Taking out travel insurance can give you peace of mind before you leave and during your vacation. Adequate coverage can also ensure that you don't end up sitting on your bag should anything go wrong before or during your trip. For example, insurance services may offer you health insurance or reimburse you if your trip is cancelled.
free spirit | Avanti | stay safe | Globuslink | Medical trips in comparison | |
Pre-existing conditions covered | And | And | And | And | And |
Custom coverage for seniors | And | And | And | And | And |
Upper age limit | NO | NO Some age restrictions | NO Some age restrictions | And Maximum age 89 | 90+ |
Connection conditions taken into account? | And | And | And | And | Varies |
Maximum cancellation protection | £5.000 | Up to £7,500 | Up to £5,000 | Up to £6,000 | Varies |
Personal Liability | £2 million | Up to £2m | Up to £2m | Up to £2m | Varies |
Get a quote → | Get a quote → | Get a quote → | Get a quote → | Get a quote → |
Free Spirit is a travel insurance company that could be an option for you and your fellow travellers. The company offers two levels of coverage: Super and Super Duper, so you can choose the coverage levels that best suit you and your fellow travelers.
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Free Spirit's Super Duper Cover is rated 5 stars by Defaqto, making it one of the highest quality travel insurance products on the market. You can also choose between single trip or annual multi-trip insurance, which can be a cheaper option if you travel frequently.
The company's policies are from specialist travel insurance provider PJ Hayman and cater to travelers of all ages. Free Spirit policies have no age limit, many 90 year old travelers and even the occasional centenarian take out travel insurance for trips abroad!
In addition, Free Spirit covers most medical conditions. The company is often there for those who have been denied coverage elsewhere, and may even consider insuring you if you have life-threatening or terminal conditions. Free Spirit can cover 98% of medical quote requests and often works closely with its insurers to offer cover for severe cases.
It also offers online medical screening, instant quotes and the ability to buy policies online.
Still, from a customer service perspective, Free Spirit really excels on the phone. The company has a UK based call center staffed by travel insurance specialists. One thing that sets them apart is the short amount of time you're connected to a human operator without having to navigate through endless options or automation to reach someone.
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This comes up frequently in their TrustPilot reviews, where as of March 2023 they have an excellent average customer service rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.
Request a quote from Free Spirit Travel Insurance.
Key features: what your policy might cover
Pre-existing illness
While the company offers different levels of coverage depending on the policy type you choose, you can expect to get coverage for most medical conditions and disabilities, including life-limiting conditions, while the company also considers death coverage.
Reassuringly, they offer several very valuable benefits to those who suffer a medical incident on their travels, such as: B. Follow-up care at home and convalescence allowance after hospitalization abroad.
Some of the medical conditions or disabilities that the company may be able to cover are:
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- Diabetes
- heart conditions such as:
- heart disease
- atrial fibrillation
- Angina
- All kinds of cancer
- circulatory diseases such as:
- high blood pressure
- vascular disease
- High cholesterol
- breathing difficulties such as:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- lung disease
- Liver and kidney diseases
- Mental illness
- Epilepsy
- intestinal problems
- disabilities
- Brain-related disorders, including:
- stroke
- dementia
- Diseases of the central nervous system
- Musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis
Like most travel insurance companies, Free Spirit has a 24-hour medical emergency hotline, ensuring you'll have help on the end of the phone when you need it most. The company also offers insurance coverage for certain medical supplies and prescription drugs; something you may not have thought of before but potentially vital if medical equipment is damaged or lost or if you misplace your medication while you are away.
Request a quote from Free Spirit Travel Insurance.
Coronavirus
Even as restrictions are eased around the world, Covid-19 still has the potential to ruin a holiday - either beforehand or while you're away. So it's great to see that Free Spirit's policies cover you for cancellations caused by the virus, as well as emergency medical expenses and all repatriation costs. The last two issues in particular can result in significant bills, so having your policy covered provides extra peace of mind.
age restrictions
Some travel companies set an upper age limit for their policies. However, Free Spirit does not, which can mean that holidays are also still possible for older people. Free Spirit does not apply age limits to either single trip coverage or annual multiple trip coverage.
holiday types
It is more difficult to find insurance for some holidays than for others. An obvious example is a winter sports holiday - policies are much more expensive for this type of coverage. Not all companies offer it, given the added risk involved. Free Spirit offers a winter sport as an optional extra if you plan to hit the slopes.
