COVID-19 cover is now included at no extra cost for any new policies purchased

from 10 December 2021.

Medical:

• If you are to contract Covid-19 abroad, you will be covered for medical treatment including hospitalisation/repatriation to the UK if it is medically necessary.
• If you are forced to Quarantine abroad due to testing positive for COVID-19 upon your arrival, we will cover reasonable additional accommodation costs incurred by you for the period of your quarantine.

Cancellation or Curtailment (STANDARD AND PREMIER POLICIES ONLY).

• If you/your travelling partner were to test positive for COVID-19 prior to your initial departure subsequently resulting in you being quarantined and not being able to travel, you will be covered for: irrecoverable costs for travel, air tickets, accommodation, pre-booked excursions, tours and courses which have not been used by you and you have paid or are contracted to pay.
• You will also be covered for the above in the event of death, serious injury or illness of a close relative (Including being diagnosed with COVID-19) resulting in your cancelling/curtailing your trip.

All are subject to the terms & conditions of the policy

To add any of our Activity Packs, just follow the Quote Form - to stage 3 - there you will find all of the optional extras.

Our Standard and Premier policies offer curtailment cover of £2000 & £5000 respectively (can be increased to £10,000 with the Premier) from the date you returned to your home country or the dates you were hospitalised as an in-patient or the date your quarantine period started.

We offer a 'Winter sports plus' add-on that can provide cover whilst in Ski parks including jumps up to 9m (medium).

Yes, bar work or working in a chalet is automatically covered with all of our policies.

We have a few options when it comes Winter Sports cover duration:

14 non-consecutive days
28 non-consecutive days
56 non-consecutive days
Unlimited

You can choose the cover duration you need. Remember, test the different durations, sometimes it's equal value - or better, to opt for the entire duration option.

When travelling to Europe, only the Unlimited option is available.

Medical - First and foremost, The 'Winter sports' add-on provides medical coverage in the event of an accident or injury whilst on the slopes, this includes Helicopter rescue, in patient treatment in a hospital and repatriation to the UK if necessary.

Off-Piste - You are covered for skiing on/off-piste within the boundaries of the resort. If you are outside of resort boundaries/Heli-skiing, you must be within a group of 3 or more or with a qualified instructor with working communications equipment (mobile phone).

Winter Sports Equipment – Loss theft or breakage of your own Winter Sports Equipment is insured up to £300 Budget, £450 Standard or £600 Premier per person, subject to a limit of £100 Budget, £200 Standard or £250 Premier for any single item, set or pair.
Loss theft or breakage of hired Winter Sports Equipment in your charge is insured up to £150 Budget, £225 Standard or £300 Premier per Insured Person.

Winter Sports Equipment Hire – Up to £150 Budget, £200 Standard or £350 Premier per Insured Person in respect of replacement Winter Sports Equipment hire following loss, theft or breakage, or misdirection or delay in transit of an Insured Person’s Winter Sports Equipment preventing their use for not less than 12 hours.

 Ski Pack – Up to £200 Budget, £250 Standard or £375 Premier per Insured Person in respect of the proportionate value of any ski pass, hire or tuition fee necessarily unused following accident or sickness of the Insured Person, or loss theft or damage of the ski pass.

 Piste Closure – Up to £15 Budget, £20 Standard or £30 Premier per day per Insured Person to a maximum of £150 Budget, £200 Standard or £300 Premierfor additional transport costs to reach an alternative resort necessitated by a lack of snow or avalanche at your pre-booked resort following the closure of skiing facilities.

 Avalanche Closure – Up to £150 Budget, £200 Standard or £300 Premier per Insured Person in respect of additional travel and accommodation expense necessarily incurred as a result of the outward or return journey by public transport being delayed for 12 or more hours beyond the scheduled arrival time.

Policies purchased from 10/12/2021 will continue to provide cover (including medical cover for COVID-19) if you decide to travel against the advice of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), provided that the reason for your travel is essential.

