Travel
Does travel insurance cover cancellation?
The short answer
Yes, for specific listed reasons — illness, injury, bereavement, jury service, redundancy and some other events. Changing your mind, or a reason you already knew about when you bought the policy, is never covered.
Typically covered reasons
Illness, injury or death of you, a travelling companion or a close relative; being made compulsorily redundant; jury service or witness summons; serious damage to your home; and being called for emergency services duty.
Cover starts from the day you buy the policy, which is why buying at the time of booking matters — a policy bought later won't cover something that has already happened.
Usually not covered
Disinclination to travel, work pressure without redundancy, an undeclared pre-existing medical condition, airline or operator failure without the specific extension, and government advice against travel on many policies.
How claims are paid
You claim irrecoverable prepaid costs — the parts you cannot get back from the airline, hotel or operator — less your excess. Ask providers for refunds first and keep the written refusals.
You'll need a medical certificate from a doctor for illness, and cancellation invoices showing what was refunded.
Check these on your own policy
- Buy the policy on the day you book
- Declare every medical condition, including for close relatives you'd cancel for
- Ask airlines and hotels for refunds before claiming
- Keep medical certificates and cancellation invoices
Common follow-up questions
Does it cover a cancelled flight?
The airline is responsible first under passenger rights. Travel insurance covers the knock-on costs the airline won't, such as unused accommodation.
Can I cancel because a relative is ill?
Usually yes, if they're a close relative as defined by the policy and the condition was declared or unexpected.