FBD Insurance plc (F.B.D. Insurance Public Limited Company)
FBD Insurance
FBD Insurance is a travel insurance for the Ireland market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Where a Person Insured is admitted to hospital abroad, Chubb Assistance contacts the hospital or attending doctor directly and guarantees payment of their fees up to the policy limit, so the insured does not have to pay from their own funds. Premiums for the policy itself are payable in full by debit or credit card at the time of purchase.
Geographic scope
Policyholder selects one of three geographical areas at purchase: Europe (including Russia west of the Urals, Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia, excluding Albania), Worldwide excluding USA, Canada and the Caribbean, or Worldwide including USA, Canada and the Caribbean but excluding Cuba.
Cover applies only within the geographical area selected on the policy schedule. Albania is excluded from the Europe area and requires Worldwide cover. Travel to Cuba is excluded under every area due to sanctions restrictions affecting the underwriter. No cover applies to any Holiday involving travel to areas where the Department of Foreign Affairs allocates a security status of 'Avoid non-essential travel' or 'Do not travel'.
Unique selling points
- Medical Expenses cover of up to €5,000,000 per person, well above typical market minimums, including up to €10,000 for burial, cremation or repatriation of remains abroad.
- Personal Liability cover of up to €2,500,000 while on holiday abroad.
- Continued cover for Covid-19 medical treatment and repatriation expenses even though other Covid-19 related claims are excluded from the policy.
- No excess applies to medical and additional expenses claims in EU countries where a reduction is obtained using a European Health Insurance Card.
- Chubb Assistance arranges and guarantees direct payment of hospital bills abroad up to the policy limit, so the insured does not have to pay upfront from their own funds.
Coverage limits
Medical Expenses
€5,000,000
Covers reasonable costs medically necessary outside Ireland for hospital, ambulance, surgical or other diagnostic or remedial treatment prescribed by a doctor, including hospital stays, up to €5,000,000 per person. A €90 excess applies per person per claim, except where a reduction is obtained using a European Health Insurance Card in EU countries. Available under both the Holiday and Holiday Plus options; under Holiday Plus, cover for in-patient treatment begins only once the limit of the policyholder's private medical insurance has been exhausted.
Emergency Medical Treatment
€5,000,000
Covers emergency injury or illness suffered abroad during a Holiday, within the overall €5,000,000 Medical and Additional Expenses limit. The insured person must contact Chubb Assistance immediately and before incurring any costs; contacting FBD first may delay treatment.
Hospital Benefit (daily in-patient cash benefit)
€400
In addition to the €5,000,000 Medical Expenses limit, a cash benefit of €20 is paid for each full 24 hours a Person Insured spends as a hospital in-patient during a Holiday, up to a maximum of €400 per Holiday. No benefit is paid for time spent in an institution not recognised as a hospital in the country of treatment.
Outpatient Treatment
€5,000,000
Outpatient treatment is reimbursed as part of the overall €5,000,000 Medical and Additional Expenses limit; no separate outpatient sub-limit is stated in the policy documents.
Emergency Dental Treatment
€300
Reimburses medically necessary and reasonable costs of emergency dental treatment for the relief of pain only, up to €300, incurred outside Ireland during a Holiday.
Medical Transport / Ambulance Services
€5,000,000
Chubb Assistance arranges transfer by regular scheduled transport, or by air or road ambulance if more urgent treatment or specialist care is required, as part of the overall Medical and Additional Expenses cover; no separate sub-limit is stated.
Emergency Medical Evacuation / Repatriation
€5,000,000
Covers all reasonable costs that are medically necessary for Chubb Assistance to arrange to return the insured person to their home in Ireland, or to move them to the most suitable hospital in Ireland, within the overall €5,000,000 Medical and Additional Expenses limit; repatriation must be authorised by Chubb Assistance and be necessary on medical grounds.
Repatriation of Remains / Burial Abroad
€10,000
If the insured person dies abroad, up to €10,000 is paid for cremation or burial charges in the country of death, or to transport the body or ashes back to Ireland.
Search and Rescue
No limit stated
Not mentioned as a covered benefit in any of the reviewed FBD Holiday Travel Insurance policy documents.
Covid-19 Medical and Repatriation Expenses
€5,000,000
Covid-19 claims are excluded under the policy's general exclusions except under the Medical Expenses and Repatriation section, which remains covered provided the insured is not travelling in, to or through any area allocated a security status of 'Avoid non-essential travel' or 'Do not travel' by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The policy also covers some Covid-19 related cancellation costs and quarantine-related expenses where the quarantine period extends past the return date.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Excluded
Excluded where a pre-existing medical condition or injury conflicts with the health declaration statements made at the time of purchase (e.g. receiving or awaiting hospital/nursing home treatment, awaiting investigation, referral or results, or travelling against medical advice). Cancellation, curtailment or rearrangement is also excluded where it results from a medical condition diagnosed before the policy was purchased that could reasonably have been expected to cause death, serious injury, sudden illness or sudden deterioration in health.
