American Express Annual Essential Cover

Medical Warranty & Exclusion of
Pre-existing Medical Condition(s)
It is your promise to us that, at the time of purchasing or renewing this travel insurance or booking your trip:
1. You:
a) have not attended a hospital as an in-patient during the last 12 months;
b) are not on a waiting list for an operation, consultation or investigation;
c) have not commenced or changed prescribed medication or treatment within the last three months;
d) do not require a medical, surgical or psychiatric check-up every 12 months or more frequently.
2. You are not travelling or planning to travel against medical advice, or where a terminal prognosis has been given.
3. You know of no reason whatsoever why your trip could be cancelled or curtailed.Travel Insurance covers emergency and unforeseen circumstances only. You are covered for cancellation or curtailment during your period of insurance if, after you have booked your trip, a close relative, a travelling companion or anyone on whom your trip depends, suffers unforeseen (not pre-existing) serious illness or injury, death or imminent demise.
If you are unable to meet your promise, you must contact American Express Insurance Services immediately on 0800 700 707 to confirm whether your cover can be commenced or continued. Certain medical conditions may be excluded from cover.
For the avoidance of any doubt failure to contact American Express Insurance Services and obtain confirmation that your cover can be commenced or continued may result in our declining to pay your claim(s).

Section 2 Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service
This section provides details of the cover we provide for a medical emergency and other expenses relating to such an emergency, including search and rescue services.
To comply with the terms and conditions of the insurance you must contact us if you are hospitalised as an in-patient, or before incurring any expenses whatsoever over £500, in order to obtain our prior authorisation, immediately you are physically able to do so. For the avoidance of any doubt failure to contact us as required may result in our declining to pay your claim. A claim form will need to be completed by you within 28 days of your returning home to your country of departure.
What you are covered for:
If you suffer bodily injury, illness or die while on your trip outside the United Kingdom area we will pay the cost of:
i) all reasonable and necessary expenses which arise as a result of a medical emergency (excluding search and rescue) involving you. This includes doctors fees, hospital expenses, medical treatment and all the costs of transporting you to the nearest suitable hospital.
The most we will pay you under this Section per trip, for any one claim in total is £10,000,000. This does not apply to United Kingdom Area trips.
ii) search and rescue costs including emergency transfer to a hospital effected by local organisations, are covered for up to £150,000 where such costs are not met by local authorities.
iii) in the event of death:
- the cost of burial or cremation outside the United Kingdom area; or
- transport of your body or ashes to your home.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 iii) is £2,500.
iv) additional travelling costs when our Senior Medical Officer recommends that you must return to your country of departure including the cost of a medical escort if necessary.
v) reasonable additional travelling and accommodation costs for returning home insured members of your family travelling with you, where a valid claim is made under this Section, including the cost of a competent adult of our choice to accompany any insured children under 18 years old, if your bodily injury, illness or death means there is no one else to look after them. Any travel (flight tickets will be for economy class, or at the same class as that originally purchased) and/or accommodation arrangement (on a half-board basis) must be made by us, or with our prior approval.
vi) reasonable additional accommodation and meal expenses incurred, up to the standard of your original booking, if it is recommended by the treating registered medical practitioner, and agreed by our Senior Medical Officer, that it is medically necessary for you to stay beyond your original return date.
vii) emergency dental treatment for the immediate relief of pain and/or emergency repairs to dentures or artificial teeth solely to relieve distress in eating.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 vii) is £1,000.
viii) in the event of you having a valid claim under Section 2 Medical Emergency & Repatriation Service, and you are travelling unaccompanied by another adult(s). If it is recommended by the treating registered medical practitioner, and agreed by our Senior Medical Officer that a person should stay with you outside the United Kingdom area, and/or accompany you home, then we will arrange and pay for one persons necessary travelling and accommodation costs.
Accommodation will be on a half-board basis. We will not pay for travel (flight tickets will be for economy class) and/or accommodation that has not been arranged through us, or incurred without our prior approval. If you are travelling with another adult(s) this benefit in 2 viii) will not apply, however 2 ix) will apply if appropriate.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 viii) is £500.
ix) in the event of you having a valid claim under Section 2 Medical Emergency & Repatriation Service, and you are travelling accompanied by another adult(s). If it is recommended by the treating registered medical practitioner, and agreed by our Senior Medical Officer that a person should stay with you outside the United Kingdom area, and/or accompany you home, then we will arrange and pay for one persons necessary additional travelling and accommodation costs. Accommodation will be on a half-board basis. We will not pay for travel (flight tickets will be for economy class) and/or accommodation that has not been arranged through us, or incurred without our prior approval. If you are travelling unaccompanied by another adult(s) this benefit in 2 ix) will not apply, however, 2 viii) will apply if appropriate.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 ix) is £500.
What you are not covered for:
a) the excess;
b) costs of more than £500 not agreed or authorised by us in advance;
c) any new or pre-existing medical condition(s) which existed before booking your trip unless you told us about the medical conditions and we agreed to accept it (them);
d) any treatment or diagnostic testing that was pre-planned or pre-known by you;
e) treatment costs for cosmetic reasons unless our Senior Medical Officer agrees such treatment is necessary as a result of an accident covered by this Policy;
f) any costs relating to pregnancy within eight weeks of the estimated date of delivery;
g) the cost of any treatment where a registered medical practitioner states that the treatment can safely be delayed until your return home;
h) any costs you incur outside your country of departure after the date our Senior Medical Officer tells you, you should return home;
i) costs incurred in the United Kingdom area other than the cost of transporting you or your body or ashes to your home;
j) any costs not covered by the local National Health Service in the Channel Islands;
k) the cost of flight tickets exceeding economy class for an accompanying non-medical escort in the event of medical repatriation (any increase in cost due to requested upgraded flight tickets must be at the personal expense of the person(s) travelling);
l) costs for accommodation exceeding half-board;
m) incidental expenses (for example telephone costs, newspapers, laundry costs);
n) any costs for transportation and/or accommodation not arranged by us, or incurred without our prior approval;
o) the cost of dental treatment involving the provision of dentures, artificial teeth or the use of precious metals;
p) the cost of replacing medication you were using when you began your trip;
q) any medical costs you incur when you are engaging in Winter Sports activities;
r) any medical costs you incur when you are engaging in any Special Sports and Activities;
s) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 3 Personal Accident
This section provides details of the cover we provide if you have an accident during your trip.
What you are covered for:
If you die or suffer disablement or permanent total disablement as a result of an accidental bodily injury during your trip which, within 12 months, is the sole cause of either death or disablement, we will pay you or your legal representative(s):
- £10,000 for death; or £1,000 if you are under 18 years old or more than 65 years old
- £10,000 for the loss, or loss of use of, one or more limbs, or the total and irrecoverable loss of all sight in one or both eyes;
- £10,000 for permanent total disablement.
The most we will pay you in total under this section per trip is £10,000.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim related directly or indirectly to any disease, physical defect, infirmity or illness which existed before the start of your trip;b) any claim resulting either directly or indirectly from you engaging in any Special Sports and Activities;
c) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 2 Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service
vii) emergency dental treatment for the immediate relief of pain and/or emergency repairs to dentures or artificial teeth solely to relieve distress in eating.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 vii) is £1,000.

