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.

Would you seriously leave your 19 yr old at home alone with a fever unable to get out of bed to bugger off to the Maldives? Someone I know died from flu (well technically sepsis but started off as flu) at the age of 30, so it can be pretty serious.

You confused chicken pox for flu? How?

Because many diseases/illness present with flu-like symptoms before other symptoms show up eg chicken pox blisters

Woke up on the day of the outbound flight not feeling well. Thought it was flu so dosed up on paracetamol for 3 days. Felt better but some small spots then appeared and I wondered if they were insect bites. Mentioned it to a travel companion and she said it sounded like chickenpox. Tour manager arranged a doctor who confirmed CP. Not allowed to continue with the tour because CP is contagious. Left behind at hotel. Not allowed to fly home because contagious. Had to wait a few days until doctor would certify no longer contagious before the insurance people would arrange homeward travel.

Oh, and another lesson learned: although the telephone helpline was staffed 24 hours a day, the medically qualified staff didn't work 7 days a week. It was a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK and I think I phoned them on the Saturday to say I had the doctor's letter that I was fit to fly. They told me there was no one there to approve it and to phone back on Tuesday! Bugger that - I made my own travel arrangements to rejoin the tour party and finish the rest of the tour.

Check your policy and ring them if needed, only your insurer can answer. Get it in writing.

Yes, this. We were refunded the full cost of our holiday after I was sick with gallstones. The GP gave me a letter confirming I couldn’t travel.

You need to call them and ask…