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Many insurance companies also do not offer cruise insurance. That can limit your options, especially if you're a certain age or have pre-existing medical conditions that many companies don't cover. However, Free Spirit can cover you through its super or super duper policies.
interference protection
Not many of us can foresee the repercussions when our vacations are disrupted by travel suppliers who let us down. For example, if you pay a deposit to reserve a hotel room, what happens to you if that company goes out of business? Or what happens when your travel plans are affected by supplier issues?
Free Spirit's Super Duper coverage includes end supplier failure and extended travel disruption coverage. So you don't have to worry about losing your money if something goes wrong with one of your service providers while on holiday. With this policy you can get up to £3,000 if you have to cancel a trip, or up to £1,000 if you incur additional costs due to disruption from natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes.
Insure your gadgets
As handy as they are, gadgets like iPads, FitBits, cameras, and cell phones are all attractive to thieves, but also very easy to lose. Free Spirit can cover these items as part of their policies for up to £1,500 in the event of loss or theft as standard. These items can be expensive, so it's good to see that gadget coverage isn't an added extra that you're paying a higher premium for.
Comparing Free Spirit's super and super duper covers
deck level | Super | SuperDuper |
Cancellation / Reduction | £2.500 | £5.000 |
emergency medicine | £5 million | 10 million pounds |
sick pay abroad | £1.000 | £1.500 |
Gadget Cover | £1.000 | £1.500 |
Personal items | £1.500 | £3.000 |
Personal money, passport and travel documents | £500 | £1.000 |
personal accident | 10.000 £ | 20.000 £ |
Personal Liability | £2 million | £2 million |
End supplier failure | no cover | £2.500 |
Longer break in travel | no cover | £3.000 |
Loss of or damage to medical supplies | £1.000 | £2.000 |
Loss or damage of prescriptions | £250 | £500 |
Request a quote from Free Spirit Travel Insurance.
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Eligibility criteria you must meet
Given Free Spirit's flexible approach to providing travel insurance to its customers, you have a good chance of meeting the company's eligibility criteria for one of its policies. The company was one of the first companies to offer insurance specifically for people who were denied coverage because of illness, disability or old age.
It also doesn't automatically mean you're paying over the odds for coverage if younothave an illness or are of an age when others are more willing to be insured. In fact, if you have someone on the same policy with no medical conditions, your premium could be reduced.
If you wish to take out a policy with Free Spirit you can do so online or over the phone. Free Spirit has an intuitive website that guides you through all the questions at your own pace in an easy-to-follow process. You can even save your offer and come back to it later. On the other hand, you can call them on 02392 419 080 and have a UK based specialist guide you through the process.
Is Free Spirit good value for money?
Free Spirit covers a wider range of people than many other travel insurance companies, so you may be entitled to a policy you won't find anywhere else. But to make sure you feel like you're getting value for your money, you need to consider what you're offering. Given their flexible approach to the varied needs of their customers, the hope (and intention) is that they can have you covered.
Although the company offers a good level of coverage with many key features that make for robust policies, it's up to you if you think it offers value for money. travel insurancemaycan be expensive, especially if you are over a certain age and have complicated medical needs. However, you have to think about the security that the insurance gives you. This should be part of any value for money review.
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Remember that repatriation costs, medical expenses, unforeseen accommodation or travel expenses, and repurchasing lost or stolen devices can all add up. These scenarios can also pose a challenge abroad. Buying travel insurance to keep you from incurring high expenses is money well spent – even if you don't have to make a claim.
Given Free Spirit's ability to offer insurance to those who would normally struggle to get coverage, they probably offer good value for the reassurance alone.
Request a quote from Free Spirit Travel Insurance.