Section 2 Medical Emergency
and Repatriation Service
This section provides details of the cover we provide for a medical emergency and other expenses relating to such an emergency, including search and rescue services.
To comply with the terms and conditions of the insurance you must contact us if you are hospitalised as an in-patient, or before incurring any expenses whatsoever over £500, in order to obtain our prior authorisation, immediately you are physically able to do so. For the avoidance of any doubt failure to contact us as required may result in our declining to pay your claim. A claim form will need to be completed by you within 28 days of your returning home to your country of departure.
What you are covered for:
iii) in the event of death:
- the cost of burial or cremation outside the United Kingdom area; or
- transport of your body or ashes to your home.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 iii) is £2,500.
iv) additional travelling costs when our Senior Medical Officer recommends that you must return to your country of departure including the cost of a medical escort if necessary.

Section 2 Medical Emergency
and Repatriation Service
This section provides details of the cover we provide for a medical emergency and other expenses relating to such an emergency, including search and rescue services.
To comply with the terms and conditions of the insurance you must contact us if you are hospitalised as an in-patient, or before incurring any expenses whatsoever over £500, in order to obtain our prior authorisation, immediately you are physically able to do so. For the avoidance of any doubt failure to contact us as required may result in our declining to pay your claim. A claim form will need to be completed by you within 28 days of your returning home to your country of departure.
What you are covered for:
iii) in the event of death:
- the cost of burial or cremation outside the United Kingdom area; or
- transport of your body or ashes to your home.
The most we will pay you per trip under 2 iii) is £2,500.
iv) additional travelling costs when our Senior Medical Officer recommends that you must return to your country of departure including the cost of a medical escort if necessary.

Section 9 Money
This section provides details of the cover we provide for your Money.
What you are covered for:
Your Money is covered while you are carrying it on your person (in an item of clothing you are wearing or in a container which you are holding or which is attached to you) or if you have left it in a locked safety deposit box during your trip if it is:
- damaged or destroyed;
- lost or stolen.
The most we will pay you in total per trip under this section is £200, of which;
- the most we will pay you for cash is £100 or the amount allowed in the current United Kingdom currency regulations,whichever is less;
- the most we will pay you for cash if you are under 16 years old is £50 per trip, but please note that the excess will not apply in this case.
Loss of passport
What you are covered for:
Your passport is covered while you are carrying it on your person (in an item of clothing you are wearing or in a container which you are holding or which is attached to you) or if you have left it in a locked safety deposit box during your trip. The cost of reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses you incur outside your country of departure while obtaining a replacement passport if your passport is lost or stolen during your trip.
The most we will pay you in respect of loss of passport is £100 per trip.
What you are not covered for:
a) the excess;
b) the theft or loss of Money which has not been reported to the local Police, your carrier, accommodation management or tour operator within 24 hours of the incident or as soon as you become aware that the incident has taken place. The incident report must be sent to us with your claim;
c) loss of value or loss due to errors in receipts, payments, accountancy or depreciation;
d) theft of Money from an unattended road vehicle;
e) loss due to confiscation or detention by customs or other lawful officials and authorities;
f) the cost of your replacement passport;
g) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 1 - Personal Assistance Services
i) Transfer of Emergency Funds
If you need Money and access to your normal financial or banking arrangements is not available locally, we will transfer funds intended to cover your immediate emergency needs to you if you allow us to debit a credit, debit or charge card, or arrange for funds to be deposited with us in your country of departure. The most we will transfer to you per trip is £200.

