Post Office travel insurance
The Post Office isn’t just for sending parcels, you can pick up a travel insurance policy for your next getaway and you don’t even have to wait in a queue (‘Cashier number four, please’)
Who is the Post Office?
Not content with delivering letters and parcels, the Post Office offers a huge range of financial products.
This includes credit cards, savings accounts, pet insurance and home insurance, as well as services associated with travel, like money exchange and passport verification.
It launched its travel insurance offering in 2007.
Post-office travel insurance facts
Here’s the rundown:
- Three levels of cover available: Economy, Standard and Premier
- Choose a single, multi-trip or backpacker policy
- Covers most pre-existing conditions, always check whether yours is included before purchasing
- Upgrade your policy to include cover for things like gadgets, winter sports and trip disruption
- Add extra Covid-19 cover to your insurance for peace of mind
- Discount offered to students
- Family and over 65s travel insurance policies available
Why should I choose Post Office travel insurance?
It offers three different levels of cover – Economy, Standard and Premier. In fact, its Premier policy has a five-star rating from Defaqto.
Post Office was the winner of the Best Travel Insurance Provider at the Your Money Awards in 2021.
It has paid out over £167 million in claims since launching travel insurance in 2007.[1]
You can choose from single, multi-trip or backpacker insurance to get the cover that best suits your needs. You can even select add-ons like winter sports, cruise or sports and activities cover to cater your policy to you.
How do I get in contact with the Post Office?
To contact the Post Office about your travel insurance policy, you can phone 0330 123 3690 from Monday to Saturday, 9am - 5.30pm. Or use its online enquiry form.
What does it cover?
What your travel insurance policy covers will depend on which level you opt for.
Economy includes:
- Emergency medical treatment up to £5 million
- Cancellation or curtailment up to £1,000
- Baggage cover up to £1,500
A standard policy includes:
- Emergency medical treatment up to £7.5 million
- Cancellation or curtailment up to £3,000
- Baggage cover up to £2,000
Premier policies include:
- Emergency medical treatment up to £10 million
- Cancellation or curtailment up to £5,000
- Baggage cover up to £3,000
What isn’t covered?
You won’t be covered for any claims that are a result of you taking illegal drugs, drinking heavily, fighting or breaking the law in the country you’re visiting.
If you’re taking part in a risky sport, like skiing, and you don’t have the appropriate cover, any claim you make will be invalid. It’s essential that you exercise reasonable care and refrain from putting yourself in danger.
You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when completing your application form or you risk invalidating your policy.
What upgrades can I make to my policy?
Post Office offers a range of policy add-ons to tailor your insurance to your holiday. This will push the price of your premium up but could provide you with essential cover.
You may want to think about:
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Trip disruption cover
Protects you if there’s a terrorist attack, natural catastrophe or air space disruption
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Gadget cover
Insures your tech when you take it out and about
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Cruise cover
Pays out for lost baggage, missed departures and falling ill on the ship
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Sports and activities cover
If you’re playing golf, bungee-jumping or mountain biking while abroad, you’ll want to add this on
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Winter sports cover
Hitting the slopes can be risky, this could pay for the cost of airlifting you off the mountain
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Covid-19 cover
Pays out for situations like if you miss your flight due to coronavirus. You may want to check what level of cover comes as standard first. Check your policy details before purchasing as cover levels may vary.
Is Post Office travel insurance right for me?
Only you can decide whether it’s the right choice for you. Read the terms and conditions of the policy carefully and see whether it covers everything that you need it to.
If it does, then you’ll want to then check whether it’s affordable for your budget.
The best thing to do is compare the policy against similar options from other insurers to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Be sure to include any add-ons you need when comparing.
How good is Post Office travel cover?
Whether a travel insurance policy is good for you will depend on whether it covers everything that you need it to.
The Economy policy may be cheaper, but it offers lower levels of cover, so you could be left having to pay out of your own pocket if something costly crops up.
The Premier policy is a more comprehensive policy and has higher payout limits, it also has the maximum star rating of five from Defaqto. This means that its features and benefits are excellent.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether the trade-off for cheaper premiums is worth selecting a lower level of cover.
How do I get a quote for Post Office travel insurance?
You can easily get a quote for Post Office travel insurance when you compare with us.
All you need to do is enter a few details about yourself and your upcoming holiday and we’ll find you policies that match your criteria.
You can then choose the one that covers everything that you need at the right price.
How do I make a claim on my Post Office travel insurance?
You can submit a claim online via the Post Office site. Alternatively, you can phone to make a claim.
Policy numbers starting with TC or TA: 0333 333 9702
Policy numbers starting with TE: 01403 330 233
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
FAQs
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Yes, it’s possible to purchase travel insurance at the Post Office. This service is available in over 3700 branches.
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New policies bought from 31 March 2022 include cover for cancellation, curtailment and medical expenses as a result of coronavirus. However, this is only under certain circumstances which are detailed in the policy document.
It’s possible to get more comprehensive Covid-19 cover by opting for the add-on, which has missed departure and change in quarantine rules included.
Check your policy details before purchasing as cover levels may vary.
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It is underwritten by ERGO Travel Insurance Services Ltd on behalf of Great Lakes Insurance SE (GLISE).
[1]Data retrieved from Post Office website as of 6 June 2022.