Insure and GO

The UK's No1 direct travel insurance provider.

Is this a first? An insurance company that's won the thumbs up from the Plain English Campaign for its mumbo jumbo-free policy wording...?

No wonder Essex-based travel insurance specialist InsureandGo proudly displays the Campaign's Crystal Mark on the front cover of its policy booklets, making the company one of a very rare breed indeed.

Credit card style ID

It gets top marks from know-insurance for the clever idea of issuing policyholders with a credit card-style policy ID with details such as S.O.S helpline numbers as well as the policy claim number.

Take it with you wherever you go - slip it into your wallet, purse or pocket.

A brilliant idea, especially if you find yourself with a medical emergency on the piste in Chamonix, say, or with a broken ankle half-way up a mountain in the Swiss Alps.

If you're rushed to hospital, staff there can use the details on the card to set the ball rolling with the assistance company and provide the necessary medical treatment faster than might otherwise be the case.

Top Insurer

Launched in September 2000, today InsureandGo is top insurer in the travel insurance jungle, holder of the no. 1 spot as Britain's biggest direct travel insurance provider.

Boasting over 2 million customers a year, it has the backing of a string of well-known companies including Norwich Union, AXA, Lloyds of London and AIG Europe (UK) Ltd.

The success of its philosophy of low cost, value for money cover has catapulted the company into the general insurance market.

From the cradle to the grave and the fun bits in between, the online internet broker now covers most things - your computer, laptop, motorcycle, car, van, life, business, pet, home, holiday, health, life - you name it.

Insurance for Terrorism

The Insure&Go policy wording on cover for terrorism and terrorist incidents appears unclear and ambiguous on their website as no references to the words "Terrorist or Terrorism" appear in policy documents - this is supplising for important issues with that can significantly impace travel and lives (Insure&Go are actually clearer on mud buggying - which is how our research with them felt!!!). When we contacted the company directly and spoke to different teams to gain clarity we received conflicting opinions depending on whether the incident was "Declared" by the UK Government.

Rare to Gain Cover

Insure and Go eventually stated (14/08/06) that it was 'Rare' to gain cover and there was generally 'very little' cover with regard disruption and loss caused by cancellation and travel delay or actual terrorist incidents.

Exclusion

The 'War' exclusion clause is the clause that appears to exclude terrorism from the policy which is because incidents cannot be predicted and a parallel was drawn with Floridian Hurricanes.

The underwriters for InsureAndGo in response to the August 2006 Heathrow Airport terrorism disruption did aparently modify their hand luggage terms, however there was no cover for cancellations or delay and their insured are pointed towards carriers and travel agents.

"War

War, whether declared or not, or any warlike activities, including use of military force by any sovereign nation to achieve economic, geographic, nationalistic, political, racial, religious or other goals."

AIG Europe (UK) Limited Profits

All InsureandGo's travel insurance products are backed by the international insurance giant AIG Europe (UK) Limited. With an after tax profit greater than that of Europe's top three insurers combined, hopefully they won't quibble if you do have to make a claim...

Travel Perks and Discounts

All policies automatically entitle you to free membership to the InsureandGo Travel Club with benefits and discounts on car hire, airport parking and more.

InsureandGo Single Trip

• cover for trips from 3 - 60 days
• up to 3 children aged under 18 free per insured adult
• automatic cover for 40+ activities including 3 bungee jumps, white water rafting and scuba diving
• 3 levels of cover, depending on your lifestyle/budget

More on single trip insurance

Compare rates

So confident are InsureandGo that they offer among the best deals, they've compiled this comparison chart showing how they fare against other leading insurance companies.

Prices valid as at the 1st January 2005 and are for a single adult travelling on a 2-week trip to Europe -

Europe for 2 Weeks / Single Adult

Now compare their family rates, for a once-in-a-lifetime visit to: Disneyland Florida -

Florida for 2 Weeks / Family

InsureandGo Annual Multi-Trip

• includes free winters sports cover
• maximum trip durations from 45 - 90 days
• up to 3 children aged under 18 free per insured adult
• automatic cover for 40+ activities including three bungee jumps, white water rafting and scuba diving
• 3 levels of cover, depending on your lifestyle/budget
• for an extra premium, you can include golf and business trip cover

InsureandGo Annual Policy Prices and Cover Details

InsureandGo certainly aren't afraid to stand up and be counted. Here's another one of their comparison charts featuring other internet providers. Prices valid as at 1st January 2005.

