The Post Office offers three levels of travel insurance at reasonable prices. Its Economy policy offers a good scope of cover, albeit with relatively low limits per claim type. However, when it comes to the claiming experience, many customer reviews are unfavourable
Pros
- Good range of sports and activities included
- No upper age limit on single trip policies
- Discounts for students and graduates
Cons
- Cheaper options available for similar cover
- Upper age limits of 75 on annual multi-trip cover
- Less than 2 stars on Trustpilot
Table of Contents
Who are the Post Office?
At more than 350 years old, the Post Office is among the most widely-recognised brands on the UK high street. Today it is also one of the country’s largest financial services providers, with travel insurance as part of its product offerings. But could it be the right cover for you? Read on to find out.
What does Post Office travel insurance cover?
The Post Office offers three levels of cover; Economy, Standard and Premier. All include varying levels of cover for:
- emergency medical treatment: should the policyholder fall ill or get injured while away
- trip cancellation and curtailment: in the event the policyholder needs to cancel or cut short their holiday due to illness or bereavement, for example
- baggage and belongings: compensating for items that are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
- delayed departure: for each four hours to a maximum cover limit
- missed departure: when leaving the UK and outside of the UK (i.e. return/connecting flight)
- low-risk sports and activities: such as fishing, surfing and jogging
- ‘end supplier’ failure: for non-refundable holiday costs due to the airline/train operator/ accommodation provider going bust
- personal accident: paying out if the policyholder is permanently injured or dies
- personal liability: paying out if the policyholder injures someone else or damages another’s property.
Post Office travel insurance also offers enhanced golf cover and insurance for gadgets, high-risk sports and activities, winter sports, cruise trips and holiday disruption (as a result of terrorism or a natural disaster, for example).
However, regardless of the policy level you choose, these are add-ons which will result in a higher premium.
Should I consider the Post Office?
The Post Office offers single trip, annual multi-trips and backpacker travel insurance for individuals and groups.
Single trip policies at the Post Office, including the Economy version we’ve outlined above, include cover for cancellation and curtailment, emergency medical costs and repatriation and missed departure.
There’s also cover for a set list of sports and activities which includes bungee jumping (although one jump only). Other sports, such as dinghy sailing, are not included under personal accident or personal liability.
However, Post Office travel insurance is not the most competitively priced on the market. Our research (December 2024) found policies available for around half of the cost in our example (above) for similar cover.
The Post Office does not offer annual multi-trip policies to travellers aged above 75. Otherwise, this policy type is pretty comprehensive, offering delayed departure (after four hours or more), emergency medical costs, and end-supplier failure.
Note, however, there are limits to the length of time you can spend away on any individual trip according to your age.
Annual policyholders also have the option of extending cover to winter sports, cruises, trip disruption, enhanced Covid protection and gadgets for an additional premium.
The Post Office will consider travellers with pre-existing medical conditions for extra cost.
How to contact the Post Office
For general enquiries about any policy, customers can call 0330 123 3690 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6.30pm, and on Saturdays between 9am and 5.30pm.
The Post Office also has a dedicated travel app on which you can manage your travel money and buy and check your travel insurance.
Post Office travel insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE and administered on its behalf by Collinson Insurance Services Limited.
How to find the best travel cover
A price comparison service is a sensible way to ensure you get the right cover at the cheapest premium. However, bear in mind that price is only half the story when it comes to travel insurance.
A cheap policy could prove to be a false economy if it doesn’t provide the level of protection you need. And it could present problems if you come to make a claim and find yourself underinsured.
Check the policy wording carefully to make sure the cover is appropriate for your circumstances and the nature of your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Post Office travel insurance good?
As of December 2024, data provider Fairer Finance awards the Post Office a Gold Ribbon and a customer service score of 64% (compared to the top score of 67%).
However, the provider scores just 1.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with many reviewers citing problems around the claims process and customer service.
In our research, we also found cheaper travel cover available for the same level of cover.
What extras does Post Office travel insurance offer?
The Post Office offers a number of cover ‘upgrades’, including for gadgets, cruises, high-risk and winter sports and trip disruption which covers natural catastrophe and air space disruption.
While golf is covered as standard in terms of its medical, personal accident and personal liability cover, you can choose to add on the golf upgrade, which offers more tailored protection including for equipment.
How can a traveller make a claim on a Post Office travel insurance policy?
The Post Office allows policyholders to submit claims online at postoffice.claimhere.co.uk or by telephone. For claims on policies that begin with TA or TC, policyholders can call 0333 333 9702. For policies that begin with TE, policyholders should call 01403 330 233.
Policyholders must have all related evidence and documents, such as receipts, invoices and policy documents to hand. It’s best to keep copies of any evidence sent to the insurer, for personal reference.
For 24-hour medical assistance, customers with policies starting TA or TC should call 0203 865 3074, while those with policies starting TE should call +44 (0) 1403 289 163 outside of the US, Canada and Mexico, +1 877 324 0460 from the US and Canada or +1 819 780 0644 from Mexico.
It’s a good idea to add the relevant contacts into your phone before departing or download the Post Office app to your phone.
