Travel insurance and the death of a parent

thestens

My husband and I have an expensive holiday booked in February. We are looking for travel insurance but are worried about whether it will pay out if we have to cancel due to the death or illness of a parent. My mum is 92, in a care home and although she isn't ill, she is bedridden and immobile. My husband's father is 90 and although he is still living independently and driving, he has diabetes and has had heart attacks in the past ( probably 10 years ago now). Obviously at their age, they could either become ill or die and we would need to cancel the trip. Will they be classed as having pre existing conditions and will the insurance refuse to pay? If so, is there any way round it?
Also can anyone recommend a good worldwide annual policy? We haven't had to think about this before as we have been covered by a bank account policy but we have now changed our bank.

Quentin

thestens wrote: »

My mum is 92, in a care home and although she isn't ill, she is bedridden and immobile. My husband's father is 90 and although he is still living independently and driving, he has diabetes and has had heart attacks in the past ( probably 10 years ago now). ....... Will they be classed as having pre existing conditions and will the insurance refuse to pay? If so, is there any way round it?
.

You are mistaken - both these people clearly have pre existing conditions.


If their deaths are related in any way to their existing conditions then no insurer will pay out, and there's no "way round it".


(You needed your insurance in place from the day you booked this expensive holiday - you could be run over by a bus at any time)

SuperHan

It was some time ago, but I have family who were able to cancel a holiday and have it repaid by the insurers when their nephews existing condition got considerably worse.

I think the insurer was M&S, but I could be wrong, and this was at least 5 years ago, so their T&Cs may have changed, but it was possible to have insurance to cover travel where family members became more ill.

Goldiegirl

My mum died in 2008, the day before I was due to go on holiday.

She lived in a care home and had dementia, and her death was partly related to her dementia

The insurers paid out on my claim for the cancellation, with no problems or quibbles.

I was insured with M&S.

I imagine the best thing you can do is carefully read all the conditions to see what is and isn't covered, and ask the insurers exactly what situations they cover regarding the death of a close relative.

You get what you pay for - M&S might not be the cheapest, but they paid out when we needed them to, with no fuss or bother