Travel insurance - will it cover the whole family not going on holiday because one member is sick?

[BoxedOff]

We are due to fly to the Maldives tonight. My 19 year old has woken with a really high fever and terrible headache - probably flu. If she sees a doc and gets a certificate that she’s not fit to fly does insurance cover us all not travelling usually? I can find the policy right now and am prioritising trying to get a doc appt but it’s the same company covering us all through insurance that accompanies my bank account and has a good reputation.

Why do you all need to stay at home?

The answer is probably. Sorry but without the insurance documentation no one can say for certainty.

The might be an expectation that as an adult she would stay at home and the rest take the holiday, but I would be arguing that everyone else is likely to get ill and I don’t want that happening on holiday.

Presumably they want a holiday with the whole family so want to rebook?

Read the policy - it will tell you.

For a 19 year old it might not, but very much depends on your policy.

Good point, the standard policy might be for the ‘family’ but at 19, DD might not be covered now.

Why do you need a dr appt? Have you all decided already that the 19yo won’t be going so want a note from dr for insurance?

Dr won’t normally see a healthy teen on day 1 of suspected flu.

If it was me I’d be getting them on the flight on the assumption they’ll be fine in a few days!

@IDasIX
How selfish.

Read your policy wording but most policies cover for cancellation due to illness of a close relative or insured. You will need medical documentation to prove that your daughter is not fit to travel. Not sure why you would all cancel the holiday though.

She’s unable to get out of bed with a fever of 39.5. No way she can do a 12 hour flight.

this is a once in a blue moon holiday for the family as a whole. I’m not going without one of the kids as the whole point is a week away together - also I fear the others may come down with it as it’s spread through DD’s friends like wild fire.

You need to get medical documentation confirming she’s not fit to travel. Without that you have no claim.

I'm sure all the other travellers will love coming down with the same illness in a few days while they're in the Maldives!!!

Op how long were you due to go for, might it be a better option to phone the airline and see if 19yo can fly out and meet you in a few days/a week when they are feeling better?

But yes, the policy will probably cover you all, as long as it's a joint policy/booking - I don't know if it would cover another adult being too ill to fly if you have all taken out your own policies necessarily.

It would definitely be easier to read your policy document than wait for random MNetters to guess for you 🤪

Depends on your policy, she's an adult so maybe not, no one knows without seeing the policy.
Glad you won't let her fly as suggested by the idiot above.
Having been, the Maldives is a loooong way to go for a week btw!

If it was me I’d be getting them on the flight on the assumption they’ll be fine in a few days!

I did that once. Turned out to be chicken pox, not flu.

OP: ring the helpline that will be listed on your insurance document. You'll need to notify them anyway.

You might need to pay for the GP's letter.

If it's an annual insurance covering you and spouse and children, are you sure the 19 year old is covered? Ours didn't cover our 18 year old last year and we had to buy a separate travel insurance for them.

you need to call the insurers, just asking the question isn’t going to cause any damage

How many other children / Adults on the booking? TBH a 19 year old is an adult - if your insurance won’t pay out then I’d leave her at home

We had to cancel our holiday last year because I was ill, I'm an adult, the insurance covered DH and ds cancelling too

If it's a bank one like The Nationwide it should be easy to find online as it's not tailored to you.

Taking her will be seen as selfish by some.

Leaving her will be seen as selfish by some.

The whole family missing out will be seen as selfish by some.

Taking the whole family on a luxury holiday in a developing country, on the frontline of the climate crisis and with a mixed human rights record, will be seen as selfish by some.

Call your travel insurance and ask them how they wish you to proceed. You won’t be able to claim without a Doctor’s letter confirming your DD is too sick to fly so you’ll need to call the GP immediately and get an appointment, they might be able to do it online with a video all.

They might say that the rest of you need to go on holiday and re-book a flight for your DD to join you in a few days as that would be cheaper for them.

You need to find the policy as you will need the account number to call/claim. You should always have it in a safe place for this very situation.

Have you got the PDF on your phone or a printout as you would need it when you are away anyway

Usually you are covered for cancelling the trip because one of your travel companions can not go (for valid reasons) even if they are not one of the insured

Call them it's the fastest way to find out