December is one of the busiest months for travel. Many people fly to family in Germany, Ireland, the UK or elsewhere. Tickets are booked early, but the policy is often bought at the last minute, sometimes at the airport, and that delay can be the costliest part of the trip. Here is what to check.

Buy the policy when you book, not at the airport

Trip cancellation cover protects the money you have already paid for tickets and accommodation. All the insurer terms we reviewed share one principle: if the reason for canceling was foreseeable or known before the contract was signed, the loss is not covered. Bought at the airport, cancellation cover is practically worthless: departure is only hours away, and under many terms this cover only kicks in after a waiting period.

The second condition is the waiting period. Under some terms, cancellation cover starts immediately only if the policy is taken out within 24 hours of paying for the trip, otherwise only after several days. Other terms require the contract to be signed a set number of days before departure. The simple habit: buy the policy the day you pay for tickets.

If you buy the policy when already abroad, many policies start only after 24 or 48 hours, so an accident on your first day with relatives may not be covered.

When visiting family, the most common reason to cancel is a relative's health. Terms list whose sudden illness, accident or death counts, usually parents, spouse and children, sometimes siblings. Check that the people you are visiting are on that list.

The key word is "sudden". If a relative is already in hospital or got worse before you bought the policy, the risk will likely be treated as foreseeable. For your own chronic conditions, check whether a sudden flare-up is covered.

Winter flights: delays and missed connections

Flight delay cover usually pays for meals, a hotel and transport between the airport and the hotel, but often only if the flight is delayed by at least 4 hours. The insurer generally pays only what the airline does not, including under EU Regulation No 261/2004 on passenger rights. Alcoholic drinks bought while you wait are not covered.

  • Ask the airline for written confirmation of the reason for and length of the delay.
  • Keep every receipt.
  • Leave a buffer between flights: under some terms a missed connection is not covered if there are less than 2 hours between flights.
  • If a storm or other natural disaster was already reported in the media before you bought the policy, a related cancellation may not be covered.

Medical care abroad and the EHIC

Winter means icy sidewalks and flu. The European Health Insurance Card (called EVAK in Latvia) is useful, but it does not replace travel insurance. According to Latvia's National Health Service, the card gives access to necessary or urgent care on the same terms as residents of the country you are in, but it does not cover patient co-payments or transport back to Latvia in case of serious illness or death.

On top of that, Latvian non-citizens and third-country nationals cannot use the card in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Denmark, except for stateless persons, refugees and family members of EU citizens. For more on where the card works and where it does not, read our article on the EHIC card and its limits.

Festive dinners, alcohol and the slopes

Holidays mean more drinking, and that is where a nasty surprise can hide. Incidents that happen under the influence of alcohol are often excluded, especially when the intoxication is linked to what happened. Wording varies, so check the terms before counting on cover for a fall after a holiday dinner.

If you plan to ski or snowboard during the break, a standard policy may not be enough. Winter sports usually have to be added separately, and we covered this in detail in our guide to ski trip travel insurance.

Luggage and gifts

A holiday suitcase is often full of gifts: electronics, perfume, jewelry, sweets or a bottle of wine. These are exactly the items many baggage terms exclude: computers, phones and other devices, jewelry, perfume, food and drinks. The most valuable gifts are safer in your carry-on.

Baggage delay cover usually pays for essentials if your suitcase is late by more than the number of hours set in the terms. Report it to the carrier at the airport and get written confirmation. A delay in your home country, for example on your way back to Riga, is usually not covered.

A quick checklist before you go

  • The policy was bought on the day you paid for the trip, with cancellation cover included.
  • Medical cover includes transport back to Latvia.
  • Flight delay and baggage delay are covered.
  • If you are skiing, winter sports are listed on the policy.
  • You have read the exclusions on alcohol and known circumstances.

You can compare the terms of several policies side by side in our travel insurance section. If you are not sure which risk matters most for your trip, the Agento brokers can help you sort it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to buy travel insurance for a Christmas trip? Ideally on the same day you pay for your tickets or trip. Under some terms, cancellation cover starts immediately only if the policy is bought within 24 hours of paying for the trip, otherwise after a waiting period. Reasons that were known or foreseeable before you bought the policy are not covered.
Can I buy a policy while I am already staying with family abroad? Usually yes, but under many terms cover then starts only 24 or 48 hours after the contract is signed. Anything that happens during that window, or has already happened, is not covered, so it is safer to buy the policy before you leave.
Is the EHIC enough if I am visiting family in an EU country? No. The card gives access to necessary or urgent care on the same terms as local residents, but it does not cover patient co-payments or transport back to Latvia. Latvian non-citizens and third-country nationals cannot use it in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Denmark, with a few exceptions.
Will my policy cover an accident if I had been drinking? Incidents under the influence of alcohol are often excluded, especially when the intoxication is linked to what happened. The wording differs between policies, so read the exclusions section of your own policy before you travel.
Does baggage insurance cover Christmas gifts? Clothing and ordinary personal belongings are usually covered, but electronics, jewelry, perfume, food and drinks are excluded under many terms. Pack the most valuable gifts in your carry-on and check your policy terms before the trip.