Cover refused on holiday when Father has cancer?

jaffab

Hello All,

My wife and I have a holiday scheduled to Kenya at the start of November. Deposit has been paid, balance is due at the start of August.


Yesterday, my wifes FATHER was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4a Liver cancer. He is waiting to see an oncologist which should happen in the next few days, but the hospital is saying that the outcome is likely that he will die at some time before the end of the year, possibly in the next 3-4 months.


Clearly my wife is not willing to travel when there is a good chance her father will either die, or being going through a cancer battle whilst we are away, We are awaiting the outcome of the meeting with the Oncologist before we make any decision, but we are most likely going to cancel (or move) the holiday.


Whilst I am NOT wanting to cancel or move the holiday until we know what is going on, I am trying to understand my options ahead of the final prognosis.


I contacted my travel insurance company (OUL DIRECT), and their reply was fairly short and to the point....

"[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]We are sorry to hear the circumstances you are contacting us in.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif] [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Unfortunately we would not provide cover for cancellation as this is due to a pre-existing medical condition."

Pre-existing? It was diagnosed yesterday. And its not medical claim... its a cancellation because of a family member dieing.

Does this seem right? Advice? Options?
[/FONT][/FONT]

elsien

I'm sorry to hear of your father in laws illness. When was the insurance taken out, and was your father in law having any tests at the time?
What does the wording of the gold policy say with regards to family illness? Eta - a quick look at their cancellation cover appears to say they will not cover illnesses being investigated when the cover is taken out. You need to double check the wording of your specific policy and the timings.

Quentin

Assuming that yesterday was not the first the Father knew of this condition, then the insurer is correct.


(Maybe he knew but chose not to tell his Daughter?)

jaffab

Hi, and thnks for replying. He had had trouble sleeping and a loss of appetite, but that was it. We took the policy out in August 2015, and he started having further tests 2 or 3 months ago (this year).

magpiecottage

Are you saying this is an annual policy, then?

jaffab

Yes - sorry. Should have said. Annual policy covering me, my wife and my daughter.

jaffab

Sorry for the double post - but thinking about the pre-conditions of a person not on the policy does seem like a really nice get out clause.


If somebodies child, partner or parent were diagnosed with a terminal illness, would anybody go on holiday? So its a likely reason for a cancellation and therefore an insurance claim.


So why does the policy applications only ask about pre-conditions for those on the insurance document? Where are the questions about other immediate family members? And when is a pre-condition a true pre-condition - what about if the cancer was caused through a breakdown of the immune system which started 5 years ago through a very heavy cold. How will anybody know? Wht is pre-condition anyway?


Clearly, if we would have through it was anything more than somebody getting on in life and not slepping, we would not have booked the holiday.

forgotmyname

I guess there are people that will put a holiday in front of a family members illness and even a funeral it seems.

I guess they only cover the applicants because its your choice not to go, nothing stopping you acept your own morals etc.

If they covered people not on the policy, where would they draw the line?

Your aunties, friends, daughters pet dog is ill etc.. Lots of insurance policies have clauses that you normally ignore and think thats not an issue.

An income protection policy offered to me excluded back issues, a lorry driver lifting heavy items daily. The risk of a back injury is quite high. So rather pointless to me.

FutureGirl

what does your policy say about cancellation? Most will cover if the parties covers under the policy developed the illness, whereas few premium policies may provide cancellation cover if immediate family member dies, or becomes terminally ill, you just need to read what your policy covers you for.

jaffab

Working of the document (that is relevant):

[FONT=&quot]SECTION A - CANCELLATION OR CURTAILMENT[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]WE will indemnify YOU up to the limit shown in the Schedule of[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Cover for:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]- unused charges associated with YOUR trip that are not[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]refundable and which were incurred before YOUR[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]departure date if YOU have to cancel YOUR trip or[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]o the extra cost of a one way airfare of a standard no greater[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]than the class of journey on the OUTWARD JOURNEY or[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]the applicable fee charged by the airline to change YOUR[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]scheduled retum date, and the unused non-refundable[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]prepaid Accommodation costs and other land arrangements[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]following CURTAILMENT of YOUR trip;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As a result of any of the circumstances detailed below:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. YOUR death, accidental bodily injury or illness, or that of a[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]relative or a friend with whom YOU have arranged to travel or[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]stay, or of YOUR CLOSE RELATIVE or of a Close BUSINESS[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ASSOCIATE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. YOU (etc etc)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]6. Reasonable additional travelling expenses incurred by YOU in[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]returning to YOUR home address in the United Kingdom, where[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]such return is urgently necessitated by the death, serious[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]illness or severe injury of YOUR CLOSE RELATIVE or a Close[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BUSINESS ASSOCIATE provided that such CLOSE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]RELATIVE or Close BUSINESS ASSOCIATE is resident in the[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]United Kingdom.[/FONT]

FutureGirl

S6 is irrelevant in this situation.

It's difficult to say whether it'd be covered or not, as what you've given us is out of context.

When you spoke with the insurer, did you advise them that it was not someone who was on the policy, or travelling with you that has been diagnosed? Have you called them again to discuss with another person, to see if you're told differently?

Your OP mentions cancelling on 'death'. I don't mean to come across blunt or unsympathetic, because I understand your situation fully, but he has not passed yet, therefore if you need to cancel, it'd be based on him being ill, as it hasn't happened yet, if that makes any sense.

Is the above from your actual policy document, or one you found online? (Policies change regularly so the one online might not be the policy wording relating to your policy).