Holiday cancellation insurance is an essential part of your travel insurance policy. If you have to cancel your trip, due to illness, bereavement or even jury duty, holiday cancellation insurance helps cover costs that you would otherwise lose.
What is holiday cancellation insurance and do you need it?
Holiday cancellation insurance covers you against losses if you have to cancel your trip. For example, if you unexpectedly had to cancel and could not get back the cost of your flights or accommodation.
In our 2024 annual survey, 48% of the people we asked listed cancellation cover as one of the most important features for travel insurance3. While travel cancellations can’t be helped, our policy ensures that you’re reimbursed, allowing you to rebook your trip at no extra cost.
It’s important to note that cancellation cover won’t cover you if you change your mind about a trip.
Why buy holiday cancellation insurance?
It’s good to plan for the unexpected. Whether through illness or jury service, your circumstances can change between booking your trip and the start of your journey. That’s why holiday cancellation cover is essential. It protects you if you’re unable to travel as planned.
Holiday cancellation insurance from InsureandGo ensures you’re covered for:
- Serious illnesses or injuries. If you or a family member suddenly falls ill or gets injured before your trip, travel cancellation insurance ensures you’re financially protected in case you need to cancel your holiday plans.
- Transportation. If the vehicle you intended to travel in is involved in an accident, holiday cancellation insurance ensures you’re reimbursed for any non-recoverable expenses.
- Financial protection. Your prepaid expenses, like flight tickets and accommodation bookings, are covered if you need to cancel your trip.
- Pregnancy-related complications. If issues arise during pregnancy and your doctor advises against travel or if you’re beyond 32 weeks pregnant at the time of your trip, holiday cancellation insurance can cover the cancellation costs.
- Jury service. If you’re summoned for jury duty during your planned travel dates, travel cancellation insurance covers any non-refundable trip expenses.
What does InsureandGo’s holiday cancellation insurance cover?
This type of insurance provides cover if you need to cancel your holiday for a relevant reason. For example, the death of a family member or someone close to you, or being summoned for jury duty.
Cancellation insurance only covers payments that you’ve lost and can’t recover. You should always try to get a refund from your holiday provider first.
Here’s what’s covered in our travel insurance policies.
What’s covered?
Our travel cancellation insurance policy includes cover for cancellation of your trip due to the following reasons:
- You becoming seriously ill or injured
- Bereavement or if you need to attend a funeral service
- Becoming pregnant (if, by the time of travel, you’ll be over 32 weeks or your doctor says you can’t travel)
- There’s an accident with a vehicle you were planning to travel in
- Becoming redundant (as long as you’ve been employed continuously for two years, not including self-employment or voluntary redundancy)
- You’re a member of the armed forces, police, fire, nursing or ambulance service and you have to stay because of an emergency or you’ve posted overseas unexpectedly
What’s not covered?
We strive to provide the best cover possible, however, there are some situations no travel insurance will cover. For example:
- Claims for events or reasons which took place before you booked the trip. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of the insured’s control
- Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover.
- For more information, read our policy documents or visit our FAQs page for any questions you may have.
Our policies also include:
- Medical emergency expenses cover
- Access to our 24-hour emergency assistance team, available to call, day or night, wherever you are
- Over 100 sports and activities covered (see your policy wording for a full list of activities)
- Personal belongings and baggage cover
- Personal money, passports and travel documents cover
- Accommodation cover
- Legal expenses cover
- Delayed departure cover
- Personal accident cover
To check the policy exclusions and what is and isn’t included, take a look at our policy wording.
Cancellation vs curtailment cover: what’s the difference?
While they sound similar, curtailment and cancellation cover are not the same. They protect you at different stages of your trip.
Curtailment cover helps if you need to cut your trip short. This may be due to someone you’re staying with falling seriously ill, or an emergency back in the UK needs your attention. It covers unused travel costs and expenses for getting back home, so you can focus on what matters
Cancellation cover protects you if you need to cancel your holiday before it begins. Reasons might include illness, injury, or family emergencies. It covers costs like accommodation, flights or any prepaid activities. See the policy wording for full details of our curtailment and holiday cancellation travel insurance.
