Travel Insurance policy Terms and Conditions

Your policy covers many Adventure Sports and Activities as standard which are listed below in Group A, and provides limited cover for Adventure Sports and Activities listed in Group B. Your policy can be extended to cover additional sporting activities listed below in Group C when you have paid the appropriate premium. Adventure Sports and Activities are only covered on an incidental, non-competitive and non-professional basis.

Group A
The following Adventure Sports and Activities will be covered automatically under your policy: badminton, baseball, basketball , bowling, camel riding, canoeing (up to grade/class 2), cricket, elephant riding, fishing, football, golf, hockey, horse trekking, kitesurfing, netball, orienteering, pony trekking, racquetball, roller skating, rounders, running, sailing (within 20 nautical miles of the coastline), scuba diving (unqualified and above 18 metres), squash, surfing, table tennis, tennis, trampolining, trekking (up to 4000 metres without use of climbing equipment), volleyball, water polo, water skiing, wind surfing, yachting (within 20 nautical miles of the coastline), zorbing.

Group B
The following Adventure Sports and Activities will also be covered, but no cover will be available for Section (5) Personal Accident or Section (12) Personal Liability sections and Section (2) Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service will be subject to a policy excess of £200: abseiling, archery, canoeing (up to grade/class 3 to 4), clay pigeon shooting, fell running, fencing, go- karting, horse riding, hot air ballooning, jet biking, jet skiing, mountain bicycling on tarmac, paintball, sailing (outside 20 nautical miles of the coastline), scuba diving (qualified and above 40 metres), snowblading, war games, yachting (outside 20 nautical miles of the coastline).

Group C
Your policy can be extended to cover the following Adventure Sports and Activities when the appropriate premium is paid, but no cover will be available for Section (5) Personal Accident or Section (12) Personal Liability sections and Section (2) Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service will be subject to a policy excess of £200: American football, bungee jumping, gaelic football, mountain bicycling off tarmac, parascending (on water), rock climbing with ropes and guides, rugby league, rugby union, sky diving, white water canoeing/rafting.

Group D
You will not be covered for participating in the following sports and activities under any circumstances: base jumping, boxing, canyoning, cave diving, caving, flying other than as a fare paying passenger, gliding, hang gliding, martial arts, microlighting, any form of motorsport (including motor rally, motor racing, speed, performance, endurance tests, motorboat racing, motorcycle racing), mountaineering, parachuting, paragliding, parascending (over land), polo, potholing, professional sports, quad biking, rock climbing without ropes and guides, safari with guns, shark diving, steeplechase.

Please also note the above lists are not exhaustive and if a sport or activity you want to do is not listed, please contact American Express on 0800 700 707 for advice.

An identifiable physical injury caused by a sudden, violent, external, unexpected specific event.

A business partner, director or employee.

Computer equipment, (including laptop computers, hardware and software, peripherals and PDAs), communication devices, (including mobile phones). This includes stocks and samples, and other business related equipment which you need in the course of your business, and is not covered elsewhere.

A loss or collision damage waiver, top up liability or similar type of insurance waiver, offered by a licensed car rental agency or company in respect of a rental vehicle.

The aircraft, coach, ship or train operator, and their employees and agents.

Your spouse, common law or same sex partner (with whom you have been living continuously for at least six months and with whom you are still living), grandmother, grandfather, mother, stepmother, mother-in-law, father, stepfather, father-in-law, sister, stepsister, sister-in-law, brother, stepbrother, brother-in-law, daughter, stepdaughter, daughter-in-law, son, step son, son-in-law, granddaughter, grandson, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, legal guardian, legal ward, or the fiancé(e) of any person insured under this Policy.

Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland.

Cutting short your trip outside your country of departure by returning home due to an emergency authorised by us.

You and any member of the party travelling with you and insured under your American Express Prestige Travel Insurance Policy or hold their own American Express Prestige Travel Insurance Policy, and who is named on the rental agreement as an authorised driver of the rental vehicle.

The first £50 for each insured person under your Policy, for every incident of loss applying to each section of cover under which a claim is made. This means that if you claim for something under a section of the Policy for which excess is to be deducted, you will personally be financially responsible for the first £50 for each insured person's claim. You may choose to pay an additional premium to purchase the Excess Waiver option (not available on Gap policies). Having purchased the Excess Waiver option you will no longer be personally financially responsible for the excess when submitting a claim (other than a claim made for Group A or Group B Special Sports and Activities - please see note below). You cannot opt to purchase the Excess Waiver option when you are actually aware of a potential claim, or in a claims situation.