Some permitted/essential reasons for travel are:

• Essential business travel which cannot be delayed
• Visiting your second home to prepare for guests for essential rental income / carry out maintenance where no one else can undertake the role etc.
• Caring for your grandchildren overseas where no local alternatives exist.
• Visiting elderly relatives to provide support/respite where medically necessary
• Visiting a close relative who is in intensive care in a hospital or has unexpectedly been given a terminal prognosis with a short life expectancy
• Funeral of a close relative
• Moving abroad for full-time short term placements
• IEC Visa (International Experience Canada)
• Volunteer / Educational trips /study abroad / taking part in a course
• Buying, selling or renting residential property
• Maternity services  where local services are not appropriate
• To avoid injury or illness or escape the risk of harm (such as domestic abuse).
• Weddings and civil partnerships of an insured or immediate family member
• Transit passengers
• To fulfill legal obligations
• To exercise custody rights

Decide Canada’s not for you, and want to return earlier than your full period of insurance?

Other insurers will tell you to wave goodbye to your money, but Big Cat lets you claim a partial premium refund for the unused time you didn’t stay in Canada.

How does the EARLY RETURN REFUND work?

Let’s say you buy a 24-month policy to cover your time in Canada. But after nine months, you decide that Canada’s not for you, and you want to return home. You may have invested a substantial amount for your 24 months Big Cat policy, most of which you’ll now no longer need. Unlike most insurers, Big Cat is happy to offer you a partial refund on the redundant portion of your insurance as a fair’s fair consolation. Please note that travel insurance premiums are not calculated on a pro-rata basis, as such, no refund is calculated in this manner either.

How does Big Cat calculate the amount of EARLY RETURN REFUND?

We take the length of time of the original policy and subtract the actual amount of time you have used, and payout the difference, deducting a £50 Cancellation Charge.

Are there other conditions that apply to my EARLY RETURN REFUND?

1. Only applicable to 24 month IEC policies.
2. We are not able to offer refunds to cover the first 6 months of the policy.
3. No refund can be given on a policy where a claim has been made or is likely to be made prior to the cancellation of your Big Cat policy.
4. You must be back in your home country and notify us by email of your wish to cancel the policy within 14 days of your arrival, please also provide us with proof of your return to the UK (flight ticket / e-ticket / boarding pass).
5. All refund calculations are based on the base premium paid only. Add-ons are non-refundable.

Can you give an example of how much I could receive back in my EARLY RETURN REFUND?

Say you took out a 24-month budget IEC policy costing £525.24, then you wish to cancel the policy after 9 months. Our 9-month budget IEC policy costs £312.55. So we deduct £312.55 from £525.24 = £212.99

Then we apply the £50 Cancellation Charge, refunding you a total of £162.99.

If you are prevented from completing your travel before the date your policy expires as stated under the period of insurance on your booking validation certificate (as applicable) for reasons which are beyond your control, including ill health or failure of public transport, this policy will remain in force until completion but not exceeding a further 31 days on a day by day basis, without additional premium.

All of Big Cat’s policies cover you for a depth of up to 18 meters. But if you plan to go deeper then you’ll need to opt for our Activity Pack or Extreme Activity Pack add-ons which will cover you up to a maximum depth of 40 meters. For your safety, we require divers to hold a British Sub Aqua Club certificate or equivalent and follow the relevant Club rules and guidelines at all times. Alternatively, you must only dive under the constant supervision of a properly licensed diving school and follow their rules and instructions at all times. No air travel is permitted within 24 hours of scuba diving to avoid any risk of decompression sickness (DCS).

INSURANCE FOR J1 VISA HOLDERS

Big Cat Travel Insurance is pleased to be able to offer the requisite insurance for holders of J1 visas to work or study in the United States. This US government programme promotes cultural exchange for UK and other foreign nationals to enable them to obtain medical, business or educational experience in the USA. Primarily intended to benefit research scholars, professors, medics and scientists, J1 visas can also be obtained for non-specialist placements such as an au pair, youth camp counsellor or company intern. You’ll need to be sponsored either by a university, a UK government department, or by a private sector business, and you must be proficient in English.

All J1 visa holders and all J2 visa holders (for spouses and dependents of J-1 exchange visitors) must have the appropriate level of medical insurance for the programme for which they are being sponsored as a strict condition of the visa. Remember that there is no NHS in the US and medical or hospitalization costs can be hugely expensive.

Fortunately, Big Cat Travel Insurance can put your mind at rest by providing exactly the cover required for all these eventualities, which specifically includes medical insurance, as well as repatriation and repatriation of remains - mandatory requirements for this type of visa.

Riding a motorbike or scooter up to 125cc is automatically covered with all our policies. Riding a motorbike over 125cc can be covered with our Activity Pack Add-on.

When riding, you must always ensure you:

• Wear an appropriate crash helmet.
• Obey the Local road rules and laws
• Have the relevant licence(s) required to ride a motorcycle in the country or countries you will be riding in. If the country you’re in requires you to obtain a specific in-country licence to legally ride a motorcycle, then to be covered, you must obtain this licence.
• If all that’s required is an International Driving Permit (IDP), and you hold an IDP, then there’s no need to go about getting any more licences.
• Be aware that an IDP will only allow you to ride the same class of vehicle as your home licence allows. So, if you’re not licensed to ride a motorbike at home, you’re not licensed to ride a motorbike abroad under your IDP. It's up to you to make sure you are licensed for the type of motorcycle you hire.
• You should always ensure the bike is fully insured (motor insurance arranged by the company that owns the bike) as there is no Personal Lability cover whilst riding a bike. We cannot cover any participation in competitions or racing or any kind.

With a Single Trip policy we do not require any of the following

• return tickets (flights or other means of transport),
• proof of return,
• proof of intent to return

You can travel with no booked return ticket and be fully covered*

Exception* Please note, under our curtailment section of cover, you would only be able to submit a valid curtailment claim provided you had a return ticket booked back to your home country in the first place.

No, there’s no set amount of we require you to have been home for. As long as you can provide a valid residential address in your home country, you’re eligible for cover.

If your airline cancels your flight you should contact the airline directly for reimbursement of your ticket. If your trip was booked as a package holiday, you should contact your tour operator to arrange alternative travel. Your Big Cat travel insurance policy will not cover financial losses for cancelled flights if you are not reimbursed by the airline or travel provider. If your trip needs to be extended as a result of flight cancellation, this policy will remain in force until completion but not exceeding a further 31 days on a day by day basis, without additional premium.

If you're prevented from completing your travels before your insurance expires, for reasons beyond your control, the insurance will remain in force until your travels are completed.

Make sure you get proof of delay, in writing, from the Airline confirming the reason for the delay and departure times!

We always aim to provide excellent service, but if for whatever reason we do not exceed your expectations, please let us know and we will do our best to make things better.

To contact our customer relations please write to,
Customer Relations, Big Cat Travel Insurance, 118 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2 2DP.
Tel: +44 (0)333 003 3161
or Emails us at complaints@bigcattravelinsurance.com

If you have a complaint in relation to your Policy Document or to the handling of your claim, please contact: The General Manager, Claims Settlement Agencies Limited, 08-314 London Road, Hadleigh, SS7 2DD.

Tel: +44 (0) 1702 553 443 Email: info@csal.co.uk

 If you have a complaint in relation to how your Policy was sold, or to the customer service you have received, please contact: The General Manager, Campbell Irvine Ltd, 52 Earls Court Road, London, W8 6EJ Tel: +44 (0) 20 7938 1734.

EUROPEAN ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ODR) PLATFORM

The ODR platform is a website which helps customers who’ve bought something online in the EU should a dispute arise. In the UK that would be the UK Financial Ombudsman Service. Please be aware that the Financial Ombudsman Service will only be able to consider your complaint after we have had the opportunity to consider and resolve your dispute. You can access the ODR platform by  clicking here

Asthma controlled by no more than 2 inhalers is automatically covered with all of our policies. There's no need to declare it.

(Diagnosis must have been made when the affected person was under the age of 50)

Emergency dental costs to relieve pain and suffering are covered with all of our policies, up to a maximum of £350.

You do not need to call the medical screening helpline in respect of the following automatically covered pre-existing medical conditions, as they are automatically covered at no additional premium provided you do not also have a pre-existing medical condition. If you have a pre-existing medical condition in addition to any of the following automatically covered pre-existing medical conditions all conditions will be excluded from cover, unless disclosed to the medical screening helpline and additional cover agreed in writing.

Acne,
ADHD,
Allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis) provided that you have not needed hospital treatment for this in the last 2 years,
Allergic rhinitis,
Arthritis (the affected person must be able to walk independently at home without using mobility aids),
Asthma (the diagnosis must have been made when the affected person was under the age of 50, and the asthma be controlled by no more than 2 inhalers and no other medication),

Blindness or partial sightedness,

Carpal tunnel syndrome,
Cataracts,
Chicken pox – if completely resolved,
Common cold or flu,
Cuts and abrasions that are not self-inflicted and require no further treatment,
Cystitis – provided there is no on-going treatment,

Deafness,
Diabetes (which is controlled by diet or tablets only),
Diarrhoea and vomiting – if completely resolved,

Eczema,
Enlarged prostate – benign only,
Essential tremor,

Glaucoma,
Gout,

Haemorrhoids,
Hay fever,

Ligament or tendon injury – provided you are not currently being treated,

Macular degeneration,
Menopause,
Migraine – provided there are no on-going investigations,

Nasal polyps,

PMT,

RSI, Sinusitis – provided there is no on-going treatment,

Skin or wound infections that have completely resolved with no current treatment,

Tinnitus,

Under active Thyroid (Hypothyroidism),
Urticaria,

Varicose veins in the legs.

To declare any pre-existing medical conditions,

please visit our online medical screening

If you would rather undergo your medical screening by telephone,

please get in touch with us on 01702 427237 and any of our agents will be happy to assist you.

This is a secure and confidential service which allows you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have,

as defined by your Big Cat policy wording.

To declare any pre-existing medical conditions, please visit our online medical screening service.

If you would rather undergo your medical screening by telephone, please get in touch with us on 01702 427237 and any of our agents will be happy to assist you.
This is a secure and confidential service which allows you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have, as defined by your Big Cat policy wording.
Whilst the medical screening helpline is optional we highly recommend it as it ensures that if anything happens to you on your trip caused by your pre-existing medical condition, you are completely covered.

You will be advised whether the Pre-Existing Medical Condition may be covered, an optional additional premium may be quoted and whether any amendments will be made to the policy terms and conditions. During this process you will be asked for your personal and travel details, additionally, please have your insurance policy to hand if known. 

If terms can be provided for the condition and you elect to take up the offer of the additional cover, you will be given a medical screening reference number and a letter will be sent to you upon receipt of payment. Any additional premiums must be paid directly to the medical screening helpline.

Should you not contact the medical screening helpline or not wish to take advantage of the optional terms quoted by the medical screening helpline, you will not be covered for any claims arising directly or indirectly from a Pre-existing Medical Condition.

There is no cancellation or curtailment cover for a Pre-Existing Medical Condition of persons who are not covered by your policy such as a Close Relative, unless disclosed to the medical screening helpline by that same Close Relative and additional cover agreed.

Definition of a Pre-Existing Medical Condition:

a) Any respiratory condition (relating to the lungs or breathing), heart condition, stroke, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, allergy, or cancer for which you (or any other person not necessarily travelling but upon whom travel depends such as a Close Relative) have ever received treatment (including surgery, tests or investigations by your Medical Practitioner or a consultant/specialist, or prescribed drugs/medication).

 b) Any Medical Condition for which you (or any other person not necessarily travelling but upon whom travel depends such as a Close Relative) have received surgery, in-patient treatment or investigations in a hospital or clinic within the last twelve months, or prescribed drugs/medication.

Residents of the United Kingdom MUST enrol with MEDICARE should you require medical treatment in Australia. Registering can be done after the first occasion on which you receive treatment at www.humanservices.gov.au/customerjects/medicare-services. In Patient and out-patient treatment in a public hospital may then be subsidised. Should you be admitted to hospital then immediate contact must be made with the Medical Emergency Assistance Service and their authority obtained in respect of any treatment not available under MEDICARE before such treatment is provided.
Your failure to register with MEDICARE or to contact the Medical Emergency Assistance Service may result in a claim being reduced or declined.

Yes, loss, theft or damage up to the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits applicable to the type of policy purchased for:
1. Baggage. The amount payable will be the value at today’s prices less the deduction for wear, tear and depreciation.
2. Personal Monies. Cash, Bank or Currency notes, including reasonable expenses incurred as a result of loss, theft or damage.
3. Tickets. Air or other tickets including reasonable expenses incurred as a result of loss, theft or damage.
4. Passport or Visas. In respect of the cost of an emergency replacement or temporary passport or visa obtained whilst abroad including reasonable and receipted expenses incurred to obtain the same.
5. Temporary Loss of Baggage. If Baggage is temporarily lost for more than 12 hours by an airline, railway or shipping company on the outward journey, for the purchase of immediate necessities the Insurer will pay the Insured Person up to the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits applicable to the type of policy purchased and shown on the Validation Certificate when supported by receipts, but this will be deducted from the final claim if the loss is permanent.