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FAQs
Do you get all your money back with travel insurance? ›
Travel insurance reimburses you for the nonrefundable portions of your affected travel plans; your claim amount is the price of your nonrefundable travel plans minus refunds that you have received, up to your eligible limits.
What does travel insurance give? ›Travel insurance is coverage designed to protect against risks and financial losses that could happen while traveling. The risks range from minor inconveniences such as missed airline connections and delayed luggage all the way to more serious issues including injuries or major illness.
What does travel insurance not cover? ›According to Allianz Global Assistance, a travel insurance provider, "Trip cancellations and trip interruptions due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, or fear of travel are generally not covered."
What is a free look period in travel insurance? ›All travel insurance plans have a free look period that starts when the plan is purchased and lasts between 10 and 15 days (see the plan details). This free look period gives you time to review your policy and return it for a refund within the time period.
How much do you get back with travel insurance? ›You won't be reimbursed for 100% of your trip costs. Typically, CFAR coverage will reimburse between 50 to 75% of trip expenses.
What is covered in trip cancellation? ›Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you for the amount of pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses (e.g. airline, cruise, train, hotel, etc.) that you have insured, should you cancel your trip before departure for an unforeseen covered reason.
What are the 3 things travel insurance covers? ›What is covered by travel insurance. Most plans typically cover a range of trip protections, including accidental death and dismemberment, baggage delay or loss, emergency medical coverage and evacuation, trip cancellation, delay or interruption and more.
How many days does travel insurance cover? ›You're covered for as many trips as you like in those 12 months, but you'll usually be limited to around 31 days per trip. Some insurance providers may have a limit of up to 60 days, so if you're planning a long holiday check what the policy covers.
Does travel insurance cover food? ›A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, non-refundable trip if it is canceled. In addition, travel delay coverage provides reimbursement for certain incidents (depending on the coverage you buy). This can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.
Does travel insurance cover 100%? ›Coverage amount: Most policies require travelers to insure 100% of their pre-paid, nonrefundable trip cost in order to be eligible for cancel for any reason.
Can travel insurance be denied? ›
According to the United States Travel Insurance Association, one out of every six insureds ends up filing a claim, and less than 10 percent of those claims are denied. If your travel insurance claim is denied, you may be upset, and you may be outraged. However, getting upset is not going to help you.
Does travel insurance cover COVID while traveling? ›As with many things in life, the short answer is: "It depends." And the long answer is: You can only start to determine if your insurance covers COVID when you understand what type of coverage you have, which provider you bought it from and what the exact reason is for your trip cancellation.
What is the minimum free look period? ›Most new annuity contracts have a provision called the free look period that gives the purchaser 10 to 30 days to consider the terms of the contract.
How many days is the free look period? ›The free look period is a period of time, typically 10 to 30 days, in which a new life insurance policy owner can terminate the policy and have their premium refunded. Canceling during the free look period will incur no penalties, such as surrender charges.
How long is the minimum free look period? ›It gives you a penalty-free opportunity to review the policy and terminate your coverage if you change your mind about it. All 50 states and Washington D.C. require free look periods, and the minimum length varies from 10 to 30 days depending on state law.
Is it worth claiming on travel insurance? ›Travel insurance can give you extra protection if your holiday doesn't go as planned. This is very important if you are travelling independently because you may find yourself stranded with no way to get home and no rep to help sort out your holiday problem.
What is a covered reason? ›Covered reasons, in the context of insurance, refer to reasons that travel insurance covers for trip cancellation or interruption. In case a policyholder must cancel a trip or end it short for a covered reason, the insurance company would reimburse them up to the coverage amount for qualifying travel expenses.
What is a medical reason to cancel a flight? ›A Physician must advise to cancel the Trip on or before the Scheduled Departure Date. 2. Sickness, Accidental Injury or death of a Family Member or Traveling Companion booked to travel with You, that results in medically imposed restrictions as certified by a Physician that causes Your Trip to be cancelled.
