The Rules

Practicalities Getting Organised Insurance The Rules 

An operator or travel agent can now insist that anyone they make a booking for has travel insurance. What the operator or agent can't do is insist that the insurance be the one they are selling.

In addition, the Foreign Package Holidays (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Order 1998 prohibits travel agents and tour operators from tying any discount on a holiday price to the purchase of travel insurance (at inflated price) from themselves.

Whoever you buy your insurance from, the Association of British Insurers' statement of practice states that prospective customers must be shown full policy details on request. A summary may not be enough.

You also have the right to change your mind and get a full refund before you travel (or make any claim, say for cancellation) if you don't like the details. The cooling off period for this is generally 10 or 14 days, after which you will be deemed to have accepted the policy.