More on multi trip insurance

Worldwide Annual Multitrip / Single Adult

InsureandGo Backpackers

InsureandGo is a partner of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Know Before You Go campaign. It has no illusions that the segment of the market their Backpacker/Adventure Traveller policy is aimed at is anything other than deeply disinterested in insuring themselves.

But InsureandGo do have one or two things going for them in this area.

The package is flexible enough not only to allow free spirits to stray off the beaten track somewhat, but also to wing their way back to the UK for a short break during their travels.

Cover is available for trips from 31 days to 18 months duration, and, best of all, you can spend 15% of your time in an area rated higher than the one you're insured for.

More on backpackers insurance

Home Visit option

For a few pence more, buy into the optional Home Visit add on and you can return to the UK for a special occasion without invalidating the policy.

As with all their travel policies, there's automatic cover for 40+ activities, including three bungee jumps, white water rafting and scuba diving, plus hundreds more covered for a small additional premium.

As well as the usual level of cover you'd expect for medical emergencies, personal belongings, repayment of, personal accident, personal liability, legal costs, blah, blah, blah, InsureandGo are practical enough to cover student loan repayments (up to £5,000).

Now that's what we call a good idea.

Prices are competitive too.

InsureandGo Adventure Traveller Prices

Long Stay policies are also available for people aged 36+ for extended trips.

For Over 65s

InsureandGo won't cover you if you're over 76 or over, so stop reading now.

But if you're 65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74 or 75, you can opt for either a Single or Annual policy.

For a sprightly 75 year old (what a difference a year makes) and thinking about heading off to Europe for a week-long trip, you're looking at an average cost of £31.09 (£26.43 if you ditch baggage cover & money) for the Silver package.
More about over 65s insurance

Benefits

For that, benefits include £5 million worth of medical expenses cover; £20,000 for personal accident; £3,000 for cancellation; £500 for missed departure and £15,000 legal expenses.

For a few pounds extra you can upgrade to the Standard Gold option at £38.88.

Here, medical expenses cover doubles to £10 million; £50,000 for personal accident, £5,000 for cancellation; £1,000 for missed departure and £50,000 for legal expenses.

As well as the benefits listed, annual policies have the added attraction of winter sports cover at no extra cost, but you're limited to a maximum of 31 days per trip.

You have to declare any pre-existing medical condition, after which you'll undergo what it describes as a 'simple' screening process.

If you have grandchildren under the age of 18, you can add them to your policy at no additional cost.

InsureandGo Ski/Snowboarding

InsureandGo prides itself on not being one of the herd, and certainly it does seem to go the extra mile on the winter sports front.

Most winter sports insurance packages cover skiing or snowboarding and not much else. But what if you fancy a spot of tobogganing or heli-skiing?

If the sport isn't included in the policy then you're in for a nasty shock if you find yourself having to fork out for sky-high medical bills or an air ambulance rescue service and repatriation.

The InsureandGo package automatically covers a decent range of winter sports - not just the bog-standard off piste skiing and snowboarding in areas deemed safe by the resort management, but also-

• tobogganing
• ice skating
• snow mobiling
• mono skiing
• glacier walking
• guided cross country skiing

Prices for a week in Europe start from £16 and all InsureandGo annual policies include winter sports for free.
More on ski insurance

Extreme/Adventure Sports

For an extra premium you can buy into an extreme winter sports package covering -

• heli-skiing
• freestyle skiing
• ski acrobatics
• ski stunting
• ski bob racing
• ski racing/training - non professional
• skeletons
• bobsleigh
• ice hockey

More on adventure sports insurance

Savings for families

InsureandGo have carried out their own research into the family winter ski breaks travel insurance market and according to their findings most parents pay over the odds for cover.

It claims it can save a single parent family up to a massive £92 and a two-parent family up to £75 on annual worldwide cover.

That saving, according to InsureandGo, would cover almost the amount needed to cover a 6-day adult lift pass.

The following table shows the results of InsureandGo's snapshot research of prices taken from company's websites in November 2004.

Cover shown is for Annual Worldwide (inc US and Canada). Family - 1 or 2 adults plus 2 kids aged 8 &10.
More on family holiday insurance

Single Parent and Two Parent Family Comparison

The difference in price is, frankly, staggering. And it can't have changed that much since then. Remember too that InsureandGo covers up to 3 children aged under 18 for free per insured adult, plus winter sports are automatically included in all its annual policies.

Contact details

Website: www.insureandgo.com

Tel free on 0870 901 3674
Or, even better, they call you, if you click on to their website and enter your phone number.

Email: info@ website

Write to: