Ordinarily resident for insurance purposes?

I thought I'd start a new topic about this question.  Apologies if it should go elsewhere.

FWIW, I was covered with DH (before we were married) on a travel insurance policy with Columbus Direct.  I think the phrase they used was "ordinarily resident", the same as on the European Health Insurance Card and defined for tax purposes as:

Ordinary residence
3.8 You will be treated as ordinarily resident in the UK from the date you arrive, whether to work here or not, if it is clear that you intend to stay for at least three years.

If you come to the UK as a student for an extended period of study or education, see paragraph 3.13.

3.9 You will be treated as ordinarily resident from the beginning of the tax year after the third anniversary of your arrival if you come to, and remain in, the UK, but you

    * do not originally intend to stay for at least three years, and
    * do not buy accommodation or acquire it on a lease of three years or more.

For example, if you arrive in the UK on 21 November 1999 and are still living in the UK on 6 April 2003, you are ordinarily resident from 6 April 2003.

3.10 If, after you have come to the UK, you decide to stay for at least three years from the date of your original arrival, you will be treated as ordinarily resident from

    * the day you arrive if your decision is made in the tax year of arrival, or
    * the beginning of the tax year in which you make your decision when this is after the year of arrival.

For example

    * you arrive in the UK on 4 January 2000 and decide on 16 May 2000 to stay permanently. You are ordinarily resident from 6 April 2000
    * you come to the UK to work on 14 July 1999 on a 2 year contract of employment, but in December 2001 your assignment is changed and your contract is extended until after July 2002*. You are ordinarily resident from 6 April 2001.

* If there is a change in the circumstances of your assignment, but no formal change to the terms of a contract, whether you are treated as ordinarily resident - and from what date - will depend on the precise facts.

3.11 If you come to, and remain in, the UK, you will be treated as ordinarily resident

    * from the day you arrive, if

      - you already own accommodation here
      - you buy accommodation during the tax year of arrival, or
      - you have or acquire accommodation on a lease of three years or more during the tax year of arrival; or
    * from 6 April of the tax year in which such accommodation becomes available, when this occurs after the year of arrival.

3.12 If you are treated as ordinarily resident solely because you have accommodation here (paragraph 3.11) and you dispose of the accommodation and leave the UK within three years of your arrival, you may be treated as not ordinarily resident for the duration of your stay if this is to your advantage.

3.13 If you are a student who comes to the UK for a period of study or education and you will be here for less than four years, you will be treated as not ordinarily resident, providing

    * you do not own or buy accommodation here, or acquire it on a lease of three years or more, and
    * on leaving the UK you do not plan to return regularly for visits which average 91 days or more a tax year.

See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/ir20.htm#part1.

We contacted several other places about whether or not I could be covered as a non-permanent resident on a student visa, and everyone said it was fine because I was eligible for the EHIC.  The other companies were Boots and Marks & Spencer, I believe.  Fortunately, we didn't have to make any claims, so I don't know if it would have been denied if put to the test.

It would depend on how the insurance company defines it.

I work for the M&S travel insurance, so I can confirm that they dont cover for  anyone on a student/work visa

According to Lloyds bank, which is where DH has his travel insurance, I was covered before we were married and am now because we live at the same address and I'm registered at a GP's surgery!  They understood that I was on a student visa...I'm on FLR now, and luckily, we've never had to file a claim either.