AIBU to expect we won’t get our money back? Tenerife...

[EnglishRain]

Meant to fly out on Saturday. I’m pregnant and my midwife and GP have said not to go, because they just don’t know enough about how it may impact pregnant women. I feel as though I should do as I’m told, but am quite gutted! Our hotel is the sister hotel to the quarantined one, about 15 mins away from it. DH is being optimistic and thinks we might get some money back, seeing as my GP is filling in a medical cert to say they’ve advised I don’t go.

So what do you think?

YANBU - of course the insurance won’t cough up
YABU - you may be in with some luck...

I wasn't able to declare my pregnancy on my travel insurance when I went to Boston in 2018. I phoned them and they said I was covered for any complications e.g. miscarriage (I was 9 weeks).

There's no need to declare a pregnancy on insurance.

To answer the original question I think you've got no chance of getting your money back. Unless the government advises that you don't travel to a country then there will be no pay out because you chose not to go.

They may suggest you don't go but unless the Foreign office say don't travel to Tenerife then you will not get your money back.

I've always had to declare pregnancy when flying pregnant. And at later stages of pregnancy have had to go with specific companies that insure later into pregnancy, as some seem not to.

I'd imagine they'll use any excuse possible, such as it not being declared, to get out of paying out, but I hope for your sake that they look kindly on you! I'd not be going, even if it meant losing all the money.

To add I've got friends on holiday in Tenerife just now and from their photos it looks like they are having a great time.

I went on holidau when pregnant and called up before buying the insurance to tell them and enquire. They said there is no need to inform them as it is not a medical condition.

If your doctor writes to advise you don't travel, I would think this is a good reason to make an insurance claim.

Just seen other messages. That's so weird! Every time I've flown pregnant I've been able to declare it. Or expected to declare it. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong places for standard insurance!

Looks like if your travel insurance doesn't treat pregnancy as a medical condition so you don't have to declare it, you might not get your money back if you decide not to travel due to being pregnant as it is not a medical condition.

You should get tour money back - you’ve been told not to travel for medical reasons.

I was looking at my insurance policy last night and mine says if a doctor tells you not to go, you are covered. That is with Nationwide's policy.

There is no government advice at present against travelling to Tenerife. You are not unfit to travel but understandably you have decided not to travel.

I’m surprised your GP is filling the form in. unless travel is to a high risk area as per the gov.uk advice it is purely choice not necessity that travel is being cancelled.

Hi OP, I know someone else who had a similar thing the other day - insurance wouldn't pay more than a % to cancel but did let them change the booking to something much cheaper (flight within UK) and refund the difference. Was a long negotiating process apparently but might be worth a try!

We have an annual policy with our bank and booked a holiday while I was pregnant. I called the insurer to make sure I was covered or if I needed additional cover and they said I needed no additional cover unless there were known medical complications with my pregnancy, and that some airlines want a note to say you are fit to fly after a certain gestation. No one here can tell you for sure OP

When DH had a severe ear infection and was told in writing not to travel by a qualified doctor, the travel insurance pressured the airline to postpone his flight. If your GP is prepared to write a letter saying you shouldn't take the risk the insurance should take notice. But expect an argument.

I have travel insurance for a trip later this year, booked when pregnant. Mine says that you don’t need to tell them you’re pregnant. I won’t be covered for standard pregnancy things (like giving birth!) but anything classed as pregnancy complications will be covered. If your insurance was similar I’d assume it depends on how your doctors note is phrased tbh. If they write it with an emphasis on coronavirus then I’d guess no...

I'd listen to your doctors over strangers on the internet... She's not, she's asking if we think insurance will pay out ...

Think it will depend on how the insurance company will define medical complication and whether coronavirus counts as you haven't actually contracted it.

Would look like if you do travel whilst pregnant and you are reasonably close to due date it would be good to get pregnancy travel insurance so you are actually covered for the birth!

The government says no restrictions. I doubt you’ll get your money back, but what’s most important to you?
There’s no restrictions, no advice to stay home, the only cases have been isolated to one hotel.

I would doubt it, your medical advice is based on external conditions, not on your pregnancy.

I guess I don't understand.
7 people in Tenerife got covid19.
51 ppl in UK have covid19.
OP is not in UK or any country with at least 7 cases, right? That's why she thinks Tenerife is so dangerous, right?

Having looked at the Ts and Cs again, I can't imagine I would be covered if I did go and got unwell, because it says I shouldn't go if I have medical advice not to. So I don't really have a choice do I? I can't go...this is why it's annoying that they can't tell me anything until they process the paperwork. I could have gotten the names changed and let someone else go if they definitely wouldn't pay out...

@ragged see most recent post. I've been medically advised not to travel, and therefore seemingly if I go, my cover will be invalid.

I shouldn't have to justify myself, but for what it's worth this baby has been three years and two miscarriages in the making. Had my 12w scan the day I got my letter to say my funding for IVF had been approved. Considering my GP and midwife have said not to go, I'm going to listen to them. I am peeved don't get me wrong, I haven't had a beach holiday since 2013.

If your doctor is willing to certify that you shouldn't go (and it sounds like she is) then your insurance might pay out. As others have said it depends on your policy. My insurance paid out when my son got ill and I stayed at home with him even though he wasnt travelling with us. We just needed a doctor to certify he was in hospital for us.

Then let us know what your insurance says.
I would get the medical instructions in writing, if you want a chance to successfully claim.