Travel Insurance Claim. Is this right?

stormrogue

I have recently been on a trip to Florida and had the misfortune of losing my medication (Insulin for type Diabetes) which I had declared and took out insurance covering my condition. Due to losing my Insulin I had to visit a hospital and see a doctor who would then provide me with a prescription for new insulin which I could then get from a pharmacy. Whilst at the hospital I called the number on my insurance form rgarding making a claim and passed on al relevant info to them. When I got back from the holiday I had a letter from the insurers claims settlement agency who have rejected my claim because as I lost my medication they say this then comes under valuables and not as a medical emergency. As I didnt have valuables covered they have rejected the claim. I have appealed twice back to them and both times they just refer to my medication is classified as valuables as per my policy ( this is news to me) and surely if this is the case then surely I should have had valuables on the policy I was sold. My last chance is going to the finacial ombudsman to see if I can get my claim paid. If they are correct then the policy I took out was not worth the paper it was printed on. As yet I have paid $100 (£70) deposit ($582 for consultation to get prescription) and $215 (£151) for my medication at the pharmacy and the hospital is now asking me for the remainder of the consultation charge. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LeeSouthEast

Without knowing who the insurer was and then looking at their terms and conditions, it's a bit of an unanswerable question unfortunately.

stormrogue

My insurer is Columbus direct and although I didnt have valuables covered to keep the cost of the cover down there is nowhere saying that medication is classed as valuables. Surely if they are covering me for a medical condition and this is the standard process ( medication being classed as valuables ) then I should have been made aware of this. I havent spoken to Columbus as the claims settlement agency are independently used by them for claims so I have only gone through the agency.

stormrogue

I have been through the policy wording of the travel insurance booklet and spoken to the insurer Columbus Direct who helped me find the piece of info that is al important to my claim that in definitions under valuables the very last item is prescribed medication. The guy did agree with me though when I said that as they have a set list of questions they ask you when you enquire about pre existing medical conditions there is not one bit where they say "by the way any medication is classed as valuables so make sure you account for this".

Quentin

Insurance policies run to many pages, and reading every word of them over the phone is impractible.

You say your policy was worthless, but you should have checked yourself at the time the policy docs arrived, when you could have cancelled for a refund.

LeeSouthEast

Sorry, I ended up dashing out to a funeral before you had replied. As noted by Quentin, always always always read the small print. It's there you find demons..