts was right...

We have rounded up some of your views here...

Self-checkout is the worst thing to ever happen. Standing like a child with your hand up, one person running up and down to deal with this, underpaid and understaffed. Janice Karaaziz, Money reader

I'll go out of my way to find a cashier, largely because my five-year-old will make a beeline for pressing the scales. I've noticed my local store having fewer and fewer cashiers on - and on many occasions there have been none. We need to think about inclusivity here. There will be some customers who will need a cashier for various reasons, so would expect there to always be at least one on, so stores are accessible for everyone. KaraS, LinkedIn

I try and limit my social interactions as much as possible, out of choice, so most of the time self-checkouts are convenient. Alasdair Corton, LinkedIn

They induce a level of irritation. Sometimes I can be heard answering them back. In general I choose to have my items flung at me by Lidl checkout staff. Siobhan W, LinkedIn

Self-checkout provides a great alternative to customers, especially those with smaller quantity purchases, but personally I think it's sad to see them dominate the front of Sainsbury's stores. In my opinion, it's the removal of one of the greatest ways to provide good customer service. Tom Tregay, LinkedIn

Self-checkouts are great, I will always choose to use one instead of a normal checkout. Some are easier to use than others, the Co-op and Tesco have easy-to-use interfaces whereas Morrisons is a bit more complicated. They'll evolve over time and there's always staff to help out. CG, LinkedIn

They're useful, but when they trigger a "basket check" on nearly every single shop, they begin to lose attractiveness Nicola Bradley, LinkedIn

I tend to argue with them lol. Especially when I can't get it to scan a particular item or you need approval for something so you have to wait for assistance anyway! Plus as a disabled customer I have to juggle my crutch, shopping, scanning and packing. With reduced staff in shops you can't always get the help you actually need. Elizabeth Graney, LinkedIn

Definitely not. So when I go to Sainsbury's I see a lot of older people and no way do they want to use self-checkouts. My mother lives in assisted living and all of them say they hate them. Get a grip, Simon - they are not faster, they are saving you employing more staff. I know my aunt has stood at an Asda til they put a staff member on there. Andrea Robinson, LinkedIn

Robots should never replace humans. Interaction is essential... if machines replace people no one will work, it's a crazy dangerous road. Nicola van Eerten, LinkedIn

The self-checkout is a money-saving exercise. They cut back everywhere. No staff on the shop floor to help. Paper bags in the veg section now cost 30p - for absolutely no reason. Mark, Money reader

Average advertised rents have hit a new high in the UK, according to Rightmove .

Across Britain, excluding London, the average monthly rent being asked for a property coming on the market in the first quarter of 2024 was £1,291, the property website found. This was 8.5% higher than a year earlier.

The average advertised rent in London also hit a fresh high in the first quarter of 2024 at £2,633 per month but this was just £2 higher than the average asking rent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

While average rents have climbed, the property website says there are signs that the pace of the increases is slowing.

There are also indications that more landlords are having to reduce their asking rents, particularly for bigger homes, to meet what tenants can afford.

Rightmove's director of property science, Tim Bannister, said the rental market was "no longer at peak boiling point" but it "remains at a very hot simmer".

By James Sillars , business reporter

The index rose by 0.3% to 8,174 points at the open.

Only real estate stocks were proving any kind of drag.

Among the companies leading the gainers was HSBC.

It climbed by more than 2.6% in London after the Asia-focused bank announced a rise in shareholder awards despite a slight drop in quarterly profits.

The share price reaction also reflected news that chief executive Noel Quinn is to retire - read the full story of that here ...

Among the other gainers in early dealing was Whitbread.

The Premier Inn owner's annual results revealed a sharp rise in annual profits but also a new focus on hotel investment at the expense of its restaurant brands.

That was placing 1,500 jobs at risk, it warned - read the full story here ...

By Jess Sharp , Money team

We first came across Tom McPhail when he posted this on X... 

The pensions expert appeared to be suggesting state pensions were at risk of disappearing.  

After speaking to him on the phone, he confirmed that was exactly his concern, warning something needed to be done sooner rather than later to avoid a "catastrophic" situation.  

He described state pensions as a social contract – each generation pays taxes and national insurance, which funds the pensions of today's older people, and they hope the following generation will do the same for them.

But with population growth slowing, there's a worry there may simply not be enough people to keep the system afloat in the future.  

"There's a significant demographic shift going on in the UK. It started before the Second World War, cohorts of people born in the 1930s have been experiencing significantly longer lives than was the case prior to that, so people now in their 80s are living quite a lot longer," he said. 

"But at the same time, we've got fewer children coming through. And so this exacerbates the shift in the age of the population."

He said if he was 20 today, he would be "sceptical" about the promise of a state pension because he isn't sure how it's going to be paid for.  

At the moment, the state pension system costs around £120bn a year and more than half of retired people rely on it to make up at least 50% of their income, he added.  

Over the next 50 years, Tom predicts the proportion of GDP the state spends on older people will increase from around 16% to 25%.  

"I hesitate to use the word unsustainable, but it will certainly start to look challenging," he said.  

"If we suddenly switched off the state pension or significantly reduced it, people would be in trouble, so the government can’t do that. 

"You can't keep on progressively ratcheting up a more and more generous state pension. The costs of state pensions is going to become increasingly difficult for the younger cohorts to bear."

He pointed to a few ways to potentially salvage the state pension – policy change, more babies being born or people working until they are in their 70s.  

"Politicians are going to have to make decisions about how to get out of this kind of political bind," Tom added. 

"Time and time again it's just kick the can down the road on the pension question, just put a sticking plaster on it and let the next government deal with the problem. 

"You can't keep doing that. So I would really like to see, on the other side of this forthcoming general election... whoever's in power, in collaboration with whoever's in opposition, to just really open it up to some honest conversations about where the demographics are going to take us." 

He does note there is one piece of good news: "This happens quite slowly, so we do have time on our side." 

Basically, swap rates dictate the pricing of fixed-rate mortgages.

Lenders, such as banks and building societies, borrow in order to lend.

They borrow from financial markets and often these transactions are made using Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) swap rates, which can move around.

By contrast, most domestic mortgages are set on what is known as a "term" rate – in other words, the borrower knows how much interest they will be paying for a set period of time.

To avoid a situation where the SONIA rate goes above the rate it is charging borrowers, which would leave the bank or building society lending at a loss, the lender will seek to enter a "swap" arrangement which protects them from such a situation.

Under such agreements, two parties exchange cash flows with each other. The lending bank will swap the variable payments it may make to service a mortgage (which is fixed to the SONIA rate) for payments at a fixed rate. This insulates the lending bank from unexpected increases in the SONIA rate.

Once a deal is struck based on the swap rate, mortgage providers set their fixed deals for customers, with their own profit margin priced in.

How are swap rates decided?

Swap rates are based on what the markets think will happen to interest rates in the future.

When they go up, so do the rates being offered on the high street, as we have seen in the last week or two amid uncertainty over whether forecasts for a summer base rate cut are accurate.

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

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