Section 9 Money
This section provides details of the cover we provide for your Money.
What you are covered for:
Your Money is covered while you are carrying it on your person (in an item of clothing you are wearing or in a container which you are holding or which is attached to you) or if you have left it in a locked safety deposit box during your trip if it is:
- damaged or destroyed;
- lost or stolen.
The most we will pay you in total per trip under this section is £200, of which;
- the most we will pay you for cash is £100 or the amount allowed in the current United Kingdom currency regulations,whichever is less;
- the most we will pay you for cash if you are under 16 years old is £50 per trip, but please note that the excess will not apply in this case.
Loss of passport
What you are covered for:
Your passport is covered while you are carrying it on your person (in an item of clothing you are wearing or in a container which you are holding or which is attached to you) or if you have left it in a locked safety deposit box during your trip. The cost of reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses you incur outside your country of departure while obtaining a replacement passport if your passport is lost or stolen during your trip.
The most we will pay you in respect of loss of passport is £100 per trip.

Section 15 Winter Sports (Optional Cover)
Please note that if you are aged 66 years or over, you are not covered if you are taking part in Winter Sports for the first time or travelling to North America or the Caribbean. If you have purchased Classic Annual travel insurance, this Option is available to age 69 years inclusive. You will be covered for the defined activities within the geographical limits for up to 17 days during the period of insurance.
If you have purchased Single Trip travel insurance, this Option is available to age 79 years inclusive. You will be covered for the defined activities within geographical limits for the full duration of your trip.
Special Sports and Activities specific to Winter Sports:
When you pay the Special Sports and Activities Option premium, you are also covered for the following Group A activities for up to 17 days: bobsleigh; heliskiing; ice hockey; luge; paraskiing; skeleton; ski jumping; ski racing and ski stunting.
Winter Sports Equipment
What you are covered for:
We will cover your Winter Sports Equipment against loss, theft or damage occurring during your trip. The most we will pay you for your Winter Sports Equipment is £500 in total per trip. The maximum we will pay you for any one article, or for any one pair or set under this section is £300.
What you are not covered for:
a) anything mentioned in the exclusions to Section 10 Personal Baggage;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 Winter Sports (Optional)
Winter Sports Equipment
What you are covered for:
We will cover your Winter Sports Equipment against loss, theft or damage occurring during your trip. The most we will pay you for your Winter Sports Equipment is £500 in total per trip. The maximum we will pay you for any one article, or for any one pair or set under this section is £300.
What you are not covered for:
a) anything mentioned in the exclusions to Section 10 - Personal Baggage;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional Cover)
Unused ski pack
If during your trip, you are certified by a registered medical practitioner at the ski resort as being unable to ski as a direct result of injury or illness, we will pay you up to a maximum of £350 in total per trip in respect of charges for unused ski pack.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional)
Piste Closure
What you are covered for:
If you cannot ski at your pre-booked resort for more than 24 consecutive hours, because of a lack of snow causing a total closure of the lift system, we will pay you a cash benefit if no alternative skiing is available. If alternative skiing is available we will pay for reasonable transportation costs and lift pass charges which you have to pay to travel to and from a similar ski resort or area to ski.
The most we will pay you for Piste Closure is £20 per day and up to a maximum of £200 in total per trip.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim which involves the closure of the resort lift system because of avalanches or dangerous high winds;
b) any claim which involves the closure of baby drags and lifts used for transport within the resort by non-skiers;
c) any claim which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere before 1st November and after 31st March;
d) any claim which occurs in the Southern Hemisphere before 1st May and after 30th September;
e) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional)
Piste Closure
What you are covered for:
If you cannot ski at your pre-booked resort for more than 24 consecutive hours, because of a lack of snow causing a total closure of the lift system, we will pay you a cash benefit if no alternative skiing is available. If alternative skiing is available we will pay for reasonable transportation costs and lift pass charges which you have to pay to travel to and from a similar ski resort or area to ski.
The most we will pay you for Piste Closure is £20 per day and up to a maximum of £200 in total per trip.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim which involves the closure of the resort lift system because of avalanches or dangerous high winds;
b) any claim which involves the closure of baby drags and lifts used for transport within the resort by non-skiers;
c) any claim which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere before 1st November and after 31st March;
d) any claim which occurs in the Southern Hemisphere before 1st May and after 30th September;
e) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional)
Piste Closure
What you are covered for:
If you cannot ski at your pre-booked resort for more than 24 consecutive hours, because of a lack of snow causing a total closure of the lift system, we will pay you a cash benefit if no alternative skiing is available. If alternative skiing is available we will pay for reasonable transportation costs and lift pass charges which you have to pay to travel to and from a similar ski resort or area to ski.
The most we will pay you for Piste Closure is £20 per day and up to a maximum of £200 in total per trip.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim which involves the closure of the resort lift system because of avalanches or dangerous high winds;
b) any claim which involves the closure of baby drags and lifts used for transport within the resort by non-skiers;
c) any claim which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere before 1st November and after 31st March;
d) any claim which occurs in the Southern Hemisphere before 1st May and after 30th September;
e) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional Cover)
Avalanche Benefit
What you are covered for:
Additional accommodation and travel expenses reasonably incurred following cancellation of scheduled public transport caused by avalanches or landslides.
The most we will pay you for Avalanche Benefit is £30 per day and up to £150 in total per trip.
What you are not covered for :
a) anything mentioned in the exclusions to Section 5 Cancellation and Curtailment;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional)
Delayed Winter Sports Equipment
What you are covered for:
If your Winter Sports Equipment is certified by the carrier as lost or misplaced in transit during your trip, for a period of more than 12 hours, we will pay you £20 per day for the necessary hire or replacement of Winter Sports Equipment.
The most we will pay during any one trip under this section is £300.
You must provide written confirmation from the carrier confirming the period of the loss of your delayed Winter Sports Equipment. You should also notify the carrier in writing within 21 days of receipt of your delayed Winter Sports Equipment. Please retain your flight tickets, checked-in luggage tags and all receipts and send them to us with your claim.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim where you do not provide a valid receipt for the hired items;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 15 - Winter Sports (Optional)
Delayed Winter Sports Equipment
What you are covered for:
If your Winter Sports Equipment is certified by the carrier as lost or misplaced in transit during your trip, for a period of more than 12 hours, we will pay you £20 per day for the necessary hire or replacement of Winter Sports Equipment.
The most we will pay during any one trip under this section is £300.
You must provide written confirmation from the carrier confirming the period of the loss of your delayed Winter Sports Equipment. You should also notify the carrier in writing within 21 days of receipt of your delayed Winter Sports Equipment. Please retain your flight tickets, checked-in luggage tags and all receipts and send them to us with your claim.
What you are not covered for:
a) any claim where you do not provide a valid receipt for the hired items;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Special Conditions applying to off-piste skiing and off-piste snowboarding
Off-piste is defined as any skiing or snowboarding which does not take place on any normally marked public open pistes.
For your protection and to ensure continuity of cover under this Policy, you must adhere to the following conditions when you are intending to ski or snowboard off-piste:
1. You must observe the rules of your resort or Winter Sports area. If in any doubt you should follow specialist local advice.
2. Your guides advice and instructions must be strictly followed at all times.
3. If you are an inexperienced skier or inexperienced snow boarder you must not under any circumstances attempt off-piste skiing or off-piste snowboarding unless you are under the supervision of a guide.
4. As a general rule you should exercise common sense and follow sensible local practices.

