School trip insurance - would you expect it to cover missed time due to sickness?

[Rainer]

My ds went on camp Monday, was ill within a few hours of being there and school policy understandably meant he had to be collected by us. Sadly for him it was just a migraine and not a bug but couldn't be helped.

There is an insurance policy in place, but the wording is not at all helpful. Would you expect to make a claim in such circumstances?

Don't want to seem mean but this trip and my daughter's trip has meant we have no budget for a family holiday and the petrol to go and collect him cost another £20. Also obviously one very sad little boy dreading going back to school tomorrow with his classmates who've all had a wonderful time without him. It would be nice to do something nice with him in the coming weeks.

So would you ask the school or will I just look like a twat?🙄

I doubt it ...but hey worth asking
Was migraine listed as a medical condition with the school insurance

Theres no harm asking the school for a copy of the insurance policy to:see whether it covers illness.

Are you looking to make money out of the insurance company? You paid for the trip expecting him to be on it the entire time so that expense is gone either way. I think you're taking the piss expecting the school's insurance to refund you for a migraine. And if they did by some crazy madness, it means the school's insurance premium will increase so you'll be costing the school money too. Is that really what you want?

You're £20 out of pocket for extra petrol. Is that £20 what you would have used to do something nice with him?

No migraine wasn't listed. He's never had one before but had classic symptoms.

I have the policy here, it talks about not covering illness when advised not to travel but then later lists sickness under 'personal accident' as a 'significant exclusion'.

So seems to contradict itself.

Did you have insurance too?

Doubtful. Did he see a dr?

Well yes as we had plans for this weekend that I'm unsure I can take him as it involves a long drive and I've already used a third of the months petrol. And yes I do use that little (at current prices) as I am on a tight budget and run/cycle/bus to keep costs down.

Nice to see mn is as kind and non confrontational as ever!

No we haven't been on holiday since pre COVID so have nothing in place.

No because even by the time I'd got there (around 3 hrs later) he was well, and so it wasn't necessary.

You will have to have evidence from either the school or a GP that it was necessary for him to come home. I think you would have a definite claim under curtailment for this. Give the claims company a call - you have nothing to lose - definitely ask the school. This is exactly the sort of thing insurance is for.

As far as I know, holiday insurance sickness cover is about getting you home and medical care. You might be entitled to compensation (which is what you're asking about) if the hostel or whatever made you ill.

I doubt you'd be entitled on your own insurance, no matter about the school's.

X post. If he was fine when you arrived to collect him, why on earth did you bring him home?

Is he prone to migraines? I do think it's strange they called you for something that was better by the time you got there, and he then missed the rest of the trip?

Surely a rest, see how he is, initial excitement etc.

How old?

I don't think insurance would cover it but I'm unsure why they sent him home, having just done three lovely trips as a parent helper.

I doubt the insurance would cover it. Especially as he was ok 3 hours later and he didn't see a doctor.

They called me and told me I had to come and get him. It was the heads decision. To be clear I was happy to follow their policies and understand why it was better for him not to stay.

I also thought there may be some follow up contact from the school but I suspect again I am way off the mark here. I've asked other and know I am! It's just been such a big deal for ds and so I'm slightly in lioness mode.

Because they had been clear he had to leave. Last week there had been an outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting so they were extra cautious. I arrived to him packed and ready to go.

He is 10. First school trip. No, never had a migraine before but not always the best traveller in the car, he was ill 3 or 4 hours after the journey so unlikely to be that. They told me over the phone he was sick twice, which since speaking to him about it was only a few minutes apart and then not again. He was complaining of a headache that was relieved after he was ill and went very pale.

No I doubt it.
This comes under the category of hard luck. He was sick and you collected him. I think to make a claim you would have had to have had an accident while away or been too ill to go.

That's such a shame,

It's the sickness though, unless prone to it or something caused it. Like my nephew is sick if he sees an egg. Or an egg being eaten.

Thanks all. Your input is appreciated.

I'm starting to wonder if it may be still related to his journey having looked more into it, symptoms can last for 4 hrs or even more and he is know to puke literally round the corner from our house, it used to be a standing joke in our family. However he's only had nausea in recent years.

Next year he will be medicated up to the eyeballs!

Insurance policies are there for these reasons - if you can't go, if you get sick and curtail, if there are medical expenses whilst you're there that need covering, if something is stolen whilst away, etc.

There is absolutely no harm in enquiring with the school/insurance if you are covered for this, and what you need to do/provide if you are.

As far as I am aware, there is no "no claims discount" on travel insurance (at least none that I have ever taken out).
Just ask - there is likely no harm.

Else what's the point of there even being travel insurance if you can't claim (or get persuaded against claiming) for missing or curtailing a trip through illness.

i am sure schools encourage people to have their own travel insurance for school trips especially for those abroad. The school travel insurance covers them if the trip is cancelled, but not sure if it covers someone wanting a refund for missing part of the trip

Thank you both. I have calmed down somewhat and will give it some thought. I have to say I hadn't given much thought to any no claims discount.

Ultimately we didn't get what we paid for due to their policy. And to my mind it makes sense to see if there is cover for this as it is no fault of anyone's. And yes it may just be bad luck but if it can pay for some water park tickets which is what ds would like when we asked what would cheer him up, then great.

Btw 20 is an awful lot of money to some people, surely people should be mindful of that in present times.

No, I wouldn't expect the school's insurance to cover this. It is just one of those things.

A propos of this, I recently heard of a school in Melbourne whose conditions for a school trip to Uluru were that if a student tested positive for Covid, the parent had to fly out and isolate with them in a hotel.