Travel Insurance Advice

goingsenile

My travel insurance is providied as a e=benifit of my Halifx Ultimate Account. However it is for a maximum of 31 days (just found this our today by default) and I have just booked a trip to Australia next year for my daughter and myself for 35 days!

Spoke to them today to be able to upgrade it ( or whatever was required) to be told they can't!

So I now need a policy urgently to cover my already booked flights!

When I try to get a quote of a single trip, nothing is coming up- is there a limit of the number of days that can be covered by a single trip policy?

Also prior to having it through Halifax we have always had an annual policy so I can't remember when buying a single policy- is the start date the first day of your holiday or what. Does that cover you if you have to canel before etc

Thanks
AJ

huckster

Yes 31 days is normally the standard limit for single trips.

With some single trip policies, they can just add on the number of extra days cover required, for an additional premium.

Have a look at the Mondial assistance site which allows you to obtain a quote/cover online for a 35 day trip. There a 3 levels of cover available.

FH_Brit

First - I am not a great fan of theses "free" policies with bank accounts - normally they do not carry enough cover.

Second - AXA insure many of these - again I'm not their biggest fan! I have seen a lot of my customers fall foul of their after claim lack of service.

As I work (althoug in USA) dealing with foreign (mainly UK) visitors in Orlando, I have a great deal of experience with UK insuramnce companies and the best advice I can give anyone is use FORTIS insurance. You can buy it on-line or at any Post Office, they have great cover and the best company by far for their claims and customer service.

Astaroth

Cannot comment on Halifax's in particular but the insurance you get "free" with the top level fee paying current accounts does tend to be reasonably good. It is the ones you get with credit cards etc that tends to be fairly naff.

Of cause the big question is, given it is illegal to give uk insurance advice without FSA authorisation and ensuring you have checked demands & needs etc.... what is your FSA registration number FH Brit?

goingsenile

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
I've been happy so far with my policy with Halifax, the prob is it is only up to 31 days and I need 35.
So I'm away to look at annual policies
Thanks
AJ

FH_Brit

ASTAROTH -

a) I am in Florida, USA and therefore UK law is irelevant.

b) I am not in the business of giving insurance advice therefore my own opinion (what is what most give here) should be considered just that MY OPINION. - See my other posts I even tell people to "find out and don't beleive me"

c) in the same respect are you not giving insurance advice - you are in the UK? - where's your FSA number

Any view I give is from my own experiences as a medical debt collector and not as an insurance advisor. I know what insurer gives my customers good service and what company don't. YOU don't have to (or anyone) do as I suggest, any advice is a suggestion not an instruction, GOINGSENILE is, I am sure able to look at the insurance I suggested and make their own mind up.

jmon

hi, we went to florida in may and unfortunately my son had to go to the emergency room. I paid the bill in full that day and claimed back from our insurers when we got home. however, today we have received a letter from a debt collectors in switzerland claiming we owe an amount about four times the amount of the original bill. - we have never received an invoice for this and wonder whether the letter is even kosher. also due to the length of time and the fact that we have no invice am concerned that we will not be able to claim this money back. what do you think?

dacouch

Get on to your Insurers

huckster

Hi

Sounds like a scam. Just post it on to the Insurers that dealt with your claim and it is up to them what they do with it.

If you think about it. Why would they involve a Swiss debt recovery firm? The only issue I can possibly think of , is that the underwriters of your policy were Swiss and for whatever reason, they have written to you to put pressure on the underwriters to pay up.

FH_Brit

jmon - No it is NOT a scam - you probably went to Florida Hospital? (Kissimmee or Celebration I bet?) And the letter is from a company caled GRA? (Global Recovery Assets).

First contact GRA (or whoever the debt collectors are if my guess is wrong), give them your insurance details (Name, Address. Phone number and claim number) instruct them that they need to submit a claim to your insurers (this does not releive you from your legal obligation to the medical providers - you always will remain responsible for your medical debts).

If my guess is right you will have another bill (at least) from the Emergency Room doctors. If you did go to FH, then guess what, you might even get a letter from me personally too regarding the ER Doctors bill!

Contact your insurers and inform them that you have received the letter, if they need it they'll instruct you to send it to them. Always keep copies for yourself.

It is your legal rwesponsibility to follow up with your insurers and make sure they pay the medical providers in a prompt manner (140 days under Florida Law from the submittion of a valid claim) and you could face further action from the debt collectors if your bill remains outstanding. (Please remember I do NOT work for this company and I cannot say what their policy is - there is nothing stopping them taking action immediately)

Huckster - It has nothing to do with the underwriters - Florida Hospital chose to use GRA and they have for many years - GRA have an office in UK (Liverpool I think) and another here in Florida (probably a few others too) The question perhaps you should ask yourself is why should they not use a Swiss company? It is all down to value for money and the recovery rate that the debt collectors actually acheive for the hospital/medical provider.