Florida Medical & Travel Insurance Info B4 You Go!

FH_Brit

themaccas wrote: »

This is really interesting, we have an bank account that gives free annual worldwide travel insurance (Halifax) it was one of the main reasons we took the account. I have looked at the policy and it seems very good and I am happy with the cover overall but do these type of policies pay out ok? We are off to Boston USA later this year and were relying on this policy to cover us.

EDIT: Just found out the policy is administered by FirstAssist Insurance Services Limited and
underwritten by Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC.

Sure these policies can be very good value - makes sure you read the exclusions and be sure (for USA) you have $1m+ medical cover and that you are covered for medical repatriation - if not get additional cover.

FH_Brit

Stillsmiling wrote: »

Found it!!

The Underwriter is Forsakringsaktiebolaget Viator (part of the American Express group of companies), and ACE European Group Ltd who will provide the insurance benefits

described in this booklet.

But your assistance compny may still be AXA !!!
(I answered these in order and I did not know your actual Policy untill later - see below answer in reference to First Assist.

FH_Brit

Leigh-Anne_60 wrote: »

Sorry FH, just seen your reply
Im sure this probably went on years ago... but today it wouldn't happen, Insurers just couldnt/wouldnt get away with it.

I must admit i have only worked for the one company,- so can only vouch for them. But with all the regulation & 'TCF' these days cant see it happening.

People forget to declare PEMC's all the time...... Not to fool or defraud the insurer, just through naivity or plain old forgetfulness..... Cant then decline an unrelated claim because of it?

You may have worked for one company - I deal with litterally thousands, day in day out, I am sure the 250+ customers of mine that are paying off their medical bills on a monthly basis (many for non disclosure) would dissagree. People rarely "forget" PEMC, after all in many cases they are taking regular or even daily medication for the PEMC (cant really forget you have it when you "take a pill" every day) what it usually means is that people fail tor read the conditions of their policy and do not realize they should declare a PEMC - until they find out the hard way!

Put it this way if you were in business and you found a contractual "way out" of paying a large bill, then you probably would do the same! Experience shows - these companies will not pay if they find a legal way out!

FH_Brit

First assist are good, however I could not find "Ultimate Policy" only Essential, Select & Prestige - all use Axa Assist - hopefully you guys have a better policy through the underwriters. First Assist I have dealt with many times (with other policies - BUPA, Royal SunAlliance, Bank of Scotland) and have never had any real problems.

FH_Brit

lauraandclive wrote: »

I know, I've just read through the policy! We're young(ish), getting married on Friday and going on our honeymoon on Sunday... By which I mean we've got a million things to think about, and getting travel insurance was one thing I've ticked off of the list. I appreciate your comment, and I am now aware of that fact. Better to have a high excess than no insurance at all!!!!

Thanks x

Exactly right, and if you cannot afford huge premiums then a higher excess is the right way to economize (sorry US spelling!) rather than buy a "cheap & nasty" policy.

Good luck & best wishes

themaccas

Thanks FH, I have checked and First Assist cover gives us £10m for medical and repatriation with only a £50 excess so cover looks fine.

FH_Brit

lauraandclive wrote: »

Just posting to 'tag' thread. We're also insured with Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC through OUL Direct so would like to know FH Brit has any thoughts on them. TIA.

Considering all the chat above - I looked further into Great Lakes, they are part of Munich Re group and MARP London - both excelent reputation as far as I am concerned - they are authorised with the Financial Services Authority which is always a good thing (it gives you a regulatory body to deal with free of charge, should you have any dispute later).

You guys who are insured through this underwriter have no worries (as far as anyone can foresee that is).

FH_Brit

Leigh-Anne_60 wrote: »

You'll find this policy is more than adequate cover... and is not your typical 'freebie' policy... Thats assuming it is the Ultimate Reward account you have? Firstassist also have there own assistance company, which provide the assistance for lots of different insurers... FH any comments on them??

Yep - totally right (after I looked) - except one little correction - First Assist are an assistance company only they are not insurers and they are very good. Based near Croydon and I deal on a regular basis and again you are correct Leigh-Anne that they are good reputable company.

Leigh-Anne_60

FH_Brit wrote: »

Yep - totally right (after I looked) - except one little correction - First Assist are an assistance company only they are not insurers and they are very good. Based near Croydon and I deal on a regular basis and again you are correct Leigh-Anne that they are good reputable company.

Hiya FH

I must correct you, Firstassist are not only an Assistance co, they are also Insurance administrators..... Administer policies for quite a few High street names. They do not have the status of 'Insurance company' hence the underwriter Great Lakes - but do everything an insurance co would do (sales, servicing & claims)

LA

FH_Brit

First Assist ARE an assitance company (hence First ASSIST!) companies call themselves a lot of things, and they are all basically the same Administrators, Claims Services, Cost Containment etc. etc., they all are "assistance companies" there are many different "titles".

What you are saying is similar to a Bank or Building Society - they are still all financial insitutions, or Supermarkets, Retailers, etc. they are all Shops!

As for them not having an office in Croydon (in my posting I said "based NEAR Croydon" well according to the BT phone book Purley is a Croydon Postcode and just to split hairs YOU may know that they are in Purley but other people (without local knowledge) know Croydon more than Purley and as they are "next to" (almost joining each other less than a mile) I could have said South London, although they are in Surrey, does it REALLY matter?
1.
FirstAssist Group Ltd
Tel: (020) 8763 1550 - Text Number
32 High St, Purley, CR8 2AA - Map

AND their own website
http://www.first-assist.com/contact.aspx

Leigh-Anne please, this posting is designed to help people wiith problems and offer a short breif form of assistance to them, if you MUST keep "correcting" me - please stop splitting hairs and bear in mind ALL I state here is an easy guide, and I do not pretend to know ALL about EVERY policy that exists. If I do not know, I have resources at my disposal and will find out or check on what I have said, as the thread shows above and its a shame you don't see the responses of my customers.