Travel Insurance FAQs

A - The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues advice for people travelling overseas from the United Kingdom. They impose non-travel advisories against specific regions of the world they deem to be unsuitable for travel, as well as “all-but-essential” travel advisories. Where a non-travel advisory is put in place, you will need to consult with your tour operator on your options for your trip.

Since 17th March 2020, the FCDO has put in place an all-but-essential non-travel advisory for various countries. This has changed since this date and customers are advised to keep checking the FCDO website www.gov.uk/fcdo for news on their planned travel destination.

• Countries have been opened up to travel to/from the United Kingdom via special arrangement, known as “travel corridors” – these eliminate the need to quarantine upon your return to the UK.
• FCDO advice generally no longer stipulates that British residents should return home immediately, allowing you to continue your holiday to its conclusion should non-travel advice be imposed whilst you are away. You should, however, continue to pay close attention to any travel advice issued as it may differ.

A - No – whilst not widely publicised, the imposition of a two-week quarantine upon returning from a destination almost always goes hand-in-hand with the removal of the country from the FCDO’s exempt list, meaning the FCDO will now be advising against all-but-essential travel to this destination.

A - The FCDO is allowing travel for “essential” reasons, although they do not offer specific guidance on what is or isn’t considered “essential”. Your insurer will have different attitudes as to whether they will provide cover for “essential” travel.

For tifgroup customers (policies issued prior to 1 September 2020) – we have received no specific guidance and policies will provide no cover if you are travelling against FCDO advice.

For Millstream customers (policies issued after 1 September 2020) – “essential” travel may be agreed by Millstream based on the set of circumstances. Prior to travel, you will need to check with Millstream to see if they can continue to provide cover for the trip.

A - No – there is no cover provided under any section of any Ski Club Travel Insurance policy if you choose to travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The exceptions to this are;

• If FCDO advice changes to warn against travel whilst abroad
• For Millstream policies issued after 1 September 2020, if you are travelling for an essential reason, with cover agreed by Millstream prior to your departure.

A - This can be a bit of a grey area. The advice we have received form our insurance partners, Millstream Underwriting, is that a so-called “local lockdown”, or equivalent, does not prevent international travel, unless the FCDO have completely advised against national and international travel – as they did during England’s national lockdown in November 2020.

As a result of this, no cover is provided for cancellation if you choose not to travel owing to a so-called “local lockdown” or equivalent, in the UK.

Please note this advice is relevant to the current measures in place and may be altered at short noticed should a second full “lockdown” be imposed, with associated travel restrictions.

There are now variations on travel advice depending on which UK country you live in. It is not possible for us to provide a general statement on this subject, but our Millstream will take this into account if you submit a claim.

A - Ski Club Travel Insurance provides exceptional cover for a range of on-snow related eventualities; if you are injured whilst skiing or snowboarding (or a whole range of other on-snow activities) you are covered for medical expenses up to £10,000,000 – this includes when skiing off-piste without a guide, something that makes our insurance stand out versus many others.
Our insurance provides cover if your holiday is unable to happen in the way that you expect it as a result of unforeseen circumstances. It is important to note that these policies do not cover for every possible eventuality.

Ski Club Travel Insurance provides cover if you are unable to go on your trip because of illness, injury or death of yourself or an immediate relative; or as a result of obligations such as jury service or the requirements of HM armed forces. Furthermore, if the resort you are planning on going to is suffering from too little or too much snow, or an avalanche has rendered it unvisitable, a compensation benefit is available as well as refunds on your “ski pack” i.e. lift tickets and equipment hire.

These are considered normal, unforeseeable eventualities that are priced into the policies that Tifgroup/Millstream underwrite and is reflected in our policy prices.

A - This is a complex matter, with specific caveats for the current travel environment. Millstream, our provider for policies issued after 1 September 2020, understand the imposition of FCDO non-travel advice in the current climate to be a manifestation of a pandemic or epidemic – for which no cover is provided under any element of their policies.

Tifgroup policies (those issued prior to 1 September 2020) provide no cover for cancellation or curtailment if the FCDO advises against all or all-but-essential travel.