Section 7 Personal Baggage
This section provides details of the cover we provide for your Personal Baggage.
What you are covered for:
Your Personal Baggage is covered if it is:
- damaged or destroyed (in this instance please retain any damaged or destroyed items for inspection if required);
- lost or stolen and not recovered within 28 days of you arriving back in your country of departure.
The most we will pay you per trip under this section is £1,500 in total and:
- the most we will pay for any one item or any one pair or set per trip is £150;
- the most we will pay you for valuables in total per trip is £150.
What you are not covered for:
a) the excess;
b) any item loaned, hired or entrusted to you;
c) theft of Personal Baggage, but not valuables (see d below) from an unattended motor vehicle unless:
i) the items were locked out of sight in a locked dashboard or locked boot; and
ii) evidence that force and violence were used to get into the motor vehicle is provided by you.
d) damage to, loss or theft of valuables from an unattended motor vehicle or Personal Baggage in transit;
e) contact or corneal lenses, dentures, bonds, securities, stamps or documents of any kind including driving licence; keys and necessary changes to locks, musical instruments, typewriters, glass, china, antiques, pictures, pedal cycles, hearing aids, coupons, computer hardware peripherals and software (including laptop computers), personal organisers, televisions, CD players, vehicles (including boats or any parts or accessories for any of them), business goods, stock or samples and any specialised equipment relating to your business, trade or profession;
f) loss, damage or destruction by wear and tear, moths, vermin, denting, scratching, dyeing and cleaning;
g) electrical or mechanical breakdown of any insured article;
h) confiscation or detention by customs or other official bodies;
i) in the event of a claim for a pair or set those parts that remain in your possession which are undamaged;
j) damage to any brittle or fragile items unless they are damaged by fire or damaged because of an accident which happens to a sea going vessel, aircraft or motor vehicle;
k) theft or losses from a roof or boot luggage rack other than the theft or loss of camping equipment;
l) sports equipment damaged while in use;
m) Golf equipment, unless you have paid the appropriate Option premium and it is shown on your certificate of insurance;
n) Personal Baggage when you have left it unsecured or unattended or outside your reach at any time in a place to which the public have access;
o) theft or loss of Personal Baggage which has not been reported to the local Police, your accommodation management, your carrier or tour operator within 24 hours of the incident or within 24 hours of you becoming aware that the incident has taken place. The incident report must be sent to us with your claim;
p) damage to Personal Baggage in transit which has not been reported to the carrier within 24 hours of the incident. The incident report must be sent to us with your claim in the case of checked-in luggage a property irregularity report is required. You will be required to send us the retained portion of your flight ticket and checked-in luggage tag;
q) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.
How we settle Personal Baggage claims
We will pay the cost of replacing lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed items subject to a deduction for wear and tear.
If the item can be repaired economically we will pay the cost of the repair only.
We will request original receipts for goods where you are claiming for stolen or lost goods.

Section 8 Personal Baggage Delay
This section provides details of the cover we provide if your Personal Baggage is delayed on your outward journey.
What you are covered for:
We will pay you:
up to £100 towards the cost of buying essential items if your Personal Baggage has been lost or misplaced by the carrier for more than 12 hours on the outward journey of your trip.
The most we will pay you in total per trip under this section is £100.
What you are not covered for:
a) if your Personal Baggage is lost or misplaced whilst in the custody of the carrier, if you do not:
i) notify the carrier immediately and obtain a written carriers report (or a property irregularity report in the case of an airline); or
ii) follow up in writing within seven days to obtain a written carriers report (or a property irregularity report in the case of an airline), if you are unable to get one
immediately. You will be required to send us the retained portion of your flight ticket and check-in luggage tag;
b) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.
How we settle Personal Baggage delay claims You must keep all your receipts and send them with your claim.
You must provide written confirmation from the carrier, confirming the period of the delay of your Personal Baggage.
You should also notify the carrier in writing of your Personal Baggage delay within 21 days of receipt of your delayed Personal Baggage. Please retain your flight tickets and checked-in luggage tags