What is the difference between cancellation and travel insurance? ›With trip cancellation insurance, you are covered for both trip cancellation as well as trip interruption. The coverage amount is based on the trip cost. However, in travel medical insurance, there is no trip cancellation coverage.
What is 100% trip cancellation? ›Trip cancellation coverage is a valuable part of the best travel insurance. Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you 100% for money lost in pre-paid deposits that are non-refundable. To make a trip cancellation claim you must be canceling for a reason listed in the policy.
Does trip protection cover COVID? ›
If you contract COVID-19 and must cancel your trip, you are likely to be covered if you have a standard travel insurance policy. Trip cancellation/trip interruption policies cover the cancellation or interruption of your travel as the result of a covered event.
What is the most common travel insurance claim? ›Medical expenses
Falling sick due to the local food or weather is a common scenario for travellers. In certain countries, medical expenses can cost a lot more than in your home country where you may have subsidies from the government.
Spirit Travel Insurance – Provided by AIG Travel Guard
Like many airlines, Spirit sells travel insurance on check-out.
The policy start date needs to be that of your actual trip, but the cover starts right away. The same usually applies to specialist types of travel insurance like cruise cover and winter sports cover for activities like skiing and snowboarding. Cover usually starts on these policies the moment you buy them, too.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance separately? ›Purchasing separate policies can be less expensive if individual travelers on the policy are looking for specific optional benefits, such as Cancel For Any Reason, which might make their policy more expensive.
What is 24 hour full coverage travel insurance? ›What is 24 Hour AD&D travel insurance? 24-Hour AD&D provides a cash payment in the event of accidental loss of life or limb during a covered trip. This benefit typically provides the smallest payout compared to the other forms of AD&D coverage: Common Carrier AD&D and Flight Only AD&D.
What is total trip cost? ›Trip cost includes the total non-refundable and pre-paid trip expenses that are purchased for a vacation. Examples of trip cost include airline tickets, lodging deposits, excursion deposits, etc.
Does travel insurance cover stolen items? ›Lost or Stolen Property
If your bags get stolen while you're traveling, most travel insurance companies will reimburse you for some or all of the items (there are usually limits on gear like laptops and cameras unless you buy a comprehensive plan with additional coverage).
Yes, you are eligible for a full flight cancellation refund. An airline must pay the airfare reimbursement within 7 days after the cancellation. You can also choose to rebook your flight for some future date. If you have booked your flight as part of a package holiday, you can claim a full refund of the package.
Does visa cover trip cancellation? ›When you pay the full price of your tickets with your valid and active Visa card, you, your spouse and dependent children under 23 years of age are each automatically covered for prepaid travel and/or lodging expenses that are not recoverable if a covered trip is cancelled due to serious illness or injury, or due to ...
What is the time sensitive period for travel insurance? ›
To include a Waiver, you must buy travel insurance within the Time-Sensitive Period (TSP). This Time-Sensitive Period is a short time, typically 14-21 days, after your Initial Trip Payment or Deposit. Once that window passes, the policy does not include a Waiver.
What conditions affect travel insurance? ›- Heart conditions. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are very common.
- Diabetes. ...
- Asthma and respiratory problems. ...
- Chronic illnesses. ...
- Joint and bone inflammation. ...
- Mental health issues.
There's a common misconception that if one person buys travel insurance, their travel companions are protected too. That's not the case — although travel insurance does provide some benefits that can affect companions.
What to do if travel insurance denies a claim? ›It's your right to appeal a denial and travel insurance companies generally have a process that should be followed. Information on how to file an appeal can likely be found on the travel insurance company's website or by calling its customer service number.
Can I cancel my flight due to Covid? ›Basic Economy fares bought on or after April 1, 2021, for travel originating in the U.S. cannot be changed or canceled unless a travel waiver is in place.
Should I cancel my trip if I have Covid? ›You and your travel companions (including children) may spread COVID-19 to other people including your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus. Don't travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Who needs travel insurance? ›Before you go, consider your insurance options in case you need care while traveling. Travel health insurance is especially important if you have an existing health condition, are traveling for more than 6 months, or doing adventure activities such as scuba diving or hang gliding.
