Travel Insurance - Do I need to be insured now for a trip that is 10 months away?

[karentollet]

A friend of mine is paying for me to go on holiday as a treat. The trip is in 10 months time and has now been booked and she has paid the deposits. I was planning to buy my travel insurance nearer the time of travel as I want an annual travel insurance to cover me from the beginning of next year. However, someone has told me that I will need to be insured as from now because the holiday is already booked. They said that I need to be insured in the eventuality that something should happen to me to prevent me from being able to go on the holiday (death, injury etc). But I don't see how this would affect me financially. Surely it would be my friend who would be affected as she has paid for me. So as long as she is covered, what is the problem?

[buildersmate]

No - if you want insurance cover against you not being able to go for medical reasons, you need to buy your annual policy now. Her insurance covers her, but not you. It is the person travelling who is covered, not the person who paid for the holiday.

[twix123]

Your friend's policy will not cover you, therefore you need to take out a policy now, especially to cover any long term health problems you may suffer before the holiday. This should also cover you should the holiday company make any substantial changes making it unlikely for you to travel, or failure of the holiday company.