Cancellation cover starts when you purchase the policy. So, for example, if your departure date is in 2 months and you set your travel insurance to commence on that date, but you purchase cover today, your cancellation cover will start today.

1. Delayed Departure or Arrival
a) If the departure of the aircraft, train or sea vessel in which the Insured Person has arranged to travel is delayed for at least 12 hours from the departure time specified in the travel itinerary, or if the arrival of the aircraft, train or sea vessel at destination is at least 12 hours later than the time specified in the travel itinerary, due to Strike or Industrial Action, disruption, Terrorism (including Cyber Terrorism), adverse weather conditions, or mechanical breakdown of the aircraft, train or sea vessel.

The Insurer will pay £25 for each complete 12 hour period of delay commencing from the original booked departure time or arrival time specified in the travel itinerary up to £100 each Insured Person

b) If the departure of the aircraft, train or sea vessel in which the Insured Person has arranged to travel is delayed for at least 12 hours from the departure time specified in the travel itinerary, or if the arrival of the aircraft, train or sea vessel at destination is at least 12 hours later than the time specified in the travel itinerary, due to Strike or Industrial Action, Terrorism, adverse weather conditions, or mechanical breakdown of the aircraft, train or sea vessel.

The Insurer will pay Irrecoverable Payments and Charges made for the travel, accommodation, tours or excursions up to the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits applicable to the type of policy purchased and shown on the Validation Certificate for each Insured Person.

*Please note: The above cover is not applicable to BUDGET policies.

Mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, partner (including common law and civil partnerships), son, daughter (including fostered/adopted), grandparent, grandchild, parent in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law, sister in law, step parent, step child, step sister, step brother or legal guardian.

Personal Accident cover isn’t quite what it sounds like. If you have an accident and fall over and break your wrist, that’s covered under normal Medical Expenses. Personal Accident is basically: Loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent disablement.

What the Policy says under Section B. Personal Accident:

In the event of the Insured Person sustaining bodily injury arising wholly and exclusively from violent accidental external and visible means which injury shall solely and independently of any other cause result in his/her death or disablement within twelve calendar months of the injury, the Insurer hereby agrees to pay up to the amount shown in the Table of Benefits applicable to the type of policy purchased and shown on the Validation Certificate.

Provided that:

1. A) the death benefit payable is reduced to £1,000 if the Insured Person is under 16 years of age or 66 years of age or over at the time of death B) the total compensation in respect of any one Insured Person shall not exceed £10,000 for BUDGET Policies, £15,000 forSTANDARD Policies or £25,000 for PREMIER Policies.

Definitions

Loss of Limbs: loss or severance at or above the wrist or ankle or total permanent loss of use of an entire arm or leg.

Loss of Sight: total and irrecoverable loss of sight which shall be

considered as having occurred:

1. a) in both eyes if your name is added to the Register of Blind Persons on the authority of a fully qualified ophthalmic specialist.
2. b) in one eye if the degree of sight remaining after correction is 3/60 or less on the Snellen Scale.

Permanent Total Disablement: A disability which has lasted for at least 12 months from which the Insurer believes the Insured Person will never recover and which prevents them from carrying out any gainful occupation for which they are reasonably qualified by way of training, education or experience.

Special Condition

If an Insured Person was already disabled before the bodily injury or already had a condition which is gradually getting worse, the Insurer may reduce their payment. Any reduced payment will be based on their medical assessment of the difference between:

1. the disability after the bodily injury; and
2. the extent to which the disability is affected by the disability or condition before the Accident.

Home visits are allowed if your policy duration is 4 months or more. There are no limits, you can come home as many times as you like, for as long as you like.

Big Cat offers 3 levels of cover, Budget, Standard and Premier. Our Standard and Premier policies are available for a single or annual multi-trip, to anyone under the age of 70. Our cheaper Budget policy is only available for single trips to anyone under the age of 51.

