Volcano insurance invalid

daveyjp

Simon Calder was on the news today - a lot of airlines are conveniently foregetting their obligations. Keep all receipts and sue as soon as you get home.

socks_uk

I'm stranded in California (at my sister's house, so not so bad) and I should have travelled home Friday 16th April. My travel insurance with Direct line was due to expire Saturday 17th April - when I should have been back home in UK. I have rung them and they said to keep receipts to claim back (£20 a day) and they have extended the insurance for 7 days.
Now the tricky part. I specifically paid for a policy with existing medical conditions as I have an ovarian cyst for which I have/had (no flights so won't be there) an appointment at the gynaecologist on Tuesday. I am booked on a flight on Saturday 24th April - the earliest, if it goes ahead, but what if it doesn't? and what if I have a medical emergency here in America with an expired travel insurance. Also, I take 2 different blood pressure tablets - also covered under my policy. I did bring a months supply but we don't know how long this will go on for... I need to think about finding out how to getting another prescription before the extended period of my travel insurance.

I know this volcano thing is an unusual situation for millions of people to be in but I don't want to be without travel medical insurance - just in case. Does anyone know if the insurance company should insure me until I arrive back in UK? It sounds like they won't.

dacouch

As a general rule Travel Insurers will extend cover when there are delays that are out of your control. So I would be surprised if DL will not extend your cover, the answer is for you to contact them and ask them.

I doubt they will pay for your prescription medicine as the policy covers for medical emergencies not for obtaining prescription medicines. If the lack of medicines caused a medical emergency then DL would normally cover for the medical emergency assuming you have declared all of the existing medical conditions

Debras_Angel

I got my insurance (single trip) with Allclear (Firstassist) as I needed pre med cover. I was due out to Barbados today and called them yetserday and they confirmed immediately that if I didn't get a refund on my accomodation if there was a cancellation then they would give me a full refund on confirmation from the holiday company.

I have managed to move the dates to the 28th April for the start of the holiday and they have also moved my insurance cover with no extra 'admin costs'.

My holiday is with Virgin Holidays/Airlines and they have been very helpful in trying to sort me out.

They have requested the hotel accomodation and if we don't get the same hotel/deal we can cancell everything and get a full refund.

Sounds like we are fortunate compared to some people.

I have been with Halifax who are also underwritten by Firstassist, for approx 7 years with pre med conditions but this year they wouldn't cover my pre meds and put me on to Allclear their sister company.

So if you have no premed conditions and want a decent company for next time, you may want to consider them.

However I know FHBrit swears by Fortis (Post Office), and they have also confirmed they will pay out.

Good Luck to all those people who are stuck abroad, at least we were at home.

Cheers

Debs

jamiewalton76

jamesn wrote: »

I'm stuck abroad and my insurer (underwritten by Europ Assistance) will not provide any cover under any of their policies.

Just contacted my insurer unwritten by the same firm. They didnt even look into my policy, simply advised that they don't insure losses incurred due to natural disasters.

Didnt care one jot, just transfered me through to another department which was closed costing me extra money in telephone calls which they also do not refund.

alvinlwh

I was stung once by buying the cheapest travel insurance possible and am very careful about it now. I paid extra for "Comprehensive Cover" and this is what the booklet says:

section 11 – catastrophes and natural disasters

This section is applicable to Comprehensive cover only.

What is covered

We will pay You up to £500 should You be forced to move from Your pre-paid accommodation as a result of fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, medical epidemic, or the local or national government directive for the following:

a. the cost of alternative accommodation of a similar standard to that You have booked if You have been advised by Your tour operator, hotelier or the local authority to leave Your booked accommodation

b. necessary additional travelling expenses incurred so You can continue Your Trip.

What is not covered

1. The first £50 of each and every claim per incident claimed for under this section by each Insured Person.

2. Any expense following Your disinclination to travel or to continue with Your Trip when official directives from the local authorities state that it is safe to do so.

3. Any event that was publicised prior to Your departure from the United Kingdom.

4. Any costs incurred by You which are recoverable from Your tour operator, hotel, airline, company providing the accommodation, or other provider of services for which You receive or are expected to receive compensation or reimbursement.

5. Any costs which You would have expected to pay during Your Trip.

6. Anything mentioned in the general exclusions on page 8.

jamesn_2

I have "catastrophe cover" in the same terms as you. It does not cover this situation because the acommodation is not affected.

rufus31

Hi
Anyone out there likely to receive a payout from Europ Assistance or still hasn't had their claim paid following the Iceland volcano?
Thanks