Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs

Red Pennant

Can I cancel my policy if my trip has been cancelled due to Coronavirus?

All policies can be cancelled within the cooling-off period (14 days of receiving the policy wording), providing you have not made a claim or taken a trip to which the insurance applies.

If you have a single trip or long stay policy and your trip has been cancelled due to coronavirus we can amend the travel dates providing the trip is completed within a year of the policy’s inception. Alternatively, we can cancel your policy and provide a 75% refund of the premium (outside of the cooling-off period). Please be aware we can only cancel your policy if you won’t be making a claim on the policy. If you want to cancel please call us on 01342 336 606.

Annual multi-trip policies purchased from 1 July 2020 will not be entitled to a refund outside of the cooling-off period.

If you have an annual multi-trip policy with a start date on or after 1 January 2020 please call our Red Pennant team on 01342 336 606 and we can discuss options with you.

We are not able to accept cancellation requests of annual multi-trip policies issued prior to 1 January 2020.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the recent Coronavirus and consequent lockdown please contact our Red Pennant assistance team on 01342 336 606 and we may be able to help.

Can I cancel my policy if the FCDO enforce travel restrictions to my destination?

All policies can be cancelled within the cooling-off period (14 days of receiving the policy wording), providing you have not made a claim or taken a trip to which the insurance applies.

If you have a single trip or long stay policy and your trip has been cancelled due to coronavirus we can amend the travel dates providing the trip is completed within a year of the policy’s inception. Alternatively, we can cancel your policy and provide a 75% refund of the premium (outside of the cooling-off period). Please be aware we can only cancel your policy if you won’t be making a claim on the policy. If you want to cancel please call us on 01342 336 606.

Annual multi-trip policies purchased from 1st July 2020 will not be entitled to a refund outside of the cooling-off period.

If you have an annual multi-trip policy with a start date on or after 1 January 2020 please call our Red Pennant team on 01342 336606 and we can discuss options with you.

We are not able to accept cancellation requests of annual multi-trip policies issued prior to 1 January 2020.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the recent Coronavirus and consequent lockdown please contact our Red Pennant assistance team on 01342 336606 and we may be able to help.

Am I covered to return home in the event of a further lockdown?

Should there be an enforced lockdown whilst at your destination please contact the Red Pennant Emergency Services team on 01342 336 606 or 00800 1907 1907.

The policy doesn’t cover any additional or lost costs you may incur as a result of this situation.

I am currently travelling, and I have symptoms of coronavirus or have been diagnosed with the condition. Can I claim for medical costs?

Yes, providing you are still within your original period of cover (i.e. you have not needed to extend your trip/policy), and you have not travelled against the advice of the FCDO.

Please contact the 24-hour medical assistance team on +44 (0) 1342 336 606 / 00800 1907 1907, as soon as possible for help to get medical treatment. Your medical costs will be covered by the policy.

If you do not need immediate medical attention, we would recommend that you do not visit a medical facility without contacting the 24-hour medical assistance team first, as this may cause issues if you need to be isolated.

The new UK Government requirement for Covid testing means I no longer have to take a PCR test. How do I evidence my claim with a lateral flow test?

The insurer is entitled to request reasonable evidence in support of a claim. In response to the recent Government Covid testing changes where fully vaccinated people can now take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR, the insurer will require claimants to have registered their lateral flow test result via the official UK government website and to provide a copy of the official test registration confirmation email (as this is Government guidance on what to do in the event of a positive lateral flow) to the insurer in support of any Covid related claim on or after Friday 7 January 2022.

I cancelled my trip after the FCDO advice changed to 'against essential travel' to the destination I was scheduled to go to. Can I get my money back for my trip?

If your booking was part of a package holiday, you are entitled to a refund from the provider. If you booked elements of your trip separately and haven’t already had contact with the provider you should contact them. Most reputable providers are allowing people to move their bookings to later in the year or enabling cancellations.

If you have a Red Pennant policy there is no cover for cancellation as a result of the change in government advice not to travel. However, depending on circumstances eg when you booked your trip and took out your policy in relation to when the advice to your destination changed, your claim may be considered.

If I renew my Annual Multi-trip policy will my new policy cover me for Coronavirus?

Any trips with a start date from 1 June 2020 or after will have cover under the Medical Emergency and Repatriation Expenses section of the policy with regards to claims arising from or related to Coronavirus (Covid-19 or any strain thereof) whilst on your trip.

There is no cover related to Coronavirus (Covid-19 or any strain thereof) in any other section of cover including cancellation.

Can I defer the start date of my annual policy renewal?

If you don’t continue your annual multi-trip policy from the renewal date, we are unable to guarantee that the premium quoted on your renewal invitation will be the same if you take out a policy later.

However, for policies that were due to renew from 1 February 2020 - 30 June 2020 we will honour the renewal discount we give if a new annual multi-trip policy is taken out within six months of the renewal date. For policies due to renew from 1 July 2020 - 31 July 2020 we will honour the renewal discount until 31 December 2020.

What do I need to do to prevent my annual multi-trip policy renewing?

You don’t need to do anything if you don’t want to renew your policy. As your annual policy is not on an automatic renewal your policy will lapse, and all cover will end on the day before the renewal date if you don’t contact us.

Can I purchase a new Red Pennant policy?

New Red Pennant policies will be available for sale from 9 July 2020, following the removal of FCDO travel restrictions across Europe.

Should you take out a Single Trip Policy and are unable to travel due to new FCDO advice against all, or all but essential travel we can amend the trip dates, providing the trip is completed within a year of the policy’s inception.

Alternatively, we can cancel the policy and provide a full refund.

No amendments can be made to Annual Multi-Trip policies.


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