Select & Protect

Select & Protect: travel, pet and home insurance backed by Hood Group

Select & Protect is a UK insurance company that sells travel, pet and home policies directly to customers. It is part of Hood Group Ltd, a group with more than 40 years of experience providing insurance for some of the country's leading banks, insurers and retailers. That same experience is now offered under Select & Protect's own brand, without the need for intermediaries.

Available insurance products

The offering is structured into three main lines, each with specific coverages and services.

Travel insurance

It includes single trip and annual multi-trip options, with options for over 50s, cruises and cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Policies include access to 24/7 medical assistance through the Doctor Please! service.

Pet insurance

It covers vet fees in the event of illness or accident of the pet, subject to the policy terms and conditions. The Lifetime cover option is offered, with an annually renewable limit for vet fees, 24/7 veterinary assistance through Select & Protect Vet Assist and up to £7,500 for vet bills. It is possible to insure up to six pets on a single family policy. Typical cover includes vet fees for accidents, illnesses and injuries, CT and MRI scans, prescription food if recommended by the vet, dental treatment for illness or injury, advertising and reward if the pet is lost, loss due to illness or injury, and emergency repatriation if the pet needs to return from abroad.

Home insurance

Currently closed to new customers while the product is being redesigned. Existing policyholders can receive telephone assistance. Cover includes buildings and contents insurance, with the option to add home emergency cover and family legal protection. The policy provides for 'new for old' replacement of items in most contents claims, except for clothing and household linen, where a deduction for wear and tear applies. There is a specific £1,000 excess for claims for subsidence, heave or landslip.

Customer service and featured services

Select & Protect maintains a UK-based customer service team for policy enquiries and claims management. Travel customers have a 24/7 emergency helpline while abroad. The company considers pre-existing medical conditions at renewal, not only at initial purchase. Depending on the product, optional cover may be available for winter sports, gadgets, golf and multi-pet options.

Group experience and structure

Hood Group Ltd's more than four decades of experience back Select & Protect's operations. The group has worked behind some of the UK's best-known banking, insurance and retail brands, and now offers that experience directly to consumers under its own name.

Frequently asked questions about policies

The website compiles common queries grouped by product. For travel, age limits and maximum trip durations are detailed according to the option and the purchase channel. For example, for policies purchased directly on the website, single trip covers up to age 100, with maximum durations of 100 days for under 65s, 62 days for 66 to 75 year olds, and 31 days for 76 to 100 year olds. Annual multi-trip allows stays of up to 31 days per trip with unlimited trips per year. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 18 included on the policy throughout the trip. For pets, it is explained that lifetime cover renews the vet limit annually. For home, concepts such as the difference between buildings and contents insurance, the meaning of 'new for old' and how the policy excess works are clarified.