- RIAS is a trading name of Ageas Retail Limited (FCA FRN 312468). The travel product is arranged and administered by Hood Travel Ltd (FCA FRN 597211).
- The core cover is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A., part of the AXA Group; the gadget section is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited via Taurus Insurance Services Ltd.
- Three tiers run Silver, Gold and Platinum, with emergency medical limits of 10 million, 15 million and 20 million pounds respectively.
- Single trip cover is sold up to age 100 when bought direct; annual multi-trip is capped at 80 for most destinations and 75 for trips including the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
- RIAS states it can offer cover for many pre-existing medical conditions, assessed when you declare them.
What RIAS is
RIAS is a UK insurance brand aimed primarily at the over-50s market, selling home, car and travel cover. It is a trading name of Ageas Retail Limited, registered at Ageas House, Hampshire Corporate Park, Templars Way, Eastleigh, and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 312468.
Travel insurance sits slightly apart from the rest of the RIAS range. Rather than being arranged by Ageas Retail directly, RIAS Travel Insurance is arranged and administered by Hood Travel Ltd, an insurance intermediary based in Southend-on-Sea and authorised by the FCA under firm reference number 597211. Hood Travel acts for and on behalf of the insurer and provides a non-advised service, meaning it asks questions to establish what cover is needed but does not give a personal recommendation.
Who underwrites the cover
The core elements of RIAS Travel Insurance are underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A., which is part of the AXA Group. One section is handled separately: the gadget cover is administered by Taurus Insurance Services Ltd and underwritten by ERGO TIS on behalf of Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited.
This split matters for two reasons. First, the insurer behind the bulk of the policy is a large international assistance specialist rather than a small carrier. Second, the documentation a buyer receives names several entities (Ageas Retail as brand owner, Hood Travel as administrator, Inter Partner Assistance as insurer), so checking which firm holds your premium and handles your claim is worth doing before purchase. According to the policy paperwork, Hood Travel holds premiums as agent of the insurer, and the total premium includes Insurance Premium Tax plus a commission for both Hood Travel and Ageas Retail.
What policies RIAS offers
Two trip structures are available: single trip and annual multi-trip. Across both, cover is sold at three levels: Silver, the standard tier; Gold; and Platinum. RIAS states that Gold and Platinum carry a 5 Star independent feature rating, while Silver provides a standard level of cover.
Optional add-ons can be attached on top of the base policy, including cruise cover (for missed ports, cabin confinement and itinerary changes), winter sports, golf cover, a gadget cover extension, car hire excess waiver, and, on Gold and Platinum, an excess waiver that removes the excess from claims. Winter sports carries a notable restriction: the policy wording states there is no winter sports cover for any insured person aged 66 and over.
Pricing structure
RIAS does not publish flat prices for travel cover; premiums are quoted individually based on age, destination, trip length, tier and any declared medical conditions. A few structural points are documented rather than priced. A quote is valid for 30 days or until the policy start date, whichever is sooner, with the price guaranteed during that window. Policies can auto-renew if a customer opts in, with the original card charged seven days before renewal, though anyone who has declared accepted pre-existing conditions must contact RIAS to pay rather than renewing automatically.
Cancellation terms affect value. Cancelling within 14 days of receiving documents, before travelling or claiming, gives a full refund. After that 14-day window, a single trip policy refund is 65 percent of the premium paid, while an annual multi-trip policy is refunded pro rata by the number of complete months remaining.
What is covered and excluded
The headline limits scale up by tier. Emergency medical expenses run at 10 million pounds on Silver, 15 million on Gold and 20 million on Platinum. Cancellation or cutting a trip short is covered up to 3,000 pounds (Silver), 5,000 pounds (Gold) and 7,500 pounds (Platinum). Personal belongings limits are 1,250, 2,000 and 3,000 pounds across the three tiers, and personal money limits are 1,000, 1,250 and 1,500 pounds.
The standard excess also falls as you move up: 100 pounds on Silver, 75 pounds on Gold and 50 pounds on Platinum, before any optional excess waiver. Missed departure ranges from 300 pounds on Silver to 1,250 pounds on Platinum, and legal expenses cover is 15,000 pounds on Silver and 25,000 pounds on Gold and Platinum.
On exclusions, the pregnancy terms are worth noting: a normal pregnancy is excluded where delivery is expected more than 8 weeks (16 weeks for a multiple birth) after the trip ends. Pre-existing conditions must be declared and accepted; RIAS says it can cover many conditions, but undeclared conditions can invalidate a claim. As with most UK travel policies, the FCDO advises that failing to declare existing conditions or pending treatment may invalidate insurance.
How RIAS compares
RIAS sits in the over-50s segment alongside specialist senior-focused insurers. Its single trip age ceiling of 100 (when bought direct) is generous, and its 20 million pound Platinum medical limit is high by category standards. Against that, the annual multi-trip age caps of 80 (most destinations) and 75 (USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean) are more restrictive than some no-upper-age competitors, and trip-length caps tighten with age: annual multi-trip allows 62 days per trip up to 65, 45 days for 66 to 75, and 31 days for 76 to 80. The winter sports cut-off at 66 is a meaningful limit for older skiers. Comparing the specific tier and add-on combination needed, rather than the headline brand, is the relevant exercise.
How to make a claim
The policy wording instructs customers to notify the claims service as soon as possible after anything happens that might lead to a claim, with full contact details set out in the wording. Customer services can be reached on 0345 165 5763 or by email at service@rias-travel.co.uk. The insurer is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which provides protection for 90 percent of a claim with no upper limit if the insurer cannot meet its obligations. If a complaint is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction, it can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service for independent review.
Who RIAS might suit
RIAS is structured for older single-trip travellers who want a recognised over-50s brand with a high direct-purchase age ceiling and a scale of medical limits to choose from. The tiered limits let a buyer match cover to budget, and the 5 Star independent feature rating on Gold and Platinum reflects feature breadth. It is less obviously suited to travellers over 80 wanting annual multi-trip cover, skiers aged 66 and over, or anyone who values a single underwriter and administrator under one roof, given the multi-entity structure. Reading the tier-specific policy wording and IPID before buying is the practical step, since the limits, excesses and age rules differ by tier and by whether the policy is bought direct.
