Travel Insurance FAQs
We pride ourselves on being there for our customers and keeping them safe. We know that buying travel insurance can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why we’ve tried to clear up as much as possible and answer the most important questions below.
These questions relate only to the Allianz branded single trip, backpacker and annual multi-trip policies available on this website. For information on other policies underwritten by AWP P&C SA and administered by Allianz Assistance or sold through our partners please refer to your policy wording for the customer service contact details.
The advice below was last updated on 26th of November 2020. To the best of our knowledge this information is correct at the time of writing.
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is an arrangement by which an insurer agrees to provide a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness or death in return for payment of a premium. Whilst travel insurance policies can’t cover every eventuality, they can help protect against certain risks for an agreed and affordable premium.
It is also important to understand that travel insurance is only there to protect you against losses you can’t recover from anywhere else. If your trip needs to be moved or cancelled, you should always ask your airline/tour provider for reimbursement before making a claim on your travel insurance policy. In most cases, your airline/tour operator will be responsible for refunding the value of the original trip; if they are responsible for the cancellation or changes instead of you requesting it, their trading regulations will often require them to provide a refund.
At Allianz, we offer a level of insurance that’s appropriate for most travellers. Different policies provide varying levels of cover, therefore it’s important that you read your policy documents carefully and understand exactly what you’re covered for before you travel. If there’s anything in the policy documents that you’re not sure about, please get in touch – we’ll be happy to help.
Our Single Trip, Annual and Backpacker policies all suit different needs. Plus, we offer three different levels of cover - Bronze, Silver and Gold – so you can choose the cover with the claim limits that meet your needs. Depending on which policy and level of cover you choose, you’ll have protection for:
- Cancelling or cutting short your trip
- Emergency medical and associated expenses
- Loss of passport*
- Delayed personal possessions
- Lost, stolen or damaged personal possessions*
- Loss of money*
- Personal accident cover
- Missed departures
- Delayed departures
- Personal liability
*Not available with Bronze level cover
Terms and conditions apply.
Yes – some exclusions and conditions are specific to individual sections and general exclusions and conditions apply to all of our travel insurance policies. There’s also a health declaration with health exclusions that apply to the emergency medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment and personal accident sections of cover. When you buy a travel insurance policy, you should always read your policy document carefully to make sure that you understand what you’re covered for. You can cancel the policy within the given cancellation period, providing you haven’t travelled and are not making a claim, if you decide that the policy isn’t suitable for you.
Your travel insurance quote will vary depending on:
- The type of policy you choose
- The duration of your trip
- Where you’re travelling to
- Your age
- The number of people travelling (a single or a group policy)
- Whether any additional options are required
You should also be aware that any pre-existing medical conditions can affect your eligibility for Single Trip, Backpacker and Annual policies.
At Allianz, our Single Trip and Annual policies offer three different levels of cover: Bronze, Silver and Gold. To get a travel insurance quote, simply click ‘Get a Quote.’ If you meet the eligibility requirements you then select your policy type, enter your dates of travel, destination information and passenger details. You can then choose your optional extras (if appropriate).
You’ll be able to see exactly what’s included as part of your travel insurance quote, and you can compare our Bronze, Silver and Gold level policies with our handy table, so it’s easy to see which is best for you.
You should buy travel insurance as soon as possible after you’ve booked your trip. Remember that your travel insurance covers you for incidents that happen before you travel, as well as things that occur during your holiday. With cancellation cover, you’ll be reimbursed if you can’t travel due to sickness, for example. Your cover starts as soon as you buy your policy, and we’ll pay up to the amount shown in your policy documents for unused accommodation, transport, excursions and other travel expenses you have paid or will have to pay, and that you cannot recover from anywhere else.
Terms and conditions apply.
When you get a travel insurance quote, you’ll notice our policies come with an ‘excess’. This is the amount you agree to pay when you make a claim under certain sections of your policy. Once your excess has been paid as part of the claim, we’ll pay the remaining expenses up to the limit of your cover. It is important to be aware that the excess on our travel insurance policies applies per person, per claim and per section, so more than one excess may apply when you claim.