The best travel insurance for your holiday
All InsureandGo travel insurance policies protect against many unforeseen circumstances. This includes trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage, medical emergencies and personal liability.
Our policies also offer cover for over 100 sports and activities at no extra cost(see your policy wording for a full list of activities).
- Single trip travel insurance: Ideal for one-off journeys lasting up to 365 days, including travel to multiple countries. Cancellation cover starts from the date you book your trip or pay for the insurance, whichever is later.
- Cruise travel insurance: Designed to keep you and your belongings protected onboard and ashore. This includes cover for cabin confinement, missed departures, and more.
- Extreme sports: Whether you’re jumping out of a plane, swimming with sharks or quad biking in Greece, we offer specific hazardous activities cover as a policy add-on.
- Golf travel insurance: Covers your golf equipment, green fees, and all other essentials, including trip cancellation. You’ll be covered while you’re away, even if you’re golfing for your entire trip.
Check out our policy wording to learn more about any of these options.
How much cancellation cover will I have?
That depends on the policy you choose. Budget, Silver, Gold and Black policies let you match your cover to your trip.
Planning a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Opt for higher levels of cover, like our Gold and Black travel insurance, to protect your investment. Jetting off on a budget-friendly break? Choose a policy that keeps costs down, without paying for extras you don’t need.
Remember, while it’s great to save on extras you don’t need, it’s just as important to make sure you’re covered for the things you do. Choosing the right level of cover for your trips means fewer surprises and less worry.
| Black | Gold | Silver | |
| Medical expenses and repatriation | Unlimited | £15 million | £10 Million |
| Cancellation and curtailment | £10,000 | £7,500 | £5,000 |
| Travel delay | Up to £650 | Up to £540 | Up to £450 |
| Personal belongings | £5,000 | £2,500 | £2,000 |
| Legal Expenses | £60,000 | £50,000 | £15,000 |
| Standard Excess | Nil | £50 | £60 |
When should I buy travel insurance?
As emphasised by MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis, you should buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. This means you’re protected right from the start. Waiting until closer to your departure could leave you unprotected if plans change. Just make sure your policy is in place before you leave the UK, or it won’t be valid.
When does cancellation cover start?
The start of your cancellation cover depends on the type of policy you purchased.
Bought a single trip policy? Cover for holiday cancellation starts from the date you book your trip or pay the insurance premium –whichever comes later. The sooner you’re covered, the better – just in case something changes before you travel.
Got an annual multi-trip policy? Cover for cancellation starts at either the time you book your trip or the start date on your insurance certificate – whichever one’s later.
If, due to unexpected circumstances beyond your control, you can’t finish your holiday within the period of insurance, we’ll extend your cover for up to 30 days, at no extra cost.
How to book our holiday cancellation insurance
Booking travel cancellation insurance is easy with our two-step process.
1. Tell us where you’re going, who you want to cover and details about any pre-existing medical conditions.
Do this online now or give us a call:
2. Get your quote and your cover
Receive your quote and you can decide to either buy your insurance policy straight away or later.
How to claim on cancellation cover
To claim for holiday cancellation before your trip begins, follow these steps:
Check your policy. Ensure your policy covers the reason for cancellation by reviewing the documents you received. Note any limits, exclusions, or excesses.
Gather your documents. Have your policy number, policy schedule and booking invoice ready. You’ll also need a cancellation invoice if booked through a tour operator. If it’s an independent booking, provide proof that no refund is available for unused tickets.
Provide supporting evidence. For medical cancellations, include a signed GP medical certificate. We also need your consent to access medical reports. For non-medical cancellations, submit evidence supporting the cancellation reason.
Submit your claim. Complete your claim form online, or give us a call.
Claims are usually processed within three to five days. Approved non-emergency claims are typically paid within five working days after confirmation. Still not sure? Head over to our Make A Claim page for more information.
“Holiday cancellation insurance is an essential part of your travel insurance policy. Having the flexibility and protection in the event of a sudden illness, bereavement or circumstances out of your control that force you to delay or cancel your travel plans can save a lot of money and hassle. This type of cover is a must in case of any uncertainties leading up to your travel plans.”
