RIAS Enhances its Travel Insurance in Time for School Holidays

• New policy includes ‘Kids Go Free’ – great for grandparents supporting frazzled parents with holiday childcare
• Almost one third of young travellers at risk of holidaying without any insurance

With the school holidays just around the corner, over 50s insurance provider RIAS has enhanced its travel insurance policy to give customers a wide range of additional benefits for stress free holidays.

Just in time for the summer break from school and university, the ‘kids go free’ feature means that children up to the age of 24 years old and in full-time education are fully covered by their parents’ or grandparents’ RIAS Travel Insurance policy when holidaying together.

Ensuring young travellers are insured
With almost a third (28%)¹ of young travellers at risk of going abroad without any travel insurance, this latest product enhancement ensures that they enjoy the same comprehensive cover as their parents and grandparents at no additional cost. Up to four dependent children are covered by each customer’s policy.

A 65-year-old couple opting for a single trip policy to a European destination for one week could pay as little as £31.58 excluding baggage based on a £40 excess, and for a two-week European holiday could pay £43.20.

Janet Connor, Managing Director at RIAS comments: “At RIAS we know that going on holiday as an extended family is very much a family trend, and by enhancing our travel insurance to include ‘kids go free’, we are continuing to meet our customers’ needs by offering comprehensive cover for the whole family at no extra cost. Holiday times are a great opportunity for parents and grandparents to enjoy time relaxing with their children and grandchildren, and this feature makes sure it’s affordable and stress free for everyone.”

A wide range of additional benefits
With no upper age limit on holidays in the UK or Europe for up to 31 days, RIAS Travel Insurance customers can also enjoy the peace of mind that they’re covered against insolvency of airlines or other end suppliers.

The following new features and optional benefits have been added to the RIAS Travel Insurance policy:

• Kids Go Free: Dependent children under the age of 24 (in full time education) are covered by the policy;
• End Supplier Failure: Customers are covered against insolvency of airlines and end suppliers on any travel arrangements booked in the United Kingdom;
• No Upper Age Limits for holidays in the UK or Europe for up to 31 days (single trip);
• Flexible Excess: RIAS customers have more control over what excess they pay on their policies; and
• Optional Golf Cover: Cover for golf equipment up to £1,000 per person and non-refundable golfing fees of up to £300 per person. Score a verified hole-in-one and customers could receive £150.

Janet Connor continues: “With over a million customers we are always reviewing our products to ensure that our customers are benefitting from the best cover possible. Many over 50s enjoy holidays in the UK and abroad, often with family members, so our cover is affordable and gives peace of mind – one less thing to worry about when you’ve got your hands full with the grandchildren!”

RIAS customers can choose from single trip, long stay or annual cover travel insurance policies, all of which are designed to offer them the protection and reassurance needed when travelling.

Notes to editors:

1 Research commissioned by RIAS and carried out by Opinium between 25 – 29 June 2011. Total sample size was 2,135 grandparents aged over 50 with at least one grandchild. The survey was carried out online.

Key features of RIAS’ Travel Insurance policy include:

• Up to £5 million emergency medical and evacuation cover
• Cover for travel delay, unavoidable cancellation or early return
• Replacement of lost money
• Assistance with departure delay or missed connections
• Assistance with tracing lost luggage or travel documents and assistance in replacing passports
• Provision of emergency funds
• Optional cover for luggage and possessions that are lost, stolen or destroyed
• 24-hour helplines in the UK and around the world
• Advice before you travel about visas and inoculations
• Personal accident and legal protection
• £2 million personal liability cover
• Choice of excesses
• Cover if your airline becomes insolvent
• Children and grandchildren go with you free
• Help with any unexpected pet fees if your return trip is delayed
• Advice on replacing lost or stolen credit cards.

RIAS Travel Insurance is underwritten by Europ Assistance Holding Irish Branch, who are regulated by the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel (ACP), the French Regulator. The insurance is administered by Europ Assistance Holdings Ltd (which also provides all assistance services), who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

For further information, please contact:
Alex Kennedy, Claire Wood, Fiona Boston or Georgia Wilkinson at Seventy Seven PR on 020 7492 0977 or email rias@77pr.co.uk

Alternatively, contact Lucy Pope, Consumer Communications Manager, RIAS on 01202 254445 or email lpope@rias.co.uk or Blair Catchpole, Consumer Communications Executive, RIAS on 01202 254489, blair.catchpole@ageas.co.uk