Most of our policies include cover against the loss, theft or destruction of your passport whilst on your trip. To claim, you must have an official letter from the consulate you reported the loss to.
Cover includes costs up to the amount shown in your schedule for extra transport, accommodation and administration costs you have to pay to get a temporary passport so you can return home. It also includes the remaining value of the original passport that is lost, stolen or destroyed (based on current standard replacement costs).
Exclusions and conditions apply so make sure you read your policy document carefully.
Cover includes costs up to the amount shown in your schedule for extra transport, accommodation and administration costs you have to pay to get a temporary passport so you can return home. It also includes the remaining value of the original passport that is lost, stolen or destroyed (based on current standard replacement costs).
Exclusions and conditions apply so make sure you read your policy document carefully.
Most of our policies include cover for personal money and have a sub-limit for the amount of cover for cash. This cash limit applies even if you were looking after more than one person’s money when it was stolen. There is a summary of cover provided during the quote process and also full details in the policy wording.
Your baggage is covered in the ‘personal possessions’ section of your travel insurance policy. Most of our policies include cover against loss, theft or damage to personal possessions up to a specified limit, as stated in your summary of cover. Some policies also include cover against delayed arrival of your personal possessions on your outbound journey.
However, some policies do not include personal possessions cover, and in all cases, conditions and exclusions apply including limitations on certain types of items. Please read your policy document thoroughly to make sure that your needs are met by the cover level you’ve chosen.
However, some policies do not include personal possessions cover, and in all cases, conditions and exclusions apply including limitations on certain types of items. Please read your policy document thoroughly to make sure that your needs are met by the cover level you’ve chosen.
Whilst each of our policies have varying levels of cover depending on the needs of the policyholder and the level of cover they have chosen, it is important to note that under all of our travel insurance policies, changes in Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) travel advice and government-imposed restrictions including quarantine/lockdown of a geographical area, are not covered events. However, we’ve made specified exceptions to the general exclusion against claims arising from or relating to a pandemic or epidemic. This means that if you buy a new policy now, or even if you already have a policy and are yet to travel, you’ll have cover if:
- You contract COVID-19 whilst abroad and need medical treatment, or have to return home early as a result of your condition.
- You contract COVID-19 or are required to quarantine abroad following virus exposure and need to extend your policy. We’ll cover the cost of additional accommodation and transport until its safe for you to return home.
- You or your travel companion develop symptoms and are advised against travel by your doctor, test positive for COVID-19 or are asked to self-isolate under the government’s contact tracing scheme and have to cancel your trip. Please note that this applies to isolation in individual circumstances only; you won’t be covered if you can’t travel due to a local or national lockdown.
- You’re denied boarding on pre-booked public transport because you or your travel companion are showing signs of COVID-19 and are unable to travel as a result.
- A close relative of you or your travel companion becomes seriously ill with a pandemic/epidemic illness and you need to cancel or cut your trip short.
What type of travel insurance do I need?
Depending on how often you travel, you should decide between taking out a single trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. A single trip policy is the best form of cover if you only plan on going away once in the near future. But if you’re thinking of going away twice or more in a calendar year, it may be worth choosing an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. You’ll need insurance each time you go away, and it can be cheaper and less time consuming to take out one annual multi-trip policy, rather than multiple single trip policies.
When you take out single trip travel insurance, you can travel to multiple destinations, as long as your trip does not last longer than 180 days. Whether you’re looking for single trip travel insurance to cover Ireland and the UK, Europe, North America or other worldwide destinations, we have cover options for you.
Please note that you will not be covered if you travel to a country or region that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), World Health Organization (WHO) or any government or official authority has advised against all or all but essential travel.
Jet-off whenever you like with an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy, because it allows cover for an unlimited number of trips over a 12-month period as long as no trip exceeds your 35-day trip limit. There’s no obligation to tell us when you’re going away either, so you can pack your bags knowing you’re already covered.