Section 4 Cancellation and Curtailment
This section provides details of the cover we provide if you need to cancel your trip before you leave, or curtail your trip having already departed.
What you are covered for:
If you have booked a trip within the period of insurance, but you are forced to cancel your travel plans or curtail a trip you have already commenced, because of any one of the following:
- unforeseen illness, injury or death of you or any person with whom you are going to travel or stay with during your trip, or on whom your trip depends (please refer to Medical Warranty and Exclusion of Pre-existing Medical Condition(s));
- unforeseen illness, injury or death of a close relative (please refer to Medical Warranty and Exclusion of Pre-existing Medical Condition(s));
- you or any person with whom you plan to travel being called up for Jury Service or being subpoenaed as a witness in a Court of Law other than in a professional or advisory capacity;
- you are made redundant and you qualify for redundancy payment under current legislation;
- accidental damage, burglary, flooding or fire affecting your home, when a loss exceeding £1,500 is involved and your presence is required by the Police; then we will reimburse you up to a maximum of £1,000 in total for financial loss you suffer for travel (including pre-paid excursions and/or conferences) and accommodation you do not use because of your inability to start or complete your trip.
If you are forced to cancel your trip for medical reasons:
- relating to you you will be required to have the relevant section of your claim form completed by your usual registered medical practitioner within the United Kingdom area, explaining why it is deemed medically necessary for you to cancel your trip;
- relating to a close relative, any person with whom you are going to travel or stay with during your trip or on whom your trip depends you will be required to have the relevant section of your claim form completed by their usual registered medical practitioner, explaining why it is deemed necessary for you to cancel your trip;
- you must notify your carrier or travel agent immediately you know your trip is to be cancelled to minimise your loss as far as possible.If you are forced to curtail your trip for medical reasons:
- relating to you you must get a medical certificate from the treating registered medical practitioner at the resort or place of incident, explaining why it is deemed medically necessary for you to curtail your trip.
- You may also be required to have the relevant section of your claim form completed by your usual registered medical practitioner within the United Kingdom area with regard to pre-existing medical history.
- relating to a close relative within the United Kingdom area you will be required to have the relevant section of your claim form completed by their usual registered
medical practitioner, with regard to pre-existing medical history if appropriate and explaining why it was deemed necessary for you to curtail your trip.
- relating to any person with whom you are travelling or staying with during your trip or on whom your trip depends you will need to obtain a copy of a medical certificate from their treating registered medical practitioner at the resort or place of incident, explaining why it is deemed necessary for the trip to be curtailed.
You may also be required to have the relevant section of your claim form completed by the patients usual registered medical practitioner with regard to pre-existing medical history if appropriate.
You must contact us to make necessary travel arrangements for you.
In the event of a claim for Curtailment, indemnity will be calculated strictly from the date you return to your home in the United Kingdom area.
What you are not covered for:
a) the excess (for claims involving loss of deposit the excess will be £10 only);
b) cancelling or curtailing your trip for any reason other than specified under What you are covered for;
c) claims for financial loss in respect of travel and/or accommodation booked and paid for by you on behalf of anyone who is not an insured person under your Policy;
d) any delay caused by strike or industrial action which had started or for which the start date had been announced before you made travel arrangements for your trip, and/or arranged your insurance;
e) a pre-existing medical condition for you that could result in a claim under this section unless you have notified American Express Insurance Services, and they have accepted it under the Medical Warranty and Exclusion of Pre-existing Medical Condition(s);
f) a pre-existing medical condition for any close relative, travelling companion or anyone on whom your trip depends;
g) any costs incurred because you did not tell your carrier or travel agent immediately you knew that your trip was to be cancelled;
h) any costs incurred because you did not contact the emergency service provider to make the necessary travel arrangements immediately you knew that your trip was to be curtailed;
i) any costs incurred when you do not get a medical certificate from the treating medical practitioner at your resort or place of incident, explaining why it is deemed medically necessary to return home early to the United Kingdom area;
j) any claim resulting from the withdrawal from service of any public transport on the orders or recommendation of the regulatory authority in any country;
N.B. You should refer any claim in this case to the transport operator involved.
k) any claim resulting from the failure of the provider of any service forming part of your booked trip to provide any part of your booked trip including error, insolvency,
omission or default;
l) any claim resulting from your financial circumstances;
m) any claim due to your failure to obtain a valid passport or visa for the country you are visiting;
n) any claim resulting from cancellation or curtailment caused by work commitments or amendment of your holiday entitlement by your employer;
o) any claim resulting from the delay or amendment of your booked trip because of Government action or restrictive regulations;
p) compensation for frequent flyer points or similar schemes;
q) any claim resulting from the death or illness of pets or animals;
r) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 5 Missed Departure
This section provides details of the services and benefits we provide to you during your trip if you are delayed when travelling to your point of international departure and you miss a travel departure on your outward journey.
What you are covered for:
Additional costs you have to pay when you travel to your international departure point and you have taken every reasonable step to ensure you get there on time but you are still delayed on your way because of:
- cancellation, failure or disruption of public transport;
- the immobilisation of the vehicle in which you are travelling due to accident or breakdown.
We will help you to get to your international departure point by:
- liaising with your carrier and/or tour operator to advise them of your late arrival;
- arranging emergency local help including towing your vehicle to the nearest garage;
- arranging alternative transport;
- arranging for overnight hotel accommodation and alternative international travel to your pre-booked destination by the most direct alternative route.
