LV= to launch new travel insurance policy

LV= has announced the launch of a new travel insurance policy in time for the summer holiday season.

The company is launching two products, one providing annual cover and the other for single trips.

Both policies include £10million medical cover, £2,500 personal possessions cover, £500 for loss of money, £5,000 for cancellation and £250 delay cover.

Other standard elements include personal accident cover, missed departure compensation, cover for loss of passport, and up to £25,000 legal expenses. The policy will also cover travellers if they are injured in a terrorist attack whilst overseas.

The policies can also be tailored with optional cover for holidaymakers with more specialist needs:

Golf trip cover. This package includes cover for golf equipment, delayed arrival of equipment, and loss of green fees.

Winter sports cover. This package includes cover for ski/snowboarding equipment, piste closure and transport home if there is an avalanche or landslip.

Business cover. This package includes cover for accessories such as laptops, mobiles phones and PDAs and even the cost of flying out another colleague if the original attendee is unable to attend to undertake the planned work due to illness.

Wedding cover. This package is for people getting married overseas covering rings, gifts, photos and clothing.

The new policies, which are available over the telephone or online at LV.com, offer cover for UK, European and worldwide trips for individuals, families and groups of up to 10 travellers.

Cover starts from as little as £6.76 for a seven day trip in the UK and £15.01 for European cover. Annual policies start from £38.82 for Europe and £74.16 for worldwide cover.

John O'Roarke, Managing Director of LV= General Insurance comments: "We know that travel insurance isn't the most exciting part of going on holiday but it is an essential part of any foreign trip.

"Holidaymakers spend thousands of pounds on foreign holidays, and by getting travel insurance they are protecting themselves should the trip need to be cancelled or if the unexpected happens overseas."

LV= also offers optional cover for travellers with medical conditions. Customers simply fill in a few extra details online about their condition, as part of the quote process, to enable them to purchase on the web. Alternatively customers can speak to one of our trained travel advisers on the telephone.

John O'Roarke added: "Many travellers with medical conditions struggle to get travel insurance as many insurers don't offer cover. Our policies will enable customers in this situation to go away safe in the knowledge they are covered if they fall ill whilst overseas. The policy can be purchased online or on the telephone and there is no need for a lengthy telephone interview."

"Our cover will be very competitive for these travellers. For example, the premium for a 40 year old man with high blood pressure travelling to Spain for two weeks would be just £17.91. Cover for a 60 year old woman with diabetes travelling to the USA for two weeks would cost £64.93, and cover for a 20 year old woman with asthma going to the Canaries for 10 days would be just £43.48."