Travel insurance possible claim help!

Joreg12

CoffeeandStitches wrote: »

Which insurer is it? Some companies will not cover any psychiatric or psychological condition at all under the policy, it is a general exclusion, which would mean no matter what the date is of the diagnosis or timeline of events, it simply wouldn't be covered in any circumstance.

It is Holidaysafe. My documents clearly state they will not cover existing mental conditions / stress etc. This was not an existing condition when I booked flights or started insurance. Hopefully I will feel better in a few weeks and be ok for my hols. In the pits of despair at the moment and panicking!

Quentin

If you decide to proceed with the holiday then you will need to find another insurer now as they are no longer prepared to cover you.

To be able to claim any cancellation costs off your present insurer you would need to cancel pretty much straight away.

Joreg12

Quentin wrote: »

If you decide to proceed with the holiday then you will need to find another insurer now as they are no longer prepared to cover you.

To be able to claim any cancellation costs off your present insurer you would need to cancel pretty much straight away.

Here's the wording of the addition to my policy after I declared my depression
"This means we will not accept any claims for cancellation charges raised after the date of your change in health, cutting short your trip, or for any emergency medical treatment caused by your pre-existing medical condition(s) whether they are made by yourself or by other people insured on your policy.
This will not affect your cover for other unexpected and unrelated medical emergencies or the protection provided by other sections of the policy such as personal possessions and money."

I do not want to cancel the trip yet as I am hanging on to the chance that I will be fit to travel in a few weeks. The above statement refers to the policy B which starts when I start he trip. It does not mention travel policy A which covers me before I go on the trip.
do you think I should call them to clarify about cancellation? I am a bit confused about cancelling now as how can I say I won't be fit to travel in 4 weeks time?

Quentin

You do need to get clarification. If you have two policies in force, what does your policy A say about conditions that arise before you travel?


But as your condition has arisen (for the first time ever) since you took out the policy in July, and the insurer now will not cover you for any claims as a result of the condition they should allow you to cancel the holiday now (not because you aren't fit but because you cannot be covered by them, and may not wish to travel without full cover in place) and pay you the cancellation costs.


In #6 you said you were putting in a claim now - what is that for?


If you want to risk it, and hope you can travel, then your current policy will still cover everything originally covered except anything to do with your psychiatric condition (including a last minute cancellation)

CoffeeandStitches

Joreg12 wrote: »

Here's the wording of the addition to my policy after I declared my depression
"This means we will not accept any claims for cancellation charges raised after the date of your change in health.........

So to me this reads:

We will pay for any unrecoverable monies paid up to and prior to the date of diagnosis.

We will not pay for any monies that became unrecoverable after the date of diagnosis.

For example:

Trip booked 01/01/2015 & Deposit paid of £1000
Change in health date 01/03/2015
Trip balance paid £2000 01/04/2015

The insurer would not cover for anything paid after the date of diagnosis, so you would only be able to claim for loss of deposit. Similarly, some trips have a cancellation scale, i.e. if you cancel 12 weeks before trip commences you get 90% costs back, 8 weeks before you would get 50%, 2 weeks before 20%. If this is the case, the insurer would only assume liability for cancellation costs us to the date of diagnosis, if they become higher between now and when you travel, they will not honor that money.

I don't know if either of the above circs. apply to you, but hopefully this will leave you a bit better informed about your choices.

Joreg12

We do not provide any cover for:
 Existing psychological conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders or mental instability unless declared to us and accepted in writing.

Their definition of any existing medical condition:

"any serious or recurring medical condition which has been previously diagnosed or been investigated or treated in any way, at any time prior to travel, even if this condition is currently considered to be stable and under control"

The latest email states that:
The policy wording does state that any change in health or new conditions must be declared to us, I can see on your policy that you did follow procedure however the condition was excluded which means we would be unable to cover any claims due to the depression.

So I am getting mixed messages.

1. i bought flights in January, annual insurance in July - no health problems
2. Diagnosed with psychological condition Nov - likely to not be fit to fly

Does anyone think I have a right to claim? So confused my head hurts..

System

Any serious or recurring medical condition which has been previously diagnosed or been investigated or treated in any way, at any time prior to travel, even if this condition is currently considered to be stable and under control"

I think the above covers it especially the bold

Joreg12

!!!!!! wrote: »

I think the above covers it especially the bold

Do you mean covers me for cancellation charges?

thanks

magpiecottage

Quentin wrote: »

No doubt this is factually correct.


But if you make a formal complaint and direct it as set out in the complaints procedure you can cut out any "misunderstanding" about whether your "expression of dissatisfaction" was taken to be actually a complaint or just "feedback" etc which companies are adept at using as an excuse for ignoring "complaints" and hoping they'll go away!


And it costs the same to direct a formal complaint to the destination set out in the complaints procedure as it does to any other address, but ensures (or should ensure) it lands on the right desk from the outset.

Possibly. However, if the OP has already told the insurer they are unhappy that is when the 8 weeks to resolve it started.

Joreg12

Have never had to cancel a trip before - it's scary to think that I might not get any money back. i read the policy documents before buying, but had no idea what was going to happen to me at the time.

I have not yet put in a claim but i will write a formal letter of complaint to the insurer to show my dissatisfaction at the wording of this policy and attached letter (the one where they said I was not covered under policy B, but no mention of Policy A - the pre trip policy)..