The most we will pay you per trip under this section is £250.
What you are not covered for:
a) any delay caused by strike or industrial action which had started or for which the start date had been announced before you made travel arrangements for your trip and/or arranged your insurance;
b) any claim resulting from the withdrawal from service of public transport on the orders or recommendation of the regulatory authority in any country;
N.B. You should direct any claim in this case to the transport operator involved.
c) additional costs where the public transport operator has offered reasonable alternative travel arrangements;
d) any claim for additional mechanical wear and tear or loss of value or for additional mileage charges other than for additional fuel and oil;
e) any claim under this section where you are also claiming under Section 4 Cancellation and Curtailment, or Section 6 Travel Delay;
f) additional costs which are not directly related to you travelling to your international departure point on your outward journey;
g) any claim where you have not provided written evidence of the breakdown or accident involving the car you were travelling in;
h) any claim where you have not obtained written confirmation from the carrier stating the period and the reason for delay;
i) any claim where you have not allowed yourself sufficient time to arrive at the international departure point in time to check-in;
j) any claim where you did not contact us to make the necessary travel arrangements;
k) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 6 Travel Delay
This section provides details of the benefits we provide if your travel is delayed.
What you are covered for:
If the pre-booked flight, sea crossing or international train journey from or to your country of departure is delayed for more than 12 hours beyond the intended departure time as a direct result of:
- strike or industrial action; or
- adverse weather conditions; or
- mechanical breakdown of public transport,
we will pay you:
- £20 for the first 12 hours that your departure is delayed; and
- £20 for each additional full 12 hour period of delay; or
- you may choose to submit a cancellation claim under Section 4 Cancellation and Curtailment after 12 hours delay on your outward journey.
The most we will pay you per trip under this section is £100.
What you are not covered for:
a) delays caused by strike or industrial action which had started, or for which the start date had been announced, before you made travel arrangements for your trip and/or arranged your insurance;
b) delays caused by the withdrawal from service of any public transport on the orders or recommendation of the regulatory authority in any country;
N.B. You should direct any claim in this case to the transport operator involved.
c) the failure of the provider of any service forming part of your booked trip to provide any part of your booked trip including error, insolvency, omission or default;
d) any claim where you are already claiming under Section 5 Missed Departure;
e) any claim where you have not obtained written confirmation from the carrier giving the period and reason for delay;
f) any claim for a delay that you are aware of at the time of booking your trip or taking out this Policy;
g) if you do not check-in for the flight, sea crossing, coach or train departure before the intended departure time;
h) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 6 Travel Delay
This section provides details of the benefits we provide if your travel is delayed.
What you are covered for:
If the pre-booked flight, sea crossing or international train journey from or to your country of departure is delayed for more than 12 hours beyond the intended departure time as a direct result of:
- strike or industrial action; or
- adverse weather conditions; or
- mechanical breakdown of public transport,
we will pay you:
- £20 for the first 12 hours that your departure is delayed; and
- £20 for each additional full 12 hour period of delay; or
- you may choose to submit a cancellation claim under Section 4 Cancellation and Curtailment after 12 hours delay on your outward journey.
The most we will pay you per trip under this section is £100.
What you are not covered for:
a) delays caused by strike or industrial action which had started, or for which the start date had been announced, before you made travel arrangements for your trip and/or arranged your insurance;
b) delays caused by the withdrawal from service of any public transport on the orders or recommendation of the regulatory authority in any country;
N.B. You should direct any claim in this case to the transport operator involved.
c) the failure of the provider of any service forming part of your booked trip to provide any part of your booked trip including error, insolvency, omission or default;
d) any claim where you are already claiming under Section 5 Missed Departure;
e) any claim where you have not obtained written confirmation from the carrier giving the period and reason for delay;
f) any claim for a delay that you are aware of at the time of booking your trip or taking out this Policy;
g) if you do not check-in for the flight, sea crossing, coach or train departure before the intended departure time;
h) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Section 10 Personal Liability
This section provides details of the cover we provide for certain personal legal responsibilities you may have.
What you are covered for:
Your legal responsibility to pay compensation and legal costs to others where you accidentally cause:
- physical injury, or death of anyone during your trip and/or
- loss of, or damage to, property during your trip.
The most we will pay you, or your legal representative, for any single event occurring during the period of insurance is £1,000,000 in total for all claimants in connection with all occurrences within one original cause.
What you are not covered for:
a) death of or physical injury to you, any members of your family or anyone in your service;
b) anything belonging to you, or anything which is the responsibility of you or any of your family or anyone employed by you;
c) any responsibility you undertake within a contract or agreement which would not have existed in law had that agreement not existed;
d) any responsibility resulting from you or any member of your family owning or using: aircraft, horse-drawn vehicles, motorised or mechanically propelled, or towed vehicles, boats (other than rowing boats, punts and canoes), jet skis, jet bikes, skidoo, animals (other than horses, domestic dogs or cats)
or firearms;
e) any responsibility resulting from your or any member of your familys trade, profession, occupation or supply of goods or services;
f) any responsibility resulting from wilful or malicious acts by you;
g) any claim which is covered by any other insurance held by you;
h) the occupation, except temporarily for the purposes of your trip, or ownership of any land or building;
i) accidental injury or loss which has not been caused by your negligence;
j) any responsibility you have as an employer to anyone employed by you or any member of your family in any trade, business or profession;
k) any claim resulting either directly or indirectly from you engaging in any sport or activity defined as Special Sports and Activities;
l) anything mentioned in the General Exclusions.

