Zurich ends travel deal with Thomas Cook-owned insurer

Zurich has ended its outsourced high net worth travel insurance deal with Thomas Cook-owned White Horse Insurance Ireland.

A Zurich spokesman said the firm ended the deal because it realised it could do the job in-house.

Zurich Private Clients will take over the underwriting and sell the high net worth travel insurance as an extension to the insurer’s home and ultimate home insurance. The products will be relaunched later this year.

Medical emergency claims will be handled by Zurich’s World Travel Protection team, and all other claims will be handled by the Zurich Private Clients claims team.

Zurich Private Clients head Matthew Schofield said: “Zurich Private Clients has grown significantly over the last 10 years, and we’re enormously proud of the business it is today. The re-launch of our travel product is another step towards building on this success and growing our business.”

A White Horse spokesman confirmed the firm had lost the deal, and added that it would continue to back polices until they are due for renewal.

The Zurich policies will include:

• Worldwide travel cover for up to 90 consecutive days for the insured and their family
• Up to £10m medical and emergency expenses per person per trip
• Winter sports for up to 31 consecutive days