Nick Heady – Travel insurance expert
Holiday cancellation insurance with pre-existing medical conditions cover
This cover is crucial for travellers with health concerns that could lead to trip cancellation. We understand how upsetting cancelling your holiday due to illness is. It can be unavoidable.
We consider any pre-existing medical conditions. You just need to declare them before buying your policy.
All InsureandGo travel insurance policies provide full medical cover, ensuring you’re protected if you can’t travel due to illness.
Common medical reasons that could lead to cancelling your holiday include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions. Your medical condition worsens suddenly and you need to cancel your trip (you must declare your condition to us during your quote process).
- Bereavement. You experience the unexpected loss of a close family member or a travel companion, leading you to cancel your trip.
- Pregnancy. You or your travel partner becomes pregnant and your GP advises against travel. If you buy travel insurance knowing that you’ll be 33 to 40 weeks pregnant during your trip, you’ll be unable to claim cancellation.
- Jury duty: You receive a summons for jury duty that coincides with your planned travel dates. Thus, requiring you to attend and cancel your trip.
- Covid-19. If you contract Covid during the lead up to your trip. You could be too ill to travel or the country you’re travelling may demand a negative Covid test. Read about our Coronavirus travel insurance for full details.
For more information check out our travel insurance for medical conditions page. Alternatively, you can speak to our customer services team.
Our reviews speak for themselves
Our 5 star reviews speak for themselves. Take a look at what our customers are saying about our travel insurance policies:
“Last year we had to cancel our holiday plans at the latest minute and InsureandGo paid the claim in full very promptly.
Alex Parsons
Today I had to make a small amendment to the medical conditions and this was dealt with promptly and efficiently.“
Date of experience: 13 May 2024
Frequently asked questions on holiday cancellation insurance
Which travel insurance policies include holiday cancellation?
All our policies include holiday cancellation as standard. This includes single trip, annual multi-trip and seniors travel insurance.
However, If you’re planning a cruise, you’ll need to add cruise travel insurance to your policy. This includes holiday cancellation cover if something happens and you can’t go away as planned. You’ll also be covered for missed ports if the ship can’t make a scheduled stop.
When does my holiday cancellation insurance start?
If you buy a single trip policy, cover for holiday cancellation starts from the date you book your trip or pay the insurance premium, whichever is later. So, try not to leave buying insurance until the last minute!
If you’ve got an annual multi-trip policy, cover for cancellation starts at either the time you book your trip or the start date shown on your insurance certificate, whichever is later.
If, due to unexpected circumstances beyond your control, you can’t finish your holiday within the period of insurance, we’ll extend your cover for up to 30 days, at no extra cost.
Will my travel insurance cover cancellation due to Covid?
Yes, all InsureandGo policies cover you for cancellation due to contracting Coronavirus (including Delta and Omicron variants).
Read about our Coronavirus travel insurance for full details of the holiday cancellation insurance included with each policy.
Will I be covered if I cancel for any reason?
Holiday cancellation insurance covers specific events. It won’t cover you if you decide you don’t want to travel for any reason. It also won’t cover you for anything you already knew about when you bought the policy.
For full details of what’s excluded from holiday cancellation insurance, read our policy wording.
Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights?
If the airline cancels your flight, in most cases they will be required to refund you or offer a replacement flight. You should speak to your airline or travel agent.
If your flight is cancelled due to a covered reason (for example, mechanical breakdown of the aircraft) and the replacement offered causes a delay to your journey, you may be able to claim for travel delay or abandonment of your trip. Please see the policy wording for full details.
How much notice do I need to give before cancelling and claiming?
You can cancel your trip any time before it starts. But if something changes, it’s important to act quickly. Tell your carrier, holiday company, travel agent, or accommodation provider as soon as possible. Doing this early can help minimise cancellation fees. These fees are typically outlined in the terms and conditions of your booking. They may increase the closer you get to your departure date.
Our policy only covers cancellation charges that applied at the time you knew you had to cancel. Take a look at the policy wording for more information.
Who can buy an InsureandGo holiday cancellation insurance policy?
All our travel insurance for holiday cancellation policies are available to UK residents. This means:
- Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
- They must be in the UK at the time of purchase
- All trips must start and end in the UK
Get a quote online or browse our policy documents for more information.
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