Emergency Assistance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
In an emergency, please first check that the circumstances are covered by your Policy. Having done this you should contact the appropriate number shown after each section of this Policy booklet, giving your name, Policy Number, and as much information as possible. You will need to give us a telephone or fax number where we can contact you or leave messages at any time of the day or night.
To comply with the terms and conditions of the insurance, you must contact us if you are hospitalised as an in-patient, or before incurring any expenses whatsoever over £500, in order to obtain our prior authorisation, immediately you are physically able to do so. A claim form will need to be completed by you within 28 days of your returning home to your country of departure.

General Exclusions of your Policy
These exclusions apply to all the sections of your Policy.
1. Any claim where you have not paid the appropriate premium as shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
2. Please refer to your Certificate of Insurance for age restrictions which apply to the renewal of your Policy.
3. Any claim where you have not complied with our medical assessment procedure at the inception of the Policy, at any subsequent renewal or prior to booking a trip (please see page 14 Medical Warranty & Exclusion of Pre-existing Medical Condition(s)).
4. Any claim resulting from something you knew about at the time of paying for the insurance, before the start of the period of insurance or before booking any trip and which you did not declare to American Express Insurance Services, before the start of the period of insurance or before booking any trip (please see page 14 Medical Warranty & Exclusion of Pre-existing Medical Condition(s) for changes relating to medical information).
5. Any claim resulting from a medical condition for which you are on a waiting list or have knowledge of the need for surgery in-patient treatment at a hospital, clinic or nursing home at the time of purchasing the Policy or booking your trip. This includes symptoms under investigation and any consultations forthcoming treatments or test results inclusive of treatment recovery.
6. Any loss or damage where you have put yourself in danger except where you were trying to save another human life.
7. Any costs you would have been required or been expected to pay, if the event resulting in the claim had not happened.
8. Any claim resulting from you:
- attempting or committing suicide;
- having a psychiatric, mental, or nervous condition(s);
- deliberately injuring yourself;
- using any drug not prescribed by a registered medical practitioner, being addicted to any drugs, or abusing solvents, drugs, or alcohol, or being under the influence of drugs, solvents, or alcohol.
9. Any other loss resulting directly or indirectly from the cause of your claim.
10. Any claim related directly or indirectly to pregnancy within eight weeks of the estimated date of delivery.
11. Any loss or damage deliberately carried out or caused by you.
12. Any claim where you are entitled to indemnity under any other insurance policy including any amounts recoverable from any other source, except in respect of any amount exceeding that for which you are covered under such other policy, or any amount recoverable from any other source, had this insurance not been effected.
13. Any claim resulting from you taking part in manual work during your trip.
14. Any claim if you have been taking part in, or practising for, any Special Sports and Activities.
15. Any claim if you have been taking part in or practising for Winter Sports unless the appropriate premium has been paid as shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
16. Any loss relating to services which we have provided to you or any loss which happens following any delay on our part, in providing services to you unless negligence on our part can be proved.
17. Loss, damage, death, injury, illness, disablement, or expense caused by: war; invasion; act of a foreign enemy; hostilities (whether war be declared or not); terrorist activity; civil war; rebellion; revolution; insurrection; military or usurped power; you taking part in civil commotion or riot of any kind.
18. The actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, escape, release of or exposure to any hazardous biological, chemical, nuclear or radioactive material, gas, matter, or contamination.
19. Any claim directly or indirectly caused by:
a) ionising radiation or radioactive contamination from any nuclear fuel, nuclear waste or any risk from nuclear equipment;
b) pressure waves from aircraft and other flying objects travelling at or faster than the speed of sound.
20. Any claim resulting from your involvement in a fight except in self-defence.
21. Any claim involving, or involving the fear of: delay; loss; damage; injury or consequential loss which is caused, either directly or indirectly, by the actual or potential inability of any computer, data processing equipment or media, microchip, integrated circuit or similar device or any computer software or stored programme, to correctly recognise any date as the true calendar date or to continue to function correctly in respect of or beyond that date.
22. Any claim occurring during a trip which exceeds, or is planned to exceed, 31 consecutive days. Please note that this exclusion operates regardless of when the claim actually occurred during your trip.

How we settle Legal Expenses claims
We shall have complete control over legal proceedings although you do not have to accept the lawyer chosen by us. Lawyers must be qualified to practise in the courts of the country where the event giving rise to the claim occurred or where the proposed Defendant under this section is resident.
If you are unable to agree with us on a suitable lawyer we will ask the ruling body for lawyers in that country to nominate another lawyer to which you must agree. In the meantime we may appoint a lawyer to protect your interests. If an award of compensation is made and payment received by you or by a lawyer instructed on your behalf, then all sums advanced or paid by us shall be repaid out of the compensation received. We will not start legal proceedings in more than one country in respect of the same occurrence. We may chose to conduct legal proceedings in The United States of America or Canada under the contingency fee system operating in North America.
How we settle Personal Baggage claims
We will pay the cost of replacing lost or damaged items as new after we have deducted an amount for wear and tear.
If the item can be repaired economically we will pay the cost of the repair only.
We will request original receipts for goods where you are claiming for stolen or lost goods.
How we settle Personal Baggage delay claims
We will deduct the amount of any payment made under this section from the final settlement of any claim you make under Section 12 Personal Baggage if the items are not recovered within 28 days of you arriving back in your country of departure. You must keep all your receipts and send them with your claim. You must provide written confirmation from the carrier confirming the period of the loss of your Personal Baggage.