With a Single Trip policy we do not require any of the following

• return tickets (flights or other means of transport),
• proof of return,
• proof of intent to return

You can travel with no booked return ticket and be fully covered*

Exception* Please note, under our curtailment section of cover, you would only be able to submit a valid curtailment claim provided you had a return ticket booked back to your home country in the first place.

Please visit - https://www.bigcattravelinsurance.com/claims/

Yes! We specialise in covering people who’ve already left their Home Country, as long as you haven't picked up permanent residency status in another country.

If cover is purchased after an Insured Person has departed their home to commence their journey, there is a fixed period of 48 hours prior to cover commencing. For cover to apply the Already Travelling extension must be shown on your Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable). Any illness arising during this initial 48 hour period will be an excluded Pre-existing Medical Condition. In the event of serious injury in connection with an accident, you will be covered from the date you take out cover subject to the accident being independently witnessed and also verified by a Medical Practitioner.

Yes! We specialise in covering people who’ve already left their Home Country, as long as you haven't picked up permanent residency status in another country.

If cover is purchased after an Insured Person has departed their home to commence their journey, there is a fixed period of 48 hours prior to cover commencing. For cover to apply the Already Travelling extension must be shown on your Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable). Any illness arising during this initial 48 hour period will be an excluded Pre-existing Medical Condition. In the event of serious injury in connection with an accident, you will be covered from the date you take out cover subject to the accident being independently witnessed and also verified by a Medical Practitioner.

There is a 48 hour waiting period for already travelling policies to commence. Otherwise, cover comes into effect immediately on the cover start date.

Please refer to the above FAQ's or our policy wording for full details.

Yes! We specialise in covering people who’ve already left their Home Country, as long as you haven't picked up permanent residency status in another country.

If cover is purchased after an Insured Person has departed their home to commence their journey, there is a fixed period of 48 hours prior to cover commencing. For cover to apply the Already Travelling extension must be shown on your Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable). Any illness arising during this initial 48 hour period will be an excluded Pre-existing Medical Condition. In the event of serious injury in connection with an accident, you will be covered from the date you take out cover subject to the accident being independently witnessed and also verified by a Medical Practitioner.

Yes, Helicopter Rescue is covered.

Helicopter rescue is classed as a necessary Medical Expense, so is covered by the Medical & Repatriation expenses section of cover (limit of either £2m, £5m or £10m depending on the policy)

To get a quote, please visit our Trekking Insurance page by following this link.

We have no upper altitude limit with our Extreme Activity Pack Add-on. Otherwise, with the Activity Pack you can trek up to 4,600m. And if you're only trekking up to 2,500m, there's no need to add anything on - Trekking up to 2,500m is one of the 64 activities we cover for free.

Please note for trekking in Nepal the Nepal Trekking Pack add-on will need to be included. A 7,000m altitude limit is applied to this.

How do you include these Add-ons? See question below.

To add any of our Activity Packs, just follow the Quote form - to stage 3 - there you will find all of the optional extras.

It is recommended that when travelling to any remote areas, you go in a group of at least 3 people with a 2 way working communications device, a navigation device, you let someone(s) know your route and when you should arrive, as Search and Rescue costs are not covered.

The Additional Mountain Rescue section of cover is a specific level of cover that takes effect when helicopter rescue is deemed necessary by the local Rescue Authorities due to a non-medical emergency such as natural disasters or adverse weather conditions.

This section of cover does not apply to Medically Necessary helicopter evacuations - these costs are covered under the Medical & Repatriation section of cover.

Non-manual/clerical work is covered automatically with a Big Cat policy. So, there’s nothing you need to add to be covered for things like teaching, caring or nursing.

With the Activity Pack, we can also cover work of a more manual nature. This can include things like WWOOFing, partaking in community or wildlife based conservation work, charity based supervised building / renovation projects or other permitted manual work (defined below).

Cover is excluded for any activity that involves the use of industrial machinery (other than tractors) or non-domestic power tools.

Means WWOOFing, fruit picking, casual farm work. Other Manual Work can be covered as long as it does not involve the use of plant/trade/industrial/agricultural machinery (other than tractors) or non-domestic power tools.

Please get in touch if you'd like to find out if we can provide cover for any light manual work you will be doing.

WWOOfing is classed as Permitted Manual Work, so with the Activity Pack, you’re covered.

(see above)

Yes, bar work or working in a chalet is automatically covered with all of our policies.

