Very ill on holiday can I claim ?

Missmarple

Hi, I hope someone has some advice.
My husband and I recently went on a cruise, it was totally ruined because I came down with pneumonia, only just been told that by my gp because I am still ill two weeks later after returning.
I saw the ships doctor 7 times, I received a nebulizer twice, antibiotics and lots of meds. My husband was also very ill with similar and visited the doctor with me.
We couldn't eat in the restaurant, dragged ourselves around on the trips with sympathy from fellow passangers, missed trips and spent most of our time in the cabin.
I have put in a claim for the medical expenses and to give the doctor his due he only charged one consultation fee each even though he saw us 7 times. The only evidence of this is written on the receipt saying follow up and the dates. I was having a moan with a family member and feeling very sorry for myself and she said why don't you claim for a ruined holiday.

Does anyone know if this is possible ? this holiday was a gift as I won a medical claim for my sister and she is now going to be supported for the rest of her life. I put in a lot of work and feel really miffed and sorry for myself still being ill.

Moan, moan, cough, cough

rs65

My travel insurance doesn't have any part that would cover this.

lisyloo

I have a very good policy (as it's a business one).
I don't believe there is anything on my policy that would cover this either.
If the holiday had to be altered, curtailed, cancelled then that would be covered, but you were actually there although I fully understand you weren't able to enjoy it.

Check your policy but I can't see anything in mine that cover me for illness spoiling my holiday unless actually in hospital or having to cancel.

I would check your policy and/or call your insurer to check.
I would also suggest next time trying to get some "evidence" as insurance companies will always want this if they pay out.

Very sorry about this and I think it's worth checking.

phill99

In the time its taken you to type your post, you could have called your insurers and found out.

lisyloo

In the time its taken you to type your post, you could have called your insurers and found out.

True, but there are a number of reasons why people post on here.
For example some people may find telephone access difficult at work.
Also the advice here is not from a vested interest where the insurer has a strong vested interest in NOT paying, so there are quite good reasons why people ask here beyond laziness.
The OP probably expects a simple fob off if they call the insurer, that's why I personally prefer to check the paperwork, but not everyone keeps it.

maninthestreet

So you both got pneumonia?? I would be worried the ship's hot water system was harbouring legionnaires disease! Any other passengers have the same problem?

InsideInsurance

I am highly surprised that you were allowed out of your cabins let alone on any trips if you had any form of infection let alone a serious one like pneumonia. The few times I have been on a cruise boat the second the crew get wind that you may have an infection you are put into isolation along with anyone sharing your cabin.

Travel insurance is, with almost no exceptions, there to ensure you do not suffer financial loss. It is not an insurance against having a bad time. As you were advised to continue the holiday rather than curtail it you would almost certainly only be able to claim for the medical treatment you received but check your policy to make absolutely sure.

Missmarple

maninthestreet wrote: »

So you both got pneumonia?? I would be worried the ship's hot water system was harbouring legionnaires disease! Any other passengers have the same problem?

When I joined the ship I had a slight cough, nothing more than a tickle really. I don't think it was anything to do with what I caught on the ship although the air con in the cabin was horrendous and could not be switched off or down. After a couple of days onboard everything went quickly downhill. I got worse and worse and my husband developed a cough and cold. He never became as ill as me even though he has asthma. I think perhaps I had bronchitus or something that turned into pneumonia. It was only back in the UK my GP said what it was.
The doctor on the ship was from the Ukraine, the ship left from Newcastle (close to scotland). The doctor actually asked me if I had been to Edinburgh, I guess they were looking out for it with many passengers being from there. I didn't know at the time legionnaires was pneumonia.

noh

I didn't know at the time legionnaires was pneumonia.

It isn't.
Nor is pneumonia infectious as suggested by another poster.

http://www.blf.org.uk/conditions/detail/pneumonia?gclid=CMCuuqyL-7ACFUff4AodOQ05HA

InsideInsurance

noh wrote: »

Nor is pneumonia infectious as suggested by another poster.

First of all, where does that article state it isnt infectious? In fact it does encourage good hygiene... whilst that is generally good practice anyway it would suggest there is risk of infection as would the fact it can be a bacterial infection.

Secondly, I doubt the ship would have done either a chest x-ray nor any microbiology to give a diagnosis, in fact the OP stated it was their GP afterwards that said it was.

The ship doctor would have been presented with someone with a fever, shortness of breath and cough etc which could be one of a number of different chest infections many of which could be infectious enough to be concerned when you are in the exceptionally close quarters that you have on a cruise ship.

On the last cruise in Egypt they were even confining people to quarters who had been sick even though it was very evident it was due to alcohol consumption and not infection just in case it was something like the norovirus (though personally would have done it to discourage the few larger lout types that were there anyway )

lisyloo

I didn't know at the time legionnaires was pneumonia.

Don't believe everything you read :-)
It sounds like you had something before you got on the ship, so I don't think going down the route of compensation from the ship sounds likely.

So sorry to hear about it, but I'm afraid there isn't always someone to get compensation from even if you are insured.
I'm sure your friend was well meaning but not necessarily well informed.
It looks like the dividing line for insurance is actually leaving the holiday.