Total policy premium can be discounted if standard excess is increased to £100 or £200 using the '£100 Excess' and '£200 Excess' discount options. £100 and £200 excesses cannot be waived by the purchase of the excess waiver option.

Please also note the following:

A higher excess of £200 will apply to any claim under the Medical Emergency and Repatriation Service, where you have been taking part in any Group A or Group B Special Sports and Activities. This higher excess cannot be reduced or deleted by use of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or by having purchased the Excess Waiver option.

You, your spouse, or partner (with whom you have been living for at least six months and with whom you are still living) and your, or their, children who are under 18 years old on the first day of cover with the exception of Prestige Policies where children must be under 21 years of age.

European Cover:

The following countries are included within the definition of Europe: Albania; Andorra; Austria; Azores; Bailiwick of Guernsey, Bailiwick of Jersey; Balearics; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canary Islands; Corsica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Israel; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Madeira; Malta; Moldova; Monaco; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Republic of Ireland; Romania; Russia west of the Ural Mountains; San Marino; Sardinia; Sicily; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Tunisia; Turkey; Ukraine; and the United Kingdom area*.

Worldwide Cover: 
All countries worldwide including the United Kingdom area*

Worldwide Cover excluding North America and the Caribbean: 
All countries worldwide including the United Kingdom area* but excluding North America and the Caribbean

North America 
The United States of America and Canada.

The Caribbean 
Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Bahamas; Barbados; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique; Montserrat; Navassa Island; Netherlands Antilles; Puerto Rico; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; the US Virgin Islands; and includes cruising in waters around these islands.

*Please refer to - Important Notes about your Policy - for limitations which apply to trips solely within the United Kingdom area

The following items owned, entrusted to, or hired by you: golf clubs, golf bags, golf umbrellas, non-motorised trolleys, golf shoes and golf clothing.

Club membership or subscription fees.

The place where you normally live in the United Kingdom area and use for domestic purposes.

The most we will pay you in any period of insurance is the amount shown under each section of Cover.

Being totally blind in one eye or partly losing the sight in one eye, so that objects which should be clear from 60 feet away can only be seen at three feet away or less using that eye, or being totally blind and added to the Register of Blind Persons by a fully qualified eye specialist.

Complete and permanent loss of use of, or physical severance of a limb at or above the wrist or ankle.

Work which involves the installation, assembly, maintenance, repair, or use of electrical, mechanical or hydraulic plant (other than in a purely managerial/supervisory, sales or administrative capacity) or manual labour of any kind other than in the catering industry or fruit picking by hand.

A bodily injury or sudden and unforeseen illness suffered by you while you are on a trip outside your country of departure and a registered medical practitioner tells you that you need immediate medical treatment or medical attention.

Sterling and foreign currency, cheques, postal and money orders, gift vouchers, travel tickets, hotel and other holiday vouchers, petrol coupons, Green Card, passports, ski lift pass, together with the wallet, purse or similar article in which these items are carried, whilst:

• carried by you about your person (in an item of clothing you are wearing or in a container which you are holding or which is attached to you); or
• left in a locked safety deposit box.

The United States of America and Canada.

Items of Personal Baggage forming part of a set or which are normally used together.

The period to which the insurance applies and for which you have paid, or have agreed to pay the appropriate premium. This period and the premium payable is shown on your Certificate of Insurance. Please note that cover for cancellation will start from when you take out this Policy, and cease when you have started your trip.

Cover under all the other sections applies for the length of your trip unless it is further qualified under a specific section.

Extension to the period of insurance

If your return journey to your country of departure is unavoidably delayed because of something which is covered under your Policy, we will automatically extend your cover for the period of the delay at no additional cost. If you book a trip during the current period of insurance and have paid or agreed to pay for it, where the departure date is after the renewal date of your Policy, cancellation cover will continue in force on condition that you if eligible renew the Policy when renewal falls due and your premium is paid.

Disability which completely prevents you from doing work of any kind and after 12 months there is no hope of any improvement.

Accidental bodily injury caused solely and directly by outward and violent, visible means.