We have no limits on how many countries you travel to or how long you stay in each country for (as long as you don’t become a permanent resident there!). By “Single Trip” we mean one trip away from home, it can be to as many countries as you like.

Yes, all our policies meet the medical requirements for entry to Cuba.

No, North America is classed just as the USA, Canada and Mexico. The Caribbean and surrounding islands are covered under Area: “Worldwide exc. North America”.

Any countries within the continent of Europe, West of the Ural Mountains. Includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Iceland, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary, Azores and Mediterranean Islands as well as all countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Area 1: UNITED KINGDOM ONLY
Whilst insurance is available for holidays in the United Kingdom, Section A. Medical Expenses and Personal Liability. 1. Medical and Associated Expenses, 2. In Patient Benefit and 3. Criminal Injuries Benefit shall be inoperative if an Insured Person’s Home Country is the United Kingdom.

Area 2: EUROPE
Europe means the continent of Europe West of the Ural Mountains, and includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Iceland, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary, Azores and Mediterranean Islands as well as all countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Area 3: AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
(a) For any period of cover purchased Area 3 can include a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel.
(b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more Area 3 can be extended to include a maximum of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World.

Area 4: WORLDWIDE EXCLUDING NORTH AMERICA
North America means the USA ,Canada & Mexico.
(a) For any period of cover purchased Area 4 can include a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the world for both outward and return travel.
(b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more Area 4 can be extended to include a maximum of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World.

Area 5: WORLDWIDE INCLUDING NORTH AMERICA
Includes travel to the USA, Canada & Mexico.

A One Way policy is intended to cover 2 types of travel:

Emigrating to a country where you intend to live permanently

For Example:
You're moving to Australia, permanently, but are travelling through Europe and then onto South East Asia before you arrive in Australia.
You're moving to New Zealand, and are taking a direct flight. (A stopover of 48 hours anywhere in the world is included)

or

Returning to your home country permanently.

For Example:
you've been in the UK or other EU country under a temporary working holiday visa, it has come to an end and you need cover for your flight back home.

If none of the above is applicable to you, please select Single Trip.

Please note all cover ceases upon arrival at final destination.

With our Standard policy, the maximum trip duration is 30 days. With our Premier policy, the maximum trip duration is 70 days. If you’re going away for longer than the amount of days your policy permits, you will have no cover for the entire duration. So you can’t go away for 31 / 71 days expecting to be covered for the first 30 / 70, as cover for the entire period is invalid if your itinerary exceeds the specified amount of days!

An Annual Multi Trip policy is designed for people taking multiple holidays a year, with a maximum duration of 30 or 70 days each holiday (depending on the level of cover required), departing from and returning to their country of residence.

Yes, that’s not a problem. Just call us on 0333 003 3161 or send us an email at info@bigcattravelinsurance.com with your name and policy number and what you need changes you need and we’ll get back to you.

Alternatively, visit the extend page here. Fill out the form, tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you.

Yes, extensions to your current Travel Insurance policy are easily arranged, even if your current policy isn’t with us.

If you do have a policy with us and need to extend it, visit the extension page here.

If you don’t currently have a policy with us, follow the Get a Quote form. (Be sure to select Yes to the “Are you already travelling?” question!)

Your statutory cancellation rights allow you to cancel your Big Cat policy within 14 days of receipt of the policy documents by getting in contact with us by either writing to, by phone, or by e-mail. Any premium already paid will be refunded to you providing you have not travelled, no claim has been made or is intended to be made and no incident likely to give rise to a claim has occurred.

If you have purchased a policy while already travelling, no refund of premium will be made.

Our policy is underwritten by AWP P&C SA and administered in the UK by Allianz Global Assistance, a trading name of AWP Assistance UK Ltd, part of the Allianz Group.
The Allianz Group is a global financial services provider with services predominantly in the insurance and asset management business and is part of Allianz SE, the parent company, which is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

In the unlikely event of the Insurer being unable to meet their liabilities, you may be entitled to compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Their contact details are: Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Tel: 0800 678 1100 or 020 7741 4100.

Big Cat Travel Insurance Services (registration No.FRN: 745388) is an Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd (registration No.306242) who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You may check this on the Financial Services register www.fca.org.uk or by contacting them on Tel: +44 (0) 800 111 6768.