You can choose the area of cover that’s most suitable for your travel plans, be it Europe-only , worldwide excluding USA and Canada or worldwide including USA and Canada. You can also choose a level of cover that suits you: Bronze, Silver or Gold.
- If you’re planning more than one holiday this year, you can save money by taking out one annual travel insurance policy, rather than buying multiple single trip policies. Our yearly travel insurance will save you time too, because you’ll have cover in place all year – no matter how many holidays you take.
- Our Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of cover allow you to choose an option to suit your needs. Once you’ve found the right policy, you can either be covered straightaway or – if you don’t need your cancellation cover to start immediately – you can defer your start date by up to 31 days. Get a quote today to see exactly how much your policy will cost.
If you’re aged 50 or under and planning a longer trip, such as a gap year abroad, you may want to consider taking out a backpacker travel insurance policy with us. Our backpacker insurance can last for up to 365 days and also covers non-manual work, including professional, administrative and clerical duties (although claims under the personal liability section will be excluded). Our Backpacker insurance policies can protect you all over the world, as long as you don’t travel against DFA advice. You can select just the countries you’re travelling to, which will help make sure you only pay for the cover you need.
If you’re heading on holiday to Europe, travel insurance is still important. While the arrangement remains in place, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you some basic medical cover, but in a medical emergency you may have no control over the hospital you are taken to and the closest hospital may be private. Some of the things the EHIC card does not cover you for include:
- Cancellations, delays, lost or stolen property.
- The cost of medical treatment in a private hospital or clinic.
- The additional cost of returning to your home country or for a relative to stay or fly out to be with you.
If you fall ill and need to pay for any medical care whilst you’re away, it could cost you thousands of pounds. But travel insurance will help cover these costs.
We don’t currently provide a travel insurance product specifically for students, however you may find one of our policies meets your needs.
We are continually looking at how we can improve our customer offering so we may introduce travel insurance designed for students in the future. Keep checking our website for updates!
We are continually looking at how we can improve our customer offering so we may introduce travel insurance designed for students in the future. Keep checking our website for updates!
Yes. There is no maximum age limit on our single trip travel insurance policies. Our annual policies do however have a maximum age limit of 65.
Am I eligible to buy travel insurance from you?
From 01/02/2021we will temporarily be unable to offer travel insurance policies to cover people’s pre-existing medical conditions. This will only be while we make improvements to our online booking engine. Please keep an eye on the Allianz website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this service again. Policies purchased before 01/02/2021, where we have previously accepted cover aren’t affected and your standard terms and conditions will still apply.
No, you are only covered if your main home is in the Republic of Ireland, you are registered with a doctor in the Republic of Ireland and you have not spent more than six months abroad in the last 12 months.
There is no maximum age for our Single Trip policy. For our Annual Multi-Trip policy the maximum age is 65 at the date the policy is issued and for the Backpacker policy the maximum age is 50 at the date the policy is issued.
- As there is no age limit on our Single Trip policies, you can purchase one of these to cover you for the duration of your trip.
- Single Trip cover can be purchased for trips up to 180 days.
- Annual Multi-Trip policy covers you for multiple trips during the year but no one trip within this period must exceed the 35-day individual trip limit.
- Backpacker cover can be purchased for trips up to 365 days.
No, you must purchase your travel insurance policy before you travel. Your policy will not be valid if you have already left to go on your trip.
No, we only provide travel insurance policies to Republic of Ireland residents with a confirmed return journey back to the Republic of Ireland.
No. It doesn’t matter who you book your trip with, an Allianz travel insurance policy can be purchased independently.
Yes, unforeseen emergency medical and associated expenses will be covered so long as:
- Your doctor confirms you were not travelling against medical advice and were fit to travel and able to undertake the planned trip
- You complied with the transport provider's conditions of carriage relating to pregnancy both at the time of booking the trip (assuming you were aware of the pregnancy at that time) and the time of travel
You’ll also be covered for cancellation if you are advised not to travel due to your pregnancy or where you cannot comply with the transport provider’s conditions of carriage.
