Ask a question

Travel FAQs

 

Questions

Buying a policy

  1. How do I buy a policy?
  2. What type of policy do I need?
  3. When should I start my annual travel insurance policy?
  4. What is the longest period of time that I can have cover for?
  5. I have an existing medical condition; can I still have cover under this policy?
  6. A member of my family or travelling party has an existing medical condition; can they still have cover under this policy?
  7. What country should I select if I’m going on a cruise?
  8. Do you have any age limits?
  9. Can you arrange travel insurance for someone who is not travelling from the UK?
  10. I'm travelling in more than one country during my trip, can I still get a policy?
  11. I can't find the country I'm visiting on the drop down list.
  12. How can I pay for my policy?

Service and cover

  1. I have a couple annual multi-trip policy - will my partner and I still be covered if we go on separate holidays?
  2. I have a family annual multi-trip policy - will my children be covered if they go on a holiday with their school?
  3. What happens if, after reading my policy document, I don’t think it meets my needs?
  4. Do I need to take my policy with me when travelling?
  5. I am going scuba diving on holiday, am I covered?
  6. I might want to take part in extreme sports while I’m away. How will I know if they are covered?
  7. I am going to Lapland with my family at Christmas time. Do I need to buy winter sports cover if I am going tobogganing, on a reindeer sledge ride and using a snowmobile?
  8. Under the winter sports cover, can I ski or snowboard off-piste?
  9. What countries are covered under Europe?
  10. Do you cover my car if it breaks down when I am travelling in Europe?
  11. I have an annual policy. What happens at renewal?

Claims

  1. How do I make a claim?
  2. What if I have a medical emergency while I’m away?
  3. What should I do if any of my belongings are lost or stolen?
  4. What is an EHIC card and when do I need it?
  5. If the pistes are closed in my resort, can I claim for not being able to ski?
  6. What is my excess?

Answers

Buying a policy

  1. How do I buy a policy?
    Churchill Travel Insurance can only be bought from this website. To buy a policy, you need to check you agree with our assumptions and terms of use. Then click on the appropriate quote button for single trip insurance or an annual policy. Enter your details into our secure application process. There are help buttons along the way to guide you. Once you have purchased your policy, you will be sent a confirmation email within 24 hours and then your documents will follow in the post.

  2. What type of policy do I need?
    If you’re planning to travel more than once a year, then our Annual policy may be ideal and work out cheaper for you than buying several single trip policies. Our Annual policy covers you for an unlimited amount of trips, including UK breaks and business trips, up to a total of 180 days per year (maximum of 45 days per trip). Alternatively, if you have only one trip planned this year, that is up to 90 days long for people aged between 18 and 64 or 45 days for people aged 65 to 99 years old, then our single trip policy would be suitable.

  3. When should I start my annual travel insurance policy?
    For annual travel insurance policies, full cover comes into effect from the date you start the policy (rather than the date of your first trip), so please choose to start your policy immediately to protect yourself against cancellation of a trip you already have booked in the future.

  4. What is the longest period of time that I can have cover for?
    You can buy a single trip policy for the number of days you are going away - from 1 day up to 90 days if you are aged between 18 and 64 and to 45 days for people aged between 65 and 99. Any trip taken within an Annual policy will cover you up to a maximum of 45 days, up to a total of 180 days taken in any one period of insurance.

  5. I have an existing medical condition; can I still have cover under this policy?
    We do not offer cover for any Pre-Existing Medical Conditions. This means we will not pay any claim directly or indirectly related to this medical condition. You will still have cover for any other unrelated conditions.

  6. A member of my family or travelling party has an existing medical condition; can they still have cover under this policy?
    We do not offer cover for any Pre-Existing Medical Conditions. This means we will not pay any claim directly or indirectly related to this Medical Condition. They will still have cover for any other unrelated medical conditions.

  7. What country should I select if I’m going on a cruise?
    For a single trip policy, you can select the main countries (up to 4) you are visiting/travelling through. If you are buying an annual policy you need to select the region you are going to. For example, if it’s in the Caribbean select Worldwide including USA etc or if it’s the Mediterranean you should select the European region.

  8. Do you have any age limits?
    Single trip policies are available to policyholders aged 18 – 99 and are valid for travel for up to 90 days for people aged between 18 – 64 and up to 45 days for people aged between 65 and 99. Annual policies covering worldwide regions are available to policyholders aged 18 - 64. Annual policies are available to policyholders aged 18 - 99 for the European region. Winter sports cover is available to people under 65. If there is someone on your policy who is aged 65 or over, you can still buy a policy for everyone but that person will not be charged or covered for the winter sports part.

  9. Can you arrange travel insurance for someone who is not travelling from the UK?
    We are only able to insure people who are travelling from the UK and returning to the UK. Travellers from outside of the UK will require insurance from that country or through a broker.

  10. I'm travelling in more than one country during my trip, can I still get a policy?
    For a single trip policy, you can pick up to 4 countries. Please select the countries you will be visiting from the drop down lists. If you are visiting more than 2 countries please click the “More countries” button. If you are visiting more than 4 countries, please select the 4 countries you will be spending the majority of your time in. Alternatively, you might want to consider an annual policy which will cover you for a variety of destinations.

