wg100,
You need to check the specific wording of the travel insurance product you are looking at. One type of exclusion would be:
"The insurers shall not be liable to pay for:
⢠any claims attributed to any condition or set of circumstances known to the insured person at the time of booking a trip, where such condition or set or circumstances could reasonably have been expected to give rise to cancellation or curtailment of a trip,"
Insurers would probably consider that the delay in returning for R&R would fall under the exclusion above, in that it is reasonable to expect that the requirements of the service, flight delays etc mean that it is not possible to guarantee yout R&R dates. You could argue the case, but I would not advise taking out insurance on the basis that you will argue about the claim at the time it comes.
I would suggest that you compare various travel products and look for the one with the most user friendly cancellation clauses, and then press them for a specific agreement in writing. You might find some that will cover it. Feel free to PM me and I will advise on the wordings if I can, but it is advice only and the ultimate decision must be yours!
Also check with your Chief Clerk - the army have repaid my holiday cost before because I was unable to get insurance because of this reason, and I had to cancel because of a sudden deployment. I cannot advise on that one, as I am not sure of the regulations.
Duke