A - This depends on when your insurance policy was issued and by whom;

• Tifgroup policies issued before April 2020 – tifgroup will consider claims relating to cancellation owing to a positive COVID-19 test.
• Tifgroup policies issued between April and 1 September 2020 – there is no cover for anything relating to Coronavirus or COVID-19 under these policies
• Millstream policies issued after 1st September 2020 – full benefit of cancellation cover is available if you, an immediate relative, or someone with whom you are intending to travel return a positive COVID-19 test. Cover is also in place if you or someone with whom you are intending to travel are quarantined before your trip by order or other requirement of a government or public authority, based on their suspicion that you specifically, have been exposed to a contagious disease (including an epidemic or a pandemic disease such as COVID-19). This does not include any quarantine that applies generally or broadly to some or all of a population or geographical area, or that applies based on where you are traveling to, from or through.

A - No – there is no cover provided under any section of any Ski Club Travel Insurance policy if you choose to travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The exceptions to this are;

• If FCDO advice changes to warn against travel whilst abroad
• For Millstream policies issued after 1 September 2020, if you are travelling for an essential reason, with cover agreed by Millstream prior to your departure.

A - This can be a bit of a grey area. The advice we have received form our insurance partners, Millstream Underwriting, is that Tier 3 measures, a so-called “local lockdown”, or equivalent, does not prevent international travel, unless the FCDO have completely advised against national and international travel.

As a result of this, no cover is provided for cancellation if you choose not to travel owing to a so-called “local lockdown”, Tier 3 measures, or equivalent, in the UK.

Please note this advice is relevant to the current measures in place and may be altered at short noticed should a second full “lockdown” be imposed, with associated travel restrictions.

There are now variations on travel advice depending on which UK country you live in. It is not possible for us to provide a general statement on this subject, but Millstream will take this into account if you submit a claim. 

A - You should contact the relevant emergency assistance line to receive advice and instruction on what to do. This should be done as soon as practicable. For our Platinum members, this will be indicated on the reverse of your Ski Club Membership card. Otherwise, this will be indicated throughout your policy documents.

• For tifgroup policies, issued prior to 1 September 2020 – 0203 829 6745
• For Millstream policies, issued after 1 September 2020 – 0330 660 0742

A - You should follow all local and national emergency restrictions when abroad. If this results in the delay or failure of your return travel to the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands from your international departure point and you are unable to complete the trip before your travel policy expires, cover will automatically be extended without additional premium for the additional days necessary to complete your trip, as long as you are making every effort to return home.

Tifgroup/Millstream are not normally able to arrange extensions whilst abroad – the exception to this as above, if you are unable to return home on your booked transport before your policy expires. FCDO advice to “avoid all but essential travel” does not preclude you from travelling back to the UK – this is considered “essential” travel.

Tifgroup/Millstream are unable to assist in the re-arrangement of travel – except as a result of illness or injury. You should contact your tour operator or flight/transporter provider to arrange this.

A - All Ski Club Single-Trip or Multi-Trip policies allow for travel between the start and end date of the policy. If you are stuck due to either:

• Death, injury or illness during your trip
• Delay or failure of public transport services during your trip
• Delay or failure of your return flight to the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands from your international departure point;

And you are unable to complete the trip home before your travel policy expires, cover will be automatically extended without additional premium for the additional days necessary to complete the trip as long as you are making every effort to return home.

Tifgroup and Millstream are not normally able to arrange extensions whilst abroad – the exception to this as above, if you are unable to return home on your booked transport before your policy expires. FCDO advice to “avoid all but essential travel” does not preclude you from travelling back to the UK – this is considered “essential” travel.

Tifgroup and Millstream are unable to assist in the re-arrangement of travel – except as a result of illness or injury. You should contact your tour operator or flight/transporter provider to arrange this.

A - All Ski Club Multi-Trip policies – including the insurance provided as part of Platinum membership – include a 31-day limit to any one single trip abroad between the start and end date of the policy. If you are stuck due to either:

• Death, injury or illness during your trip
• Delay or failure of public transport services during your trip
• Delay or failure of your return flight to the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands from your international departure point;

And you are unable to complete the trip home before your travel policy expires, cover will be automatically extended without additional premium for the additional days necessary to complete the trip as long as you are making every effort to return home.

Tifgroup and Millstream are not normally able to arrange extensions whilst abroad – the exception to this as above, if you are unable to return home on your booked transport before your policy expires. FCDO advice to “avoid all but essential travel” does not preclude you from travelling back to the UK – this is considered “essential” travel.

Tifgroup and Millstream are unable to assist in the re-arrangement of travel – except as a result of illness or injury. You should contact your tour operator or flight/transporter provider to arrange this.