What does my insurance cover?

The travel insurance policy will provide cover for Cancellation or Curtailment charges, Emergency Medical and Other Expenses, Personal Accident, Baggage and Passport, Personal Money and Documents, Personal Liability, Missed Departure and Holiday Abandonment. For full details of what is covered please refer to the policy wording here. Insurance Product Information Document is available for you here.

Please note: There is an excess charge on the policy for each claim. The amount of the excess will vary depending on what you are claiming for. Please read the insurance policy carefully.

Are Medical Conditions covered under my travel insurance policy?

The travel insurance policy provides cover for a number of different medical conditions, however if your medical condition does not appear on the list of accepted conditions provided in the policy or does not meet the specific criteria required, You will need to contact the Medical Screening company on 01 533 7354 to declare your condition. Please quote reference J1 Policy.

Please note, there is no cover provided for any Pre-Existing Medical Condition if You;
- are awaiting the results of medical tests or investigations;
- are travelling against the advice of a Medical Practitioner;
- are travelling for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment;
- are on a hospital waiting list;
- have been diagnosed with a terminal condition;

‘If You are unsure if Your Medical Condition(s) is covered, You should contact Medical Screening Company before Your Trip departure from Ireland or the United Kingdom

Cover Relating to the Health of Non-Travellers

The travel insurance policy excludes cover for any claims arising directly or indirectly from a Pre-Existing Medical Condition (unless shown in the Automatically Accepted Minor Conditions list) of any person on whom travel depends unless the person’s doctor can state that, at the date of you buying this insurance policy or booking your Sayit J1 Trip (whichever is later) he/she would have seen no substantial likelihood of the patient’s condition deteriorating to such a degree to cause a necessary cancellation or curtailment claim. If the doctor will not confirm this, any claim arising from a Pre-Existing Medical Condition will be excluded.

All claims arising from a terminal prognosis, any set of symptoms where a diagnosis has not been made and any Medical Condition for which a non-traveller is on a waiting list for or has knowledge of the need for surgery, treatment or investigation at a hospital, clinic or nursing home at the time you buy this insurance policy or book your Sayit J1 Trip (whichever is later) are automatically excluded.

Please refer to the Important Conditions Relating to Health section of the policy wording for full details. 

What doesn’t my insurance cover?

The travel insurance policy contains terms, conditions and exclusions for example the policy does not provide cover for any form of medical treatment required due to drinking too much alcohol, alcohol abuse or drugs.  There is also no cover for costs associated with a normal pregnancy, however there is cover for certain complications of pregnancy.   Please note that exclusions also apply if a close relative has a medical condition.  Please refer to your policy wording for full terms conditions and exclusions.   

What is the excess?

Excess is a term that applies to the insurance industry and comes into effect when you claim against your insurance policy.  An excess is a contribution you are required to pay towards a claim you make on your insurance policy. 

The excess on the SAYIT J1 policy varies between €75 - €225. Higher excesses may apply if you need to make a claim under the Sports and Activities sections (Grades 2 – 4) of your policy.  

Are valuable items covered by my insurance?

Valuable items such as jewellery, iPod, digital camera etc. are covered up to the overall limit stated on the policy (€200). An excess will apply for Baggage claims unless you have paid the additional premium to waiver the excess. A travel insurance policy is not designed for specific expensive items therefore if you are planning to take them with you on your trip, then you should check that you have adequate cover under an alternative insurance policy.  There is no cover for valuables left unattended at any time (including in a vehicle or in the custody of carriers) unless left in a locked premise and out of sight.  If any items are lost/stolen, you must obtain a police report within 24 hours.  Please refer to the policy wording for further details.  Also, please refer to the definition section of the policy for a full list of items defined as valuables.  

Am I insured before I leave?

As soon as you have paid your first J1 deposit, you are covered for cancellation providing the cancellation is necessary and unavoidable as a result of the death, bodily injury, serious illness or complications of pregnancy and childbirth of you, your travelling companion or your close relative. Please refer to your policy wording for full terms, conditions and exclusions.   
 
Please note that the cost of the insurance policy and the excess on the policy will be deducted from your claim. Therefore, if you haven’t paid more than this, you will not be eligible to claim any refund.  
 

I need GAA Cover. How much does it cost and what does it cover?

GAA cover can be added to your policy for an additional premium of €100 . It allows for training no more than twice a week for a maximum of 4 hours in total and playing no more frequently than once a week. The following restrictions also apply:
•      Medical Excess increased to €650
•      Personal Accident Sum insured reduced by 50%
•      Personal Liability Cover is Excluded
 

I need Exam Failure Cover. How much does it cost?

Exam Fauilure cover can be added to your policy for an additional premium of €50.

