Travel Insurance and Swine flu

dzug1

Interesting 'difference of views' on Moneybox on R4 on Saturday:

ABTA guy - most insurance policies will not cover you for cancellation as a result of this

Insurance guy (Association of British Insurers???) - most insurance policies will cover you


Moral - it pays to check. Don't believe glib assertions.

corbyboy

Surely it depends on the reason why your holiday's been cancelled and who you have booked with (ie. whether you have booked a package holiday)

If you decide you don't fancy your chances but the flight and holiday are still proceeding as normal you would not be able to claim this from your insurance company.

If the Government has told travel companies not to fly to Mexico and your holiday has therefore been cancelled by your holiday company, you wouldn't even need to claim off your insurance. The holiday company will give you a refund or postpone to a later date.

As far as I know people who have had their holidays cancelled so far have not even needed to claim from their insurers.

But of course as dzug1 mentioned, always check with your insurer. There is always the infamous "act of God" clause that the insurance company can wheel out.

pedro123456

Well…yes interesting subject here, this is my take on it.

ABI (association of British Insurers) minders if you like for Insurance companies, their role is to “protect” their members, and 90% of IC’s are indeed members.

There are many highly paid individuals within the ABI, and of course IC’s pay “contributions” to the ABI so that they can look after their interests,

As well as protection for the IC’s the ABI also act as “press offices”, in that they put a positive spin on every negative aspect within the insurance Industry.

Now, if payments are paid back by Travel agents no doubt the ABI will take credit for it, while trying to promote and spin their latest campaign to “Help Boost Public Confidence” in Insurance products………………………..

Forget it ABI that door has already shut along with Public Confidence in banking………..

Well that My opinion like and I would like to hear other opinions.

Pete

FH_Brit

dzug1 wrote: »

Interesting 'difference of views' on Moneybox on R4 on Saturday:

ABTA guy - most insurance policies will not cover you for cancellation as a result of this

Insurance guy (Association of British Insurers???) - most insurance policies will cover you


Moral - it pays to check. Don't believe glib assertions.

ABTA = Assoc of British Travel AGENTS - NOT INSURERS
I have always said Travel Agents should stick to what they are supposed to do sell travel tickets & hotels, and leave the specialised stuff (insurance) to insurance specialists (Brokers)! Travel agents are often more trouble than their worth as far as insurance is concerned

FH_Brit

corbyboy wrote: »

Surely it depends on the reason why your holiday's been cancelled and who you have booked with (ie. whether you have booked a package holiday)

If you decide you don't fancy your chances but the flight and holiday are still proceeding as normal you would not be able to claim this from your insurance company.

If the Government has told travel companies not to fly to Mexico and your holiday has therefore been cancelled by your holiday company, you wouldn't even need to claim off your insurance. The holiday company will give you a refund or postpone to a later date.

As far as I know people who have had their holidays cancelled so far have not even needed to claim from their insurers.

But of course as dzug1 mentioned, always check with your insurer. There is always the infamous "act of God" clause that the insurance company can wheel out.

Ahh! as you say above, if the GOVERNMENT tell them not to fly then it is not the airline that cancelled it's the Government's fault, I doubt if the airline would be responsible. The Government would consider the damage to travel industry (cost of claims and lost revenue etc) before a compulsory ban is issued.

corbyboy

FH_Brit wrote: »

Ahh! as you say above, if the GOVERNMENT tell them not to fly then it is not the airline that cancelled it's the Government's fault, I doubt if the airline would be responsible. The Government would consider the damage to travel industry (cost of claims and lost revenue etc) before a compulsory ban is issued.

But it's not quite as simple as that.

At the moment the Government says you shouldn't travel to Mexico. But that doesn't mean you are not allowed to travel to Mexico. Therefore if a holiday company cancels your holiday now, it's NOT the Government who have cancelled your holiday, it's the travel company.

If the Government BANS flights to Mexico that is a different story. But that's not the situation we are currently in.

FH_Brit

[Devil's Advocate here]
Ok - Let me clarify - the Government are not saying "you shouldn't travel to Mexico" as you put it, the FCO is "Advising against non urgent travel" to certain countries and that's not mandatory, that's why it is called an advisory. The government are actually stopping claims (finacial/political etc) as they can say "we told you not to go, and you did, now your I'll don't blame the Government"!!! (simplifying)

But, put yourself in the Airline's executive's possition. You are not responsibe for taking people to a country that's under an FCO "advisory" or their health, the passengers are responsible for obtaing insurance against such risks. The pasengers have that decision to make for themselves (until it becomes mandatory). However as an airline executive you are responsible for profits and not allowing the company to go broke by having your aircaft sitting on the ground costing you money and not selling any tickets. Do you think any airline would cancel on you? I don't think so, unless they were forced.

But also bear in mind you may have to deal with more than one government (fuel stops, changing flights, or even using their air space) so not only is it to do with FCO decision.

the bottom line - YOU should insure YOURSELF against any loss YOU may incurr (financial or otherwise) the airline have no obligation to carry insurance for YOU - they may insure themselves against any action you may bring and they may even settle claims just because it is cheaper than to fight the case, but they have no legal obligation to insure YOU.

birtley1

I am travelling to US soon and when asked ins company if covered against swine flu was told underwriters would not cover me.Any advice

FH_Brit

Look at a different policy! - Have you bought it yet?
If so when (are you within the "right to cancel period or not?)
Where in US are you going?

birtley1

FH_Brit wrote: »

Look at a different policy! - Have you bought it yet?
If so when (are you within the "right to cancel period or not?)
Where in US are you going?

Have existing policy,just thought I'd check if covered.If I had'nt contacted company would never have known that I was'nt covered.Off tO Dalla

FH_Brit

Who is your insurer?
Now though - I just thought (rare!) when you say you are not covered, do you mean for medical if you catch it or for trip cancellation if they stop flying there?
Trouble with Dallas, in Texas, just over the Mexican border!!! you will be too near the outbreak area, if you were comming here to Florida - we only have 3 cases!