Winter Sports Cover
€300
Optional cover, available for an additional premium, for winter sports equipment hire, unused ski pass value, hire/tuition fees, and being unable to ski due to lack of snow, up to €300, limited to a maximum of 21 days winter sports cover in the period of insurance. Competitive winter sports are excluded.
Adventure / Hazardous Sports Cover
Excluded
Excluded: aerial pursuits (e.g. ballooning, bungee-jumping, gliding, hang-gliding, parachuting, paragliding), mountaineering requiring ropes or guides, potholing, motorcycling over 125cc, competitive winter sports, racing (other than on foot), and scuba diving to depths exceeding 30 metres.
Pregnancy Complications
€5,000,000
Covered as part of Medical Expenses and Cancellation cover where diagnosed by a doctor or specialist in obstetrics, provided that if travelling between 28 and 35 weeks pregnant the insured obtained written confirmation of fitness to travel from a doctor no earlier than 5 days before the outbound travel date. Cover excludes any trip where the insured is due to give birth within 12 weeks of the trip's return date.
Personal Liability
€2,500,000
Indemnifies the insured person up to €2,500,000 for sums they become legally liable to pay as damages for accidental bodily injury or accidental loss of/damage to material property occurring during the Holiday. Wilful or malicious acts are excluded.
Overseas Legal Advice & Expenses
€30,000
Covers legal expenses up to €30,000 if the insured sustains bodily injury or illness abroad caused by a third party, to pursue a claim for damages or compensation. Excludes claims reported more than 24 months after the incident and any criminal or wilful act.
Chubb Assistance Emergency & Personal Assistance Service
Covered
Chubb Assistance provides medical emergency, referral, repatriation and personal assistance services while on a Holiday abroad, including emergency fund transfer up to €250, message relay, tracing of personal property, replacement travel documents, and legal help, reachable on +353 (0)1 440 2753. The documents do not state that this line operates around the clock.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
The insured person must contact Chubb Assistance before incurring any costs under the Medical and Additional Expenses section; contacting FBD/Chubb first may delay treatment.
Unauthorized treatment
If Chubb Assistance is not contacted before incurring medical costs, the insurer may reject the claim or reduce the amount paid.
Purchase while abroad
Cover is only available for Holidays that begin and end in Ireland (or trips of more than two days within Ireland), and every insured person must be permanently resident in Ireland for at least 180 days per calendar year; the policy documents do not describe a route to purchase or activate cover while already abroad.
Chronic conditions
No person may be insured if they are receiving or on a waiting list for hospital or nursing home treatment, are awaiting investigation, referral or results for any diagnosed or undiagnosed condition, are choosing not to take prescribed medication as directed, or are travelling against the advice of a qualified doctor.
Pregnancy
Complications in pregnancy diagnosed by a doctor or obstetrics specialist are covered under Medical Expenses and Cancellation. Travel between 28 and 35 weeks of pregnancy requires written doctor confirmation of fitness to travel obtained no earlier than 5 days before departure. Cover excludes any trip where the insured is due to give birth within 12 weeks of the trip's return date.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
Cover excludes any pre-existing medical condition or injury that conflicts with the health declaration made when applying for the policy. Cancellation or curtailment is also excluded where it results from a condition diagnosed before the policy was purchased that could reasonably have been expected to cause death, serious injury, sudden illness or sudden deterioration in health.
Coverage duration limit
A single trip is covered for a maximum of 30 consecutive days. Under an Annual Multi-Trip policy, total time spent on Holidays abroad must not exceed 90 days within the period of insurance.
Where to buy
Documents
FBD Holiday Travel Insurance Product Information Document (IPID), June 2025 edition
IPID
Your Holiday Travel Insurance Policy Document, August 2021 edition
Terms & conditions
Key Benefits summary table (within Policy Document, August 2021 edition)
Table of benefits
Your Holiday Travel Insurance Policy Document, April 2018 edition (superseded)
Terms & conditions
Policy specifics
Emergency Medical Expenses
Primary cover for emergency medical expenses whilst on a trip outside of the Republic of Ireland
SourcePrivate Medical Insurance Requirement (Holiday Plus)
Holiday Plus option requires private medical insurance with overseas coverage
SourceProperty Loss Reporting Requirement
Lost or stolen property must be reported to authorities within 24 hours
SourceHigh Risk Activities Exclusion
No cover for aerial pursuits, competitive winter sports, and hazardous activities
Source