Trip cancellation insurance: complete guide

Covered reasons usually include: serious illness or accident of the insured, a close relative or a co-traveller, death, redundancy, unexpected medical summons, or unforeseen events such as severe weather or terrorism.

Watch out: pre-existing undeclared conditions, pregnancy declared before buying the policy, simple change of mind, known administrative decisions or passport delays are not covered.

Since the pandemic, many insurers have added COVID-specific clauses: read them carefully, as a positive test alone does not always trigger a refund.

Cancellation insurance typically costs 3 to 8% of the total trip price, sometimes a flat fee for short trips. Comparators offer policies from €20 to €80 for a €500 flight.

You must usually buy it within 48 to 72 hours of the first trip payment. After that, illness coverage may be excluded or conditional. If you already know a personal risk, the insurer may refuse or charge a premium.

Tip: combined cancellation / baggage / assistance policies are often better value than cancellation-only if you are travelling far or for a long time.

Some bank cards (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold, etc.) include cancellation insurance if you paid for the trip with the card. This cover can reach €5,000-€10,000 per person per year.

Check: - The card must be used to pay for the whole trip or a significant part. - Covered relatives, reasons and limits differ between cards. - The annual ceiling can be reached quickly if you travel often. - Card insurance does not always cover work-related reasons or strikes.

Compare conditions before buying extra insurance: in many cases, the card is enough for a standard European trip.

To claim, you need: 1. Cancellation proof from the carrier or organiser (email, letter). 2. Medical certificate or document justifying the reason. 3. Invoices and payment proofs. 4. Notification to the insurer within the contractual deadlines (usually 5 to 30 days).

Refund times vary from 15 days to 3 months depending on the insurer. If refused, ask for a written reasoned response and contact the insurance mediator if needed.