  11. I can't find the country I'm visiting on the drop down list.
    Please check you are are looking for a country, not a town, city or resort e.g Rhodes would come under Greece.

  12. How can I pay for my policy?
    If you would like to buy your single or annual trip policy online, we can accept payment from the following credit or debit cards in one lump sum: Visa, MasterCard and Switch / Maestro. If paying by card, "card number" refers to the long number shown across the middle of your card (this is between 16 and 21 digits). You can also pay for your annual premium by Direct Debit in either one lump sum or split into 4 payments at no extra cost.

Top of page

Service and cover

  1. I have a couple annual multi-trip policy - will my partner and I still be covered if we go on separate holidays?
    Yes - all adults named on the policy schedule are covered whilst travelling on their own and do not have to travel with the policyholder.

  2. I have a family annual multi-trip policy - will my children be covered if they go on a holiday with their school?
    This policy provides cover for insured children travelling with schools or recognised organisations that are supervised by adults.

  3. What happens if, after reading my policy document, I don’t think it meets my needs?
    If you decide the insurance is not suitable for you, please return your policy to us within 14 days of receiving it. Please send the policy to: Churchill Travel Insurance Services, Lumbry Park, Selborne Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3HF. As long as you have not taken any trips, or you have not made or intend to make any claims, we will cancel your policy and give you your money back.

  4. Do I need to take my policy with me when travelling?
    Yes, we recommend you take your policy booklet and schedule on holiday with you so that you can refer to it if necessary.

  5. I am going scuba diving on holiday, am I covered?
    Yes, cover is provided up to a maximum of 30 metres as long as you are accompanied by a qualified diving instructor.

  6. I might want to take part in extreme sports while I’m away. How will I know if they are covered?
    Please refer to our list of included and excluded activities to check to see whether your planned activity is covered or not.

  7. I am going to Lapland with my family at Christmas time. Do I need to buy winter sports cover if I am going tobogganing, on a reindeer sledge ride and using a snowmobile?
    If your trip is for 1 – 3 days, you are not planning on doing any skiing or snowboarding and you will be taking part as a passenger then you do not need to add winter sports cover.
    If your trip is for 4 or more days or you are planning on being in control of the husky ride / sleigh and / or snowmobile, you will need to include winter sports cover. Please note that there is no Personal Liability cover for anything involving a motor powered vehicle or animals.

  8. Under the winter sports cover, can I ski or snowboard off-piste?
    Yes, as long as you are accompanied by a qualified guide or instructor.

  9. What countries are covered under Europe?
    Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, the Azores, the Balearic islands (Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca), Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Canary islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, FYR Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vatican City.

  10. Do you cover my car if it breaks down when I am travelling in Europe?
    Our travel policy does not cover car breakdown and you should insure yourself separately with a European Breakdown Policy.

  11. I have an annual policy. What happens at renewal?
    About 21 days before your policy is due for renewal, you will receive a letter from us with details of your cover for the next year and usually your new premium. If you chose our automatic renewal service you will not need to contact us, unless anything has changed, as we will automatically renew your policy using the payment details you gave us last year. You will need to call us on 0800 032 7141 if we ask you to in the letter or if you want to make any amends to your policy.

Top of page

Claims

  1. How do I make a claim?
    For an inpatient medical claim, you will need to call the following numbers. From the UK Inter Group Assistance Services 01252 740 050 From anywhere in the world Inter Group Assistance Services +44 (0) 1252 740 050 Lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Please quote reference IGCS 1482. For all other claims, please call us within 31 days of the incident to obtain a claim form. From the UK 0870 739 3930 From anywhere in the world +44 (0) 1252 456 602 Please quote reference IGCS 1482 For more information, please refer to the section ‘how to make a claim’ in your policy book.

  2. What if I have a medical emergency while I’m away?
    If you need to go into hospital or need to return home urgently, please contact Inter Group Assistance Services immediately on the numbers shown below. From the UK 01252 740 050 From anywhere in the world + 44 (0) 1252 740 050 Lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

  3. What should I do if any of my belongings are lost or stolen?
    Report the theft or loss to the Police within 24 hours of discovering it and ask them for a report in writing. If appropriate, report the theft or loss to your courier or hotel or apartment manager and ask them for a report in writing.

  4. What is an EHIC card and when do I need it?
    The department of health needs to make sure that UK travellers in Europe now carry the new European Health Card (EHIC), which has recently replaced the E111. This will provide you with cheaper or free state-provided medical treatment in most European countries. For more information or to apply for your free EHIC visit www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. If you use an EHIC to reduce the cost of your medical treatment in Europe and we successfully recover 75% or more of any amounts we have paid on your behalf, you will not have to pay the excess.

  5. If the pistes are closed in my resort, can I claim for not being able to ski?
    We will pay £25 a day up to a maximum of £300 per person if snow conditions cause all the skiing or snowboarding facilities (or both) in your resort to close, subject to our conditions in the policy booklet (which can be downloaded from the policy documents page of this site). You will need to obtain a letter from your tour operator, the local piste authority or ski-lift operator confirming the reason for the closure and how long it lasted.

  6. What is my excess?
    The excess is the amount you must pay towards any claim. The excess on all our Travel Insurance policies is £50. The excess can be removed from annual policies for an additional premium.

Top of page
Get a quote