Consumer help on evidencing swine flu insurance claims

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) is offering advice to travellers on evidencing any travel insurance claims due to Swine flu.

If travellers cannot travel due to swine flu and are unable to obtain written evidence from their GP or other medical practitioner, insurance brokers will accept the following alternative evidence. An individual's unique ID number generated by the National Flu Service, together with the label on their anti-flu drugs which states their name and date of issue, will be accepted as proof of diagnosis to validate a travel insurance cancellation claim.

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA Technical and Corporate Affairs Executive, commented: "We are really pleased that the situation has been clarified for travellers who are unable to obtain a certificate from their GP. Anyone affected should contact their insurance broker if they need to make a claim."

Many travel insurance providers have a specific ‘pandemic' exclusion, however this is not included within the BIBA travel insurance policy which is available from all BIBA brokers. To find a broker in your area, visit biba.org.uk.

Insurance policies do not normally cover disinclination to travel to any destination.