AIBU to be cross about travel insurance not covering holiday cancellation due to pregnancy?

[bellamcpoopants]

First I want to say that the cancellation is not my choice. The airline won't allow me to fly as I'll be 36 weeks on the way out and 37 weeks on the way back. I would be perfectly happy to fly.

Flights booked about a month before becoming pregnant.

I am perfectly aware that pregnancy is not an illness, and I wouldn't have expected cover if I'd just decided to cancel.

If there is a medical complication with the pregnancy I would be covered. However, if my dr says I'm not allowed to fly due to being too close to due date (which is what the airline says) then this does not count.

(For background, have fertility issues and previous pregnancy took a long time, so although we were ttc we did not expect to conceive naturally or (relatively) quickly).

I'm so cross! If I was a week less pregnant I'd be ok

[TheSpottedZebra]

Did you check the Terms and Conditions when you took out the policy?

[ZilphasHatpin]

Well pregnancy is a plannable thing unlike illness. So of course you aren't covered for something you chose to do that would prevent you flying!!

[DonaldStott]

Sorry, I can understand it is really annoying, but I think yabu.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I agree with you. However, insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible. So if they can find a loophole, they will.

As for pregnancy being 'plannable'? One in 6 are unplanned and that's not even adding the additional issue of timing.

[hilbil21]

What insurance company are you with

[bellamcpoopants]

The travel insurance is with our bank account. So not taken out specifically, and had made the assumption that if there were complications then I'd be covered (which is the case). Did not for one moment think that being too pregnant to fly would not be considered as medically unfit to fly, even if a dr were to say this.

And as for pregnancy being plannable, well if I hadn't have booked any holidays whilst ttc I'd have spent the best part of a decade not having holidays!

Am prepared to be told IBU - I am just really cross!

[ZilphasHatpin]

As for pregnancy being 'plannable'? One in 6 are unplanned and that's not even adding the additional issue of timing.

One in 6 may be unplanned. That doesn't mean they aren't plannable, and preventable and "end able" for anyone who wishes to do that. In terms of holidays I can totally see why they aren't covered under the insurance. It's not like being struck down with pneumonia.

[ZilphasHatpin]

In light of your latest update OP then as you were actively TTC whilst booking your holiday then I really think you should have checked that your insurance covered it if recovering the money was that important to you.

[Happyandhungry]

Is it just flights or a package holiday? I recently rearranged and then changed back a holiday and put into my PIL names instead as i would have been too pregnant to fly. Thomson were absolutely fantastic and never charged anything (even though they were entitled to charge £50 per person to change the names) again we had an unplanned pregnancy but Thomson were fantastic. Another reason why i always book through an actual travel agent in a shop rather than online.

[Beachedwh4le]

Can't you just get struck down with something other than pregnancy closer to the time?

Agree it shouldn't be covered, since you made the choice.

[MyHairNeedsASnip]

Happy thomson were great with us too, I just had to send them proof of pregnancy and I could change the holiday. Have you tried to change it instead of cancel OP?

[someblondegirl]

I don't know if it's any help at all, but we had a holiday booked )but just the deposit paid). We were ttc and had just started fertility treatment when the destination was declared as a zika zone. Insurance wouldn't cover it, but I got a note from my doctor and the agent refunded the deposit. Worth investigating perhaps?

[bellamcpoopants]

Some thanks, but I already checked to see if a dr certifying me unfit to fly at that stage would help, but apparently not.

I was actively ttc, but with known fertility issues (and prior interventions required) there was certainly no expectation of conceiving naturally.

Anyway, it's more the principal - the airline can move the flights (but for a £60 per person fee) but can't cancel to get refund, and the insurance company won't pay out as it's the airline's rule not 'my condition'. And I really want to still fly in those dates!!

Oh well, seems like I am being unreasonable, just one to chalk up to experience not going to be an issue again as with sickness this bad this is definitely my last pregnancy!

Thanks all!

[Astoria7974]

Medical insurance and travel insurance can cover normal pregnancy but you have to pay a lot for it. As it stands it will only cover pregnancy complications.

[Astoria7974]

Did you pay by credit card? If so you'll be covered by your credit card provider

[alteredimages]

It is annoying that travel insurance won't cover it but as PP have said premiums would have to increase significantly to cover costs.

However, YWBVVU to want to go on holiday abroad at 36 weeks pregnant. There is too high a chance of you giving birth abroad and it would cost £££ and almost certainly wouldn't be covered by travel insurance. It's a good thing that the airline won't take you!

How pregnant are you now? If you are still quite early in the pregnancy I would take the hit and change the dates to sometime in the second trimester, since any complications would be covered.

[VintagePerfumista]

For £120 can't you change the flights and go a week or so earlier?

Is this for flights, or for a package?

Because you're only talking about £60 to change flights, not for cancelling holiday? Or have I misunderstood? Logically, I'd fork out £120 and go on a different date rather than lose whatever you've also paid for the holiday.

[Stripeymug]

Astoria why would the credit card company pay out?

[kingscrossnoodle]

That's not what holiday insurance is for though, so I think YABU to expect them to pay out

[NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom]

Yes YABU, you can change the flights but are choosing not to.

[Lunde]

Most travel insurance won't cover you late in pregnancy - some won't cover you after 26-28 weeks

[kingscrossnoodle]

lunde it isn't about being covered while abroad during pregnancy. The OP is unable to go and wants to be covered because she can't fly due to pregnancy.

[kingscrossnoodle]

*as in to get a refund

[bellamcpoopants]

The fees are for changing flights and would be for four of us. And am not choosing not to change flights, just exploring options. Which I've now done. Will cost £1,200 to actually move flights to different dates (that includes the admin fee plus change to the cost of the flights - prices have changed drastically since we originally booked in December! Had not booked accommodation as yet which is good!

Anyway, have accepted that I'm being unreasonable. And now just accepting costs as sunk.

[turbohamster]

Travel insurance provided by a bank is likely to be even more restrictive with regards to exclusions.