If you’ve added Section 12 (Natural disaster cover) and it’s shown on your policy schedule, an avalanche may be treated as a natural disaster and Section 12C (Extended accommodation cover) may help with certain extra accommodation and transport costs. This doesn’t apply to Silver policies.
What you need to know
- When an avalanche counts: It must happen after you bought the insurance and be an unknown event before travelling, in the area where you’re due to stay, and it must affect local infrastructure and/or accommodation so access/availability can’t be guaranteed.
- What Section 12C can help with: Up to £1,000 for reasonable additional accommodation and transport costs if you need to move accommodation (up to the standard of your original booking) because you can’t use your booked accommodation.
- Returning home early: It may also help with transport costs to return you home if you need to cut your trip short, but only with prior authorisation from the 24-hour emergency service.
- Proof we may ask for: Written confirmation from the accommodation provider/administrators, local Police, or relevant authority explaining why you couldn’t use the accommodation, and confirmation where reimbursement won’t be provided; you must also seek refunds/compensation where relevant.
- Policy differences and excess: Silver doesn’t include Natural disaster cover. For customers with the upgrade, the excess on these optional-upgrade claims is £75 on Gold/Gold Plus and nil on Platinum (where applicable).