General Conditions of your Policy
We will only pay your claim if the following conditions are met:
1. You must comply with our medical assessment procedure, if you have a pre-existing medical condition. We will then send you confirmation of applicable cover. Any medical information you give us will be treated as strictly confidential. We will not pass your medical information to anyone without your specific authority. We will use it to decide whether or not we can cover you and we will refer to it in the event of any claim.
2. You must write and tell us before booking any trip if any of the following change after you pay for your Policy:
- if there is any change in your health, medication or treatment;
- if you wish to add or remove anyone from your Policy;
- if you change your address.
If you do not tell us about changes, claims may not be accepted and your Policy may be invalid. All changes must be declared to American Express Insurance Services, and accepted before cover can continue. Certain medical conditions may be excluded from cover.
3. Your Policy will be automatically renewed each year, subject to your age, your medical conditions and the Policy, terms and conditions and limitations unless you notify us otherwise within 30 days of your renewal date. You will receive a written reminder before the end of the period of insurance.
N.B This Policy is not renewable to anyone aged 66 years or over on the first day of cover.
If you book a trip during the current period of insurance for which you have paid or agreed to pay, to travel after the expiry of this period of insurance, cover for
cancellation in respect of that trip will continue in force provided you renew your Policy and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations in place at the time of renewal.
4. You must take reasonable care to protect yourself and your property against loss or damage, accident or injury. You must act as if you are not insured and take steps to minimise your loss as much as possible.
5. We will make every effort to apply the full range of services in all circumstances as shown in your Policy booklet. Remote geographical locations or unforeseeable
adverse local conditions may prevent the normal standard of service being provided.
6. We may:
- deny your application for insurance coverage; and/or
- deny renewal of your Policy; and/or
- cancel your Policy by giving seven days notice by recorded delivery to you at your last known address.
In such an event the premium shall be adjusted appropriately for the unexpired part of the period of insurance.
7. You must not settle, reject or negotiate any claim without our permission.
8. We have the right, if we choose, in your name but at our expense to:
- take over the defence or settlement of any claim; 0800 700 707 take legal action in your name to get compensation from anyone else for our own benefit or to get back from anyone else any payments that have already been made;
- take any action to get back any lost property or property believed to be lost.
9. We may at any time pay to you our full liability under the Policy after which no further payments will be made in any respect.
10. You must take all reasonable steps to get back any article which has been lost or stolen, and to identify the person you believe to be responsible for the loss and assist in any legal action.
11. If we settle your claim and as a result you have unused travel ticket(s) you must surrender those tickets to us if we ask you to do so.
12. You must tell us as soon as possible if you are hospitalised as an in-patient, or of any emergencies or claims whatsoever that are likely to exceed £500. If anything happened on your trip which might lead to a claim under your Policy you must send us a completed claim form within 28 days of your returning home to your country of departure.
13. In the event of a claim and if we require it, you must agree to be examined by a medical practitioner of our choice, at our expense. In the event of your death we may need to carry out a post-mortem examination for which we would seek agreement from your legal executor.
14. You must give us, at your expense, all the information, documents and medical certificates we ask for including details of other insurance policies that may cover the loss.
15. If you or anyone acting for you, uses fraudulent or dishonest means, or makes a false statement to:
- obtain cover;
- make a false claim; or
- attempt to claim for more than is actually lost then all benefits under your Policy will be lost. Any fraudulently obtained benefits must be repaid to us.
16. If we pay any expense for which you are not covered, you must pay this back within one month of our asking.
17. If something you make a claim for is covered by another insurance policy or service contract (for example by a Household Contents All Risks Policy), we will only pay our share of any claim. The exception to this is for any claim under Section 10 Personal Liability where we will make no payment if you hold another insurance policy providing this cover.
18 The Policy excess, as and when applicable, will be deducted in respect of each insured person, and each and every separately identified occurrence of loss whether notified to us as one claim or otherwise.19. Although we are prepared to cover you when undertaking certain sports and activities, the availability of insurance cover does not mean that American Express Insurance Services or the underwriters consider these sports and activities as safe. At all times you must satisfy yourself that you are capable of safely undertaking the planned sport or activity and you must take all due care to avoid injury, accident or loss to yourself and to others.
You must accept and follow the supervision and tuition of experts qualified in the pursuit or activity in question and you must use all appropriate precautions, equipment and eye protection. Disregarding such advice and precautions may invalidate any claim you make.

Excess(es)
The first £50 for each insured person under your Policy, for every incident of loss applying to each section of cover under which a claim is made. This means that if you claim for something under a section of the Policy for which excess is to be deducted, you will personally be financially responsible for the first £50 for each insured person's claim.
Please also note the following:
If you have obtained a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and use it to reduce the cost of a medical claim under Section 2 Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service, you will not have to pay the excess in respect of that claim.Excess(es) The first £50 for each insured person under your Policy, for every incident of loss applying to each section of cover under which a claim is made. This means that if you claim for
something under a section of the Policy for which excess is to be deducted, you will personally be financially responsible for the first £50 for each insured person's claim.

If you are travelling to a European Union country, we advise you to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
This card entitles you to certain free or reduced cost health cover arrangements in European Union countries, and if you use it to reduce the cost of a medical claim under Section 2 - Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service, you will not have to pay the excess in respect of that claim.