You are insured up to the amount shown in the policy schedule for additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred by you as a result of returning to Ireland to retake public or university exams and then return to your destination, provided cover was issued before your initial exam. This applies to any partial exam taken in November / December which contributes to your final result. An excess fee of €150 will apply. 

To make a claim under this section you must contact White Horse Insurance Ireland dac on Telephone +353 1 533 7392 or alternatively email claims@white-horse.ie immediately after receiving your exam results.

Under what circumstances would I not be eligible to claim under exam repeat?

•    If you have taken out insurance after you sat your exam.
•    If exam results are known to you prior to departure.
•    Any project work which is part of your exam results.
•    Claims not substantiated by an official exam report.
•    Claims should be submitted as soon as possible.

What if I need medical assistance or get sick/injured while in the US?

In the event of a serious illness or bodily injury which may lead to inpatient hospital treatment, you must contact the Emergency Assistance service in the USA on +1 212 671 9004 or alternatively telephone +44 1733 224 892. The Emergency Assistance Service has the medical expertise, contacts and facilities to help should you be injured in an accident or fall ill.

If you are admitted to a hospital/clinic while abroad, the Emergency Assistance Service will arrange for medical expenses covered by the policy to be paid direct to the hospital/clinic. The Emergency Assistance Service will also arrange to transport you home (if required) when this is considered to be medically necessary.

For out-patient treatment, you should pay the hospital/clinic yourself and keep your receipts so you can claim back medical expenses from your insurance policy on your return to Ireland. Beware of requests for you to sign for excessive treatment or charges. If in doubt regarding any such requests, please call the Emergency Assistance Service for guidance.

The hospital does not recognise my policy, what do I do?

You should contact the Emergency Assistance Service in the USA on Telephone: +1 212 671 9004 as soon as you are admitted to Hospital or alternatively telephone +44 1733 224 892. They can then speak with the hospital regarding your cover. There shouldn’t be any issues at all with the hospital recognising cover, so it is very important that the Emergency Assistance Service are notified immediately to avoid situations like this. It is not the hospital’s responsibility to notify them.

Do I need to pay for treatment up front?

If the cost is minimal then you would pay that up front and submit a claim afterwards. The amount must be higher than the excess to make a claim.  If you are admitted to hospital as an Inpatient, the Emergency Assistance Service will arrange for medical expenses covered by the policy to be paid direct to the hospital/clinic.  To take advantage of this benefit the Emergency Assistance Service (+1 212 671 9004 / +44 1733 224 892) must be contacted as soon as possible.  

How do I claim?

Claim forms can be obtained from White Horse Insurance Ireland dac by either:
Telephone: +353 1 533 7392 or by email: claims@white-horse.ie

You would then complete this and submit the details along with your medical receipts etc. to the claims office for review.

What dental treatment is covered?

Emergency Dental Treatment is covered within the Medical section up to a limit of €250 incurred outside Ireland for the immediate relief of pain to natural teeth only.

What happens if I need to return home i.e. a family member gets sick or dies?

You should contact the Emergency Assistance Service:  +1 212 671 9004 / +44 1733 224 892 to notify them of the need to return home. They will then set up a case for you and organise flights home as soon as possible subject to policy terms and conditions being met. It is very important that you notify Emergency Assistance Service as soon as possible to ensure they are made aware of the situation. Cover is provided in respect of serious illness or death of a close relative. Please refer to the policy wording for full terms conditions and exclusions.  Also see definition of close relative on page 6.

What happens if I miss my flight?

The policy provides cover for Missed Departure should you fail to arrive at the international departure point in time to board the public transport on your outward journey from Ireland for the reasons specified in the policy such as an accident to or breakdown of the vehicle in which you are travelling or the failure of other scheduled public transport.  In the event of a claim you would need to provide the required reports to substantiate your claim.

There is no cover under the policy should you fail to have the appropriate Passport/Visa required to travel or if you do not give yourself adequate time to get to the Airport to check in and make your flight on time. Please refer to the policy wording for full details.

All enquiries related to your insurance should be directed to White Horse Insurance Ireland dac.

What is Dual Insurance cover?

If at the time of an incident which results in a claim under the J1 policy, there is another insurance covering for the same loss, damage, expense or liability, White Horse Insurance Ireland dac will not pay out more than their proportional share (not applicable to Personal Accident cover). Under Medical Expenses, in the event of a private health insurance cover, your private health insurer must pay the first amount as stated in their policy and White Horse Insurance Ireland dac will commence cover once that limit has been reached.

What are the insurance companies contact numbers?

White Horse Insurance Ireland dac
First Floor, Rineanna House, Shannon Free Zone, Shannon, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, V14 CA36.
Telephone:  +353 1 533 7392
Email: claims@white-horse.ie

Emergency Assistance Service
Telephone: +1 212 671 9004 or +44 1733 224 892