Times when travel insurance has paid off for you

Mine is a relatively small one but was welcome nonetheless.

We'd booked a holiday cottage in Scotland but the week before departure, my partner fell and suffered damage to her back which was so painful there was no way she could sit in the car for the 6 hour journey.

We have the free travel insurance with our (free) premier bank account. The insurers paid up the cost of the cottage without even wanting to see proof of what we'd paid for it or that partner had been seen by medics.

My old boss’s wife was hit on a pedestrian crossing in Italy, and suffered life changing disabilities. Travel insurance covered immediate and medium term care, and a lengthy legal process, that involved him and his wife appearing in court several times.

I fell badly whilst skiing. Had to be rescued from up the mountain and stretchered to the local clinic.
The bill was over £1000. Insurance covered it, except for the £100 excess.
Also had a Caribbean holiday booked and broke my leg. I wasn't allowed to fly. Again, insurance the cost for me and DH, refunded it all, except the excess.
Never travel without insurance!

DH had sepsis a few weeks before we were due to go on holiday. Holiday Insurance fully reimbursed the holiday as he was still having his leg dressed for months after his hospital stay. We never travel without insurance and cannot understand why people think it isn't worth it.

A long time ago, I had appendicitis in France, I was a minor on holiday with family friends. They covered everything including flying my mum out to be with me.

@Musicaltheatremum - I thought your experience sounded familiar, I hadn't realised this was a zombie thread! I hope your DH is well now.

Last year my daughter and I were going to fly from Vancouver to England, Scotland and Ireland and then take a cruise to Copenhagen. 2 months before we were to leave, I fell and fractured my right upper arm bone right in half. Had to cancel. Fortunately had travel insurance and recovered all my money. Was very disappointed though.

A broken wrist. Bill was £21,000. Hospital chosen by insurance company.

Husband had a brain tumour. We had insurance that covered it. He'd been stable for years then suddenly about 2 weeks before we were due to go he deteriorated with the tumour growing again. Got all costs back. We were going to Madeira.

Had to cancel a ski holiday due to my ex having a recurrence of labyrinthitis & vertigo a few days before which was likely to last a couple of weeks. They asked me to recoup what I could and they paid me back the rest minus the excess. Very easy, no drama.

£2500 holiday paid back in full after a family member fell seriously ill 3 days before we were due to fly. Even included the meals we’d paid for on the flights. Needed a GP certification that we couldn’t have predicted it and that there were no prior health conditions

Missed port insurance on a cruise got £400 back.

@Philanne123 https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance

Can anyone help with travel insurance my granddaughter spent 5 years at university saved up really hard working all hours.
She booked a holiday to Asia and separate flights, her auntie who she classed as a 2nd mum passed away on 23rd December aged 50. She cancelled the holiday because of funeral etc.
She got a credit note back for her flights but the insurance company want pay her for the holiday as auntie is not an immediate family is this right as to my granddaughter she was everything.

I've had to claim twice in my life, and both were paid but in both cases I had to battle for years to get the claim paid and go to the Ombudsman etc.

I don't really believe in insurance? I buy it but... They will take your money and screw you if they can. My legitimate claims were denied based on... nothing. The denials were absolutely baseless. If I had not kept on fighting I would be bankrupt.

10 year old airlifted to hospital from the ski slope with suspected broken neck.

Emergency neurosurgeon called out, four different hospitals etc.

Fortunately all paid for but importantly, he was ok!

What I like about staysure is the accept the issues you’ve got but only ask the real important questions like have you been hospitalised etc rather than the raft of random, cant remember questions non specialist insurers ask

Staysure

When my mum broke her leg in the Caribbean and spent 2 weeks in hospital there, had surgery followed by a medical repatriation- total cost around £65,000. Getting ill and requiring medical care the USA or Caribbean is scarily expensive!

Ali accident. Covered the cost of going to hospital and the treatment plus partial refund of ski hire and lift pass as couldn't ski

A few times! Broken ankle in St Lucia - paid for treatment and a row of 3 seats to stretch out on return flight. Torn calf muscle in Barbados paid for examination / treatment.
DH got a nasty gastric infection in Mexico and was in a lovely private suite in hospital for 8 days. All covered as was an extra payment for each day in hospital and taxis for me to visit daily.

Dental abscess in Florida - didn’t have to pay a thing.

My husband spent 2.5 weeks in a hospital in Spain, costing €1000 a day. He had life saving surgery in another private hospital. Then repatriated to the UK. Hotels paid for me. In all cost was about £25,000.

Air traffic issues last year. Stranded in Greek airport. Insurance didn't pay out but easyJet paid our hotel bill for an extra week plus flights back via Paris and a stopover there.

Free trip to Paris. Yes please.

Emergency appendicitis in France, will never ever go anywhere without it.