What add-ons can I buy?
If you’re planning to take part in winter sports like skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing, you should consider the additional protection that’s provided by our Winter Sports and Ski cover. This will help protect you while you take part in these activities, but also provide cover against risks that are unique to this type of activity, such as avalanche closures, unused ski-pack costs if you need to cancel or cut short your trip, delayed or damaged ski equipment and piste closures.
You are covered subject to the standard terms and conditions of our travel insurance policies while hiring a car, except under the Personal liability section. This means you will not be covered for any injury or damage you may be responsible for that relate to your hire car. You should take out additional liability and collision damage cover, Most car rental companies will have these policies available for their customers.
Yes! With our business travel insurance, you can choose between a single trip or annual multi-trip policy. We also have two levels of cover: silver and gold. Whichever level of cover you choose, our single trip and annual policies include business equipment cover, so you may not need to take out separate laptop travel insurance. We also provide cover to send a replacement business associate to complete your itinerary if you have to cut your journey short. For more information, visit our Business Travel Insurance page.
- Yes – we want to help you save money, minimise stress and give you the right support and advice when you need it most. By placing each family member on the same family travel insurance policy, you don’t need to worry about buying individual policies for each family member. And because we offer special rates for families, you’ll usually make some savings too. If your family group is eligible, the premium will default to a family rate automatically when you buy your policy.
With our annual family travel insurance policies, each adult can travel independently and still be covered by the policy. All insured children will only be covered to travel independently if they are travelling with an adult aged 18 or over and the insured parent/guardian is fully aware and has agreed to the travel plans.
Our ‘Worldwide (including USA and Canada)’ cover takes into account the higher cost of medical treatment in North America. In the United States, the cost of healthcare can be incredibly expensive. This is because there’s no equivalent of the HSE, and most residents have private health insurance. As a result, if you’re booking travel insurance for North America, your premium is likely to be higher.
If you choose ‘Worldwide (excluding USA and Canada)’, you’re protected for worldwide travel as long as you’re not visiting America or Canada. If you’re travelling worldwide but you’re not planning on visiting America or Canada, you may find that our worldwide family travel insurance excluding USA and Canada offers you a lower premium.
We offer family holiday insurance that specifically covers you for European travel and also comes with cover for lots of sports and activities, such as mountain biking and jet-skiing. Unlike some insurers, our European travel insurance even includes some destinations outside mainland Europe like Turkey and Morocco, so please take a look at your policy confirmation email to check your area of cover.
Sure! If you take out group travel insurance, every member of your travelling party is insured under the same policy. With our travel insurance for groups, there’s no need for policy members to be related, and you can include your travelling party on one policy.
What happens when I buy a travel insurance policy?
If you have any questions about your policy or cover, get in touch with our Customer Services Department who are available to answer any of your queries.
We are contactable between the hours of 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Call us on: 01 619 3681
Email us at: insurance@allianz-assistance.ie
*Please note: We are unable to give you any advice on whether this product is suitable for your needs.
You can purchase one of our policies either online or over the phone.
We accept Visa Debit, Credit Cards, MasterCard and AMEX.
At Allianz, we understand the importance of security when making online purchases. That’s why we use a secure payment that makes the credit/debit card transaction directly and securely with the bank. We do not see, record or store your card details in any form, and they are used only to get approval or decline from the banking institution.
- At Allianz, we send all of your policy documentation to you online, so we don’t send any policy documents in the post.
- When you buy a policy, we will send you an email confirming the cover you have purchased along with the policy wording and the Insurance Product Information Document as an attachment for you to be able to save and print accordingly.
- Having your policy documentation on your person when you travel isn’t essential, but it is useful in the event that something unexpected happens that you need to claim on. You can carry your policy documentation in paper (through printing at home) or electronic form (in an email).
If for any reason your cover does not meet your requirements and you wish to cancel your policy, please contact us within 14 days of the purchase date for a full refund of your premium. Refunds will not be provided if you have already travelled or have made a claim on your policy.
