"Travel insurance problems" Topic

I live in the UK. I have annual travel insurance. I have been just been diagnosed as having diabetes. The insurance company won't cover me for that for a year.

I am cosidering taking on another annual insurance policy for a year that will cover me as a stop gap. I intend to stay with the original company becasue it is a joint policy and is a reasonable price.

Can I have two travel insurance policies at the same time?

I know I can not claim against both.

In the U.S. it is common to have multiple insurers for fire, property damage, etc. I'm not sure about life/health.

No idea about the UK legislation on this issue.

However, you might want to check the conditions of your existing insurance, and see if it states something explicitely against having another insurance in parallel. If it states something explicitely on the topic, then that would give a good starting point. If it does not mention something, then you need to keep on searching for more info (lack of mention does not necessarily infer a lack of existing general regulation on the issue).

Griefbringer

Doubt there is anything to prevent you from having two policies (the normal answer would be, why would you want two?) providing you don't claim for the same thing on both.

Check with both companies to be safe

First and foremost… check your first policy. I am assuming that UK policies might be set up like ones in the US. The conditions or exclusions is where I would look to start.

My first suggestion is ask about a waiver from the first company. Yes you will pay for it but the waiver will fit seamlesly into your current policy.

If they say no then another company may cover you, but the thing to keep in mind is the period of exclusion. That means the company will not cover items for a set period.

Of course I am not sure how US and UK insurance laws differ so I would say go ask your agent. Its their job to know these things, or to be able to find out for you.

GeoffQRF,
Yes you can carry two policies and have them cover the same thing. However the companies will split the settlement and pay in proportion to the percentage of coverage.

In buisness it is not uncommon for large companies to have several small policies covering items because few companies want to assume huge risk in one chunk.

Thanks Guys

I have checked the documentation of the first policy and no mention of this issue.

Contacting the that company is difficult and frustrating, It is a call centre in India staffed by people reading scripts. If they are asked anything that is not on the script causes them stress and I suspect they make up the answers.

A further complication is, if I cancel the first policy, it is a joint policy with my wife. I would wish to leave my wife on the policy.

John

PS I hate insurance companies!
PPS I hate call centres!

I hate insurance companies!

Don't get me started…

PPS I hate call centres!

Or me :-D

Insurance companies are like banks. Only any good when you don't need them. KK