All Travel Insurance policies include Personal Assistance Services which provide the following benefits:

• Tracing lost personal baggage and delivering it to you if it has been lost by your transport provider.
• Transferring emergency funds to you if your normal financial or banking arrangements are unavailable.
• Drug replacement services for essential drugs, prescription glasses or contact lenses that have been lost, stolen or broken and you cannot purchase replacements outside of the UK.
• Informing all relevant companies on your behalf if your credit, debit or charge cards are lost or stolen while you are abroad.

Prestige policy holders also receive the following additional Personal Assistance Services

• Homecare Assistance - we will arrange for one of our approved tradesmen to contact you to make emergency repairs to your domestic plumbing system, gas or electricity supply, heating system, roofing, or external doors and windows if any of them have suffered damage during, and up to seven days after, your trip.
• Concierge Services such as pre-booking restaurants, arranging gifts or champagne upon arrival.

Items usually carried or worn by travellers (including valuables but excluding Money) taken on, or purchased on, a trip by you for your individual use during your trip.

Any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapour, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned and reclaimed.

1. Any past or current medical condition that has given rise to symptoms or for which any form of treatment or prescribed medication, medical consultation, investigation or follow-up/check-up has been required or received during the 2 years prior to the commencement of cover under this Policy and/or prior to any trip: and

2. Any cardiovascular or circulatory condition (e.g. heart condition, hypertension, blood clots, raised cholesterol, stroke, aneurysm) that has occurred at any time prior to the commencement of cover under this Policy and/or prior to any trip.

If you are aware of any pre-existing medical condition(s) these must be declared to American Express.

Includes the following forms of transport: aircraft; bus; coach; pre-booked taxi; sea vessel; and train.

The automobile rented from a licensed rental agency or company, being a land motor vehicle designed for travel principally on public roads.

The primary insurance held by a licensed car rental agency or company in respect of the rental vehicle covering risks such as third party fire and theft rental vehicle.

The insurer(s) who underwrites the rental vehicle insurance.

You – the policy holder and your children, who are under 18 (21 for Prestige policies), who are living with you and are in full time education.

Any form of industrial action which is carried out with the intention of stopping, restricting or interfering with the production of goods or provision of services.

Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Bahamas; Barbados;Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique; Montserrat; Navassa Island; Netherlands Antilles; Puerto Rico; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; the US Virgin Islands; and includes cruising in waters around these islands.

Any type of surgical or medical procedure which is carried out solely to cure or relieve an unforeseen illness or injury.

A journey within the geographical limits shown on your Certificate of Insurance, which starts and ends in your country of departure during the period of insurance and which does not exceed the maximum number of days shown on your Certificate of Insurance. If your planned journey exceeds these limits then no cover whatsoever will apply in respect of that journey, and you will need to buy alternative insurance for the whole of that journey. Please contact American Express Insurance Services on 0800 028 7573 for more information.

You are not in full view of and in a position to prevent unauthorised interference with your property.

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Jewellery, precious metals or precious stones or items made from precious metals or precious stones, watches, furs, leather articles, personal mobile phones, binoculars, telescopes, electronic/audio/video or photographic equipment, MP3 players, and games consoles.

This Policy is underwritten by American Express Insurance Services' current Travel Insurance provider, Inter Partner Assistance, 10/11 Mary Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, which is a branch of Inter Partner Assistance S.A., Avenue Louise 166 bte 1, 1050 Brussels, a Belgian company authorised by the Banking, Finance and Insurance Commission of Belgium, registration 0487 and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of UK business (registered number: 202664). Some of the benefits and services under this Policy will be provided by its agent, AXA Travel Insurance (registered number: 475445), of the same Ireland address. All companies are members of the AXA Assistance Group.

On- and off-piste skiing, on- and off-piste snowboarding, snowblading, tobogganing, mono-skiing, glacier skiing, and outdoor ice skating on a recognised public ice rink. Skidoo is also covered but is subject to an increased excess of £200 and no Personal Accident or Personal Liability cover is available. Not available to anyone aged over 69 years, taking part in Winter Sports for the first time. 
Age, geographical and cover duration limits apply.

Skis, snowboards, ski boots, and ski equipment (not clothing).

The person(s) named on your Certificate of Insurance who live(s) in the United Kingdom area, and at the start of the period of insurance has complied with our medical assessment procedure, and for whom the appropriate premium has been paid.