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Travel insurance dilemma

6 replies

Mascarponeandwine · 12/03/2019 22:49

I purchased travel insurance last year, just after booking our summer holiday for this year. My son subsequently had surgery for a new condition that was unrelated to previous medical history and couldn’t have been known at the time of booking the holiday or taking out the insurance. I phoned the insurer and told them, they said cover was now declined for that condition. I asked what the point was of taking our insurance early if we were not covered for unforeseen events. They faffed a bit and eventually they reluctantly said they might consider a claim for cancellation.

Thing is, we need to pay the balance of the holiday a month before his (hopefully) final follow up outpatient appointment. So do we pay this while cover for the surgery is still declined? Surely we would not be insured for the balance paid, as we are aware of the medical history.

On the other hand, son is now well and has recovered from the surgery (one off diagnosis, can’t happen again and will fully recover). So I don’t want to cancel, and then we’re all sitting around in the summer perfectly well, wishing we could have a holiday. We’d never be able to afford last minute prices in the school holidays.

I wonder whether to go ask a gp. But then we’re taking up an appointment that someone ill might need.

Any advice?

OP posts:
thenightsky · 12/03/2019 22:57

But surely yearly insurance should cover illness. Like if you fell and broke your leg for example would be covered and also classed as unforeseen. What's the point of insurance if it doesn't cover unforeseen events? Confused

Martin Lewis covered this a few weeks ago on his money show. It might be on catch up still.

prh47bridge · 13/03/2019 08:38

Lodge a complaint with the insurer. You have taken out insurance to cover unforseen events. Now there has been an unforseen event they are trying to wriggle out of covering you. If the insurer rejects your complaint, take it to the Financial Ombudsman.

PestoSnowissimos · 13/03/2019 08:47

Read the terms & conditions. With yearly travel insurance you normally do have to notify them if any further medical conditions arise before you travel and they do reserve the right to either increase the premium to cover said condition OR just not cover that condition.

Mascarponeandwine · 13/03/2019 08:59

It’s a single trip policy, just covers the one holiday, and has cancellation cover. I took it out a year in advance!

Insurer is well known for covering medical issues, and often recommended on here.

I think we’ll be fine to actually go, the consultant is more than likely going to say fine when we see him end of May and probably discharge ds. We had to fight to get a follow up appointment in the first place! But if we pay the balance a month before this, I feel like we’re “risking it”.

Perhaps I should ask for the premium back or something?

OP posts:
Mascarponeandwine · 13/03/2019 09:01

I’m expecting a premium increase. Had this before, they charged £12 because another of my children had antibiotics for an ear infection 6 months before travelling Shock. So I’ll grudgingly accept that.

But to be in this catch 22 doesn’t seem fair.

OP posts:
Jon65 · 13/03/2019 11:02

As pp said, raise a written complaint and if you are not satisfied take to the financial ombudsman. The rules for ombudsman complaints can be found on their website.

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