Nationwide won’t cover EU travel

[Casper46]

I have just phoned Nationwide travel insurance and they will not cover me for a visit to France. We have a problem with the French house and we are not sure if it can be sorted without us being there.
Can someone who has escaped from the UK this week maybe tell me if they have travel insurance.
Nationwide say that it must be essential travel as detailed on FCO website.

 

[robnchris]

I would think if you have european cover with your car insurance policy that would be sufficient, looking at some of the travel insurance we have had over the years they are overpriced and not necessary.

 

[gerry mcg]

i can't comment on specifics, but my general understanding would be if FCO advice is against all non-essential travel, you would be unlikely to be covered by travel insurance in the affected country.

if you were in the country when advice is against all non-essential travel was issued, your travel insurance would be valid to get you out of there -

 

[gerry mcg]

that would (perhaps) cover you for motor related incidents - but i would want specific guarentee this is still valid before travelling
but the OP appears to be querying more general travel related insurance - which i'm certain would be invalid at this time when the FCO advice is against all non-essential travel.

The other Question is whether one needs travel insurance to travel to europe. some will argue not - I have it.

 

[Casper46]

I would think if you have european cover with your car insurance policy that would be sufficient, looking at some of the travel insurance we have had over the years they are overpriced and not necessary.

We have only bothered with travel insurance in the last couple of years. It’s only because I will be on my own that I thought a bit of health cover would be a good idea. Nationwide says that they follow FCO. I have read FCO and they say it is a personal decision as to what is essential travel. I have an EHIC so that will have to do.
As you say insurers are a waste of money.

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[Ninovan]

Casper46 , don’t know when you are going over but don’t forget Macron is meeting Boris today so that might result in FCO advice changing? Suggest you wait & see.

 

[billym]

No chance with Travel Ins as long as FCO don't change their advice.

In relation to vehicle insurance on the Guinea Pig Eurotunnel thread that I have been invited not to comment on, Bounty Hunter wrote this ( page 8)



I asked Comfort Insurance if the van was covered if we travelled against FCO advice. Here is there response

With regards to your email, we would advise that we do not have any restrictions on our motorhome policy with regards to going against government advice so technically your policy will be valid. However, as stated in out policy wording, it is the customers responsibility to protect their asset so going against government advice could be concluded as not taking care of that asset.

Also customers may find that our ability to assist them in practical terms may be impacted by any domestic or international restrictions in the country they are in (be that arranging local repairs or transportation of the vehicle back home should that be needed following an incident).



Which to me sounds a bit like Yes but No

 

[The Wino]

If the foreign office says no travel but essential it will depend if you have to claim on being able to show its essential that you went and having asked them if its recorded anywhere it could be harder.
If it really is essential I would email them the reasons why and see what they say. I would have thought if they then do provide cover there would be an additional risk and hence a premium.

 

[SomeoneElse]

The email I had from Nationwide this morning says:

If you have a FlexAccount or FlexPlus current account with access to travel insurance, we want you to be aware that for any new trips booked on or after 18 March 2020, you won’t be covered for events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.​

So I assume Travel insurance works for NON-Coronavirus travel issues.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

What if you booked prior to the date
We did ferries booked and campsite

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[The Wino]

The email I had from Nationwide this morning says:

If you have a FlexAccount or FlexPlus current account with access to travel insurance, we want you to be aware that for any new trips booked on or after 18 March 2020, you won’t be covered for events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.​

So I assume Travel insurance works for NON-Coronavirus travel issues.

Or it could mean that if you need medical attention and it costs more due to coronovirus or repatriation and it costs a lot more you aren't covered. I would assume that it needs a call to check if you are covered when visiting but would be surprised if they cover anything while there FO advice not to visit. I suspect they are really aiming at not being liable for cancellations caused by coronovirus.

 

[Casper46]

The email I had from Nationwide this morning says:

If you have a FlexAccount or FlexPlus current account with access to travel insurance, we want you to be aware that for any new trips booked on or after 18 March 2020, you won’t be covered for events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.​

So I assume Travel insurance works for NON-Coronavirus travel issues.

I also received the email, which is what prompted me to telephone them. Coronavirus wasn’t mentioned, the lady I spoke to did pass the query on to someone senior before she told me to read the FCO advice. The FCO advice is as clear as mud.

 

[Lenny HB]

The email I had from Nationwide this morning says:

If you have a FlexAccount or FlexPlus current account with access to travel insurance, we want you to be aware that for any new trips booked on or after 18 March 2020, you won’t be covered for events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.​

So I assume Travel insurance works for NON-Coronavirus travel issues.

Lloyds Bank cover is similar, 11th March in their case.