You can get in touch with us by:
Telephone: 01 619 3681
Email: insurance@allianz-assistance.ie
Post: Allianz Assistance, 11b JoyceWay, Park West Business Campus, Nangor Road, Dublin 12, D12 C4V6, Ireland
Yes, if you decide that your travel insurance policy doesn't meet your specific needs or that you want to increase your level of cover, you can make changes on your policy if you haven't already travelled or made a claim.
Contact our Customer Services team to discuss our options of cover and to change / increase your travel insurance. Please note that you may have to pay an extra premium.
For Single Trip and Backpacker cover
Cancellation cover begins from the date your policy was issued. This date is shown on the policy schedule that you received when buying the policy.
All other aspects of the cover begin on the specified start date of your trip and finish when you return to the Republic of Ireland or the expiry date of the policy, whichever is earlier.
For Annual Multi-Trip cover
Cancellation cover begins either on the start date shown on the policy schedule that you received when buying the policy or the date you booked your trip, whichever is the later. Cancellation cover then ends at the beginning of your trip.
All other aspects of the cover begin on the day you start your trip and end on the final day of your trip.
Under all policies
If you cannot finish your trip as planned due to a reason covered by your policy, such as injury, illness or delays to public transport systems cover on the policy will automatically extend until you are able to finish the trip. Otherwise all cover ends at the expiry date shown on the policy schedule you received when buying the policy.
Depending on how long you plan to be away for either our Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip or Backpacker policies may be more suitable for your cover.
Single Trip cover can be purchased for trips of up to 180 days.
Annual Multi-Trip covers you for multiple trips throughout the year, but no one trip within this period can exceed the 35-day individual trip limit.
Our Backpacker policy covers you for up to 365 days, but you can only purchase this policy if you are aged 50 or under.
No, there is no need to let us know every time you travel with this policy.
However, if you have any questions or want to know more about your travel insurance or what you are covered for, do not hesitate to contact us.
Yes! Your trips within the Republic of Ireland will be covered under your Annual Multi-Trip policy, providing you have at least 2 nights’ accommodation booked in advance.
What if I need to make a claim?
If you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, you can either complete a claims form online or write to us.
To complete the claim online, visit our online claims portal at www.azgatravelclaims.com
You can also obtain a claim form by calling us on 01 619 3682 (between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Be sure to read and check all of the information carefully, since inaccuracies may lead to your claim assessment being delayed or even declined.
Should something happen that involves a medical emergency whilst you are away, our medical emergency team is available 24 hours a day to help.
You can reach them by calling 00353 1637 3686 or email them at medical@allianz-assistance.co.uk
In a life or death situation, call the emergency services in the country you are visiting. For example, 112 within the European Union or 911 in the USA.
We have made this easy for you! All the contact numbers that you might need are listed on the first page of your policy document.
You can also find all of our contact details by clicking the ‘Contact Us’ tab on our website.
- There is an excess payment for some sections of your travel insurance policy. This means that you will be responsible for the first part of your claim for each section and for insured person making a claim.
- This excess payment varies according to the policy and level of cover you have purchased. You will find full details in your policy wording.
Yes, we will still consider claims without receipts. However, please be aware that you will still be asked to provide alternative proof of ownership for the lost or stolen items.
We completely understand that you may not have kept receipts for each and every item that you took on holiday with you, but we do expect you to be able to provide some evidence of ownership for most things you are claiming on, particularly expensive items.
Some forms of evidence you can provide include photographic evidence in conjunction with:
- Warranty cards
- Manuals
- Receipts
- Bank or credit card statements
It is crucial that all the information you provide us with is up to date and accurate to the best of your knowledge. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to ensure the information you have given us is correct and to let us know if your circumstances have changed in a way that would affect your travel insurance policy.
If you provide us with incorrect information, it could invalidate your insurance claim and result in us declining to pay a claim. You can change and update your information with us free of charge, but certain changes to circumstances may affect your policy premium.
If you have any questions about your circumstances or want to update or change any information you gave us, get in touch with us today.
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