Any travel insurance experts

[jenkel]

Really surprised about something, any experts on travel insurance out there. My parents have booked a cruise and paid for a travel insurance policy at the same time, about 4 months ago. In the last week Mum has been diagnosed with breast cancer, sounds easily treatable and she is awaiting a small op in the next couple of weeks, the drs are happy for her to go on the cruise which is booked for June so plenty of time to get over it They both have pacemakers which they have told the insurance company. They have told the travel insurance company about the recent breast cancer diagnosis and they were told that they are going to have to now pay a considerable premium, like £4000 more, but if she has treatment before she goes it may come down a little bit, but not told how much it would come down by. Is this correct, this really does not sound correct to me, though I am no expert on insurance. This was not a pre existing condition that she had when they took out the insurance. This just sounds so wrong to me. It’s all a bit time critical as they have to pay the remaining balance on the holiday soon and really don’t want to have to pay out another £4000 just for travel insurance especially as by the time they go the breast cancer will be all treated and dealt with, simple lumpectomy and no other treatment.

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance/travel-insurance/change-in-health

Yes if you have significant changes in health you have to tell the insurance and they can ask for
an increased premium as your health has changed. However if they choose to no longer provide cover they have to pay for total cost of the trip.

I would do a quick search, what is a new policy cost? Will anyone cover them?

I have a feeling they pushing it to make them cancel so they don’t have to pay out the full cost of the trip. Gather your info, go back to them and if you feel this is the case put in a complaint to the ombudsman. Communicate with email if possible for paper chains not by telephone.

That doesn't sound right to me. Where in the world is the Cruise?

I agree she'll probably recover quickly from a lumpectomy but what's treatment after that? Is chemo or radio therapy likely?

If your Mother is unfit to travel by June then she'll have to cancel and, as the condition was not known at booking, the insurer will have to pay out. The whole point of insurance is that the insurer assumes a risk and pays out if that risk crystalises. If her Consultant is prpepared to say she's OK to travel in June then that's fine.

EDIT - now seen the FSO page above which says they can increase the premium. Agree though about shopping around.

I'd suggest contacting the Cancer charity Macmillan. They've a pretty clued up advice team on financial matters.

Don’t know the answer but is pretty shitty.
I have had to call up and pay a premium for stuff that came up healthwise between getting the insurance and going away but it was quite small (very minor though).

it might sadly be the best thing to cancel the cruise, get the money back and then book again once things are clearer. If dealt with in a straightforward way as you hope, then the extra premium shouldn’t be too much, it’s the “uncertainty” that insurers apparently can’t deal with

I would cancel the cruise now. Currently the travel insurance should cover that as its the diagnosis (unknown at the time of booking) that causes the requirement to cancel.
It is right that the price increases if your parents choose to continue with the cruise and the risk (currently unknown and depends on the op/recovery).
Just rebook once the op is all done with.

Hope it all goes well with the op/recovery for your DM.

I was in a similar position once. My DDad was diagnosed terminally ill 2 weeks before my holiday. The insurer would pay out for cancellation before holiday but would not cover if I had to travel home in an emergency as I was choosing to travel with the risk of it happening.