How long is free look period for seniors? ›Use your 30-day free-look period.
As a senior, you have a right to a free 30-day period to look over the annuity to make sure it is what you want. Within the 30-day period you can return the annuity contract for a full refund.
The free look period is the time period offered by a Health Insurance Provider to new policyholders, during which s(he) can terminate the Health Plan without incurring any penalties. A free look period often ranges between 15-30 days, depending on the insurer.
What happens if a policy includes a free look period of at least 10 days? ›With the policy * If a life insurance policy contains a free-look period of at least 10 days, the buyer's guide can be delivered with the policy. If it doesn't, the buyer's guide must be delivered prior to accepting the initial premium.
What does free look period mean? ›
Variable annuity contracts typically have a "free look" period of ten or more days. During this period, you are free to terminate your contract without paying any surrender charges and you will receive a refund for the amount you paid.
How long is an insurance grace period? ›A short period — usually 90 days — after your monthly health insurance payment is due. If you haven't made your payment, you may do so during the grace period and avoid losing your health coverage.
When an insurance policy is under the free look period the policyowner is entitled to? ›Free Look — The right of the policyowner to have a period of ten or more days to examine an insurance policy and, if not satisfied, return it to the company for a full refund of all amounts paid.
What is a 14 day free look period? ›14-Day Free Look Period
This means that policyholders have 14 days from receiving their policy to review its terms and conditions and decide whether to keep or cancel it. If the policyholder cancels the policy within this period, they will receive a full refund of any premiums paid.
If you receive retirement benefits in the form of pension or annuity payments from a qualified employer retirement plan, all or some portion of the amounts you receive may be taxable unless the payment is a qualified distribution from a designated Roth account.
Should an 80 year old buy an annuity? ›Seniors & Annuities. Annuities can help seniors build tax-deferred savings to handle retirement costs such as healthcare and living expenses. Immediate annuities tend to be the best annuities for seniors because they begin paying out within 12 months of purchase.
Does travel insurance cover free cancellation? ›Comprehensive travel insurance typically covers canceled flights that delay your trip for at least 3–12 hours. If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours, you may even qualify for trip cancellation coverage, depending on your plan.
Is excess travel insurance worth it? ›Here's the thing, though: Excess insurance is not a bad thing when it comes to travel medical insurance. In fact, excess travel medical insurance as included in a Generali travel protection plan is something you should definitely consider for your next vacation.
Does travel insurance cover flight delays? ›In addition to your airline being obligated to look after you, most travel insurance policies provide cover for travel delay, which becomes applicable if your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours due to strike, adverse weather or mechanical breakdown.
What percentage of travel insurance claims are denied? ›According to the United States Travel Insurance Association (UStiA), approximately 16% of people with travel insurance file a claim, and less than 10% of those claims are denied.
Does travel insurance cover COVID? ›
Check your travel insurance policy for the scope of cover. For new policies, many travel insurers also now provide cancellation cover due to being diagnosed with Covid-19, often within two weeks of being due to travel, but it is always important to check your policy to understand any exclusions.
What does 100% trip cost cancellation mean? ›Trip Cancellation is a pre-departure benefit that can reimburse 100% of a traveler's trip cost if they need to cancel their trip for a covered reason. The most common covered reason is unforeseen illness, injury, or death of the traveler, a traveling companion, or a non-traveling family member.
Do all Visa cards have travel insurance? ›All Visa Platinum, Visa Signature, Visa Infinite, Visa Platinum Business and Visa Signature Business premium cardholders automatically take out travel insurance, while some cards also offer COVID-19 insurance.
What percentage should travel insurance be? ›While travel insurance costs vary, the average is somewhere between 4-12% of your total trip cost*. If you're on the fence, then consider this: an emergency situation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but the insurance plan might be a fraction of your trip cost.
Do you get money if a flight is delayed? ›If your flight's delayed for 3 or more hours
You're entitled to get compensation if the flight arrives more than 3 hours late and it's the airline's fault - for example, if they didn't get enough bookings or there was a technical fault.