Cover refused on holiday when Father has cancer?

jaffab

An update from the OP...


So the insurer rejected my rejection of their rejection, with another blunt 10 word email saying I was still not covered.


So I replied saying that I rejected their rejection again, on the basis that they had said "previous medical condition" yet had asked for no facts about my father in law. I.e, They don't know him from Larry, yet they did they ask for any details before rejecting as a 'prior' condition - i.e, when was it diagnosis, had he seen a doctor at any point etc. I said in the event I did need to cancel (again, not cancelling until we get a diagnosis from his oncologist) , I would go via an ombudsman.


2 Minutes later, I get a reply from the head of customer service saying that the person I had been speaking (emailing) with before had been confused, and it now appeared I would be covered, and did I want to start a claim?


I replied saying no, I just wanted all my options open so that when the oncologist meeting took place and we got an expected EndOfLife date, we could make a decision without having to double check with everybody again.


At this stage, its possible we will either move the trip forward to the next couple of weeks or to early 2017 (after he has gone), or that the oncologist gives him a new miracle cure-cancer drug, but as I say, I like to be prepared.

jaffab

huckster wrote: »

Quentin

Re annual policy renewals and continuity of cover regarding an issue that started before renewal, there have been FOS rulings on this. Dacouch has posted them before. Basically as long as the issue would have been a covered event before renewal, the Insurers cannot treat the renewal as being the start of a new policy. As long as the policyholder renews, they maintain cover for the trip affected.

The trip was booked some time ago and the close relatives medical issue was not known about at the time of booking.

Thanks for this - something I will have to remember come August should it still all be up in the air. Useful to know.

Quentin

huckster wrote: »

Quentin

Re annual policy renewals and continuity of cover regarding an issue that started before renewal, there have been FOS rulings on this. Dacouch has posted them before. Basically as long as the issue would have been a covered event before renewal, the Insurers cannot treat the renewal as being the start of a new policy. As long as the policyholder renews, they maintain cover for the trip affected.

The trip was booked some time ago and the close relatives medical issue was not known about at the time of booking.

I think you/Dacouch are mistaken.


The only relative ruling is that should a condition have developed since the trip was booked, then if at renewal of the policy if the insurer won't provide cover then they should allow the policyholder to cancel at that time and the insurer will pay any cancellation costs.

magpiecottage

Quentin wrote: »

I think you/Dacouch are mistaken.


The only relative ruling is that should a condition have developed since the trip was booked, then if at renewal of the policy if the insurer won't provide cover then they should allow the policyholder to cancel at that time and the insurer will pay any cancellation costs.

This is my understanding too.

If the OP was not aware of the condition, or at least of its seriousness, at the time of booking the holiday then I believe the insurer would need to know that it has developed.

However, the insurer should not simply ask if the OP wants to claim now. They need to explain that if the OP renews the policy it will no longer cover this circumstance so they must either claim on the policy now and cancel the holiday or continue with the plans in the knowledge that this particular risk will not be covered.

huckster

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/49/annual-travel-insurance.htm

I am trawling through the FOS site. This is what i have found so far.

OP will have to discuss the full situation with their Insurers and they will have to think whether they accept cancellation claim before renewal or continue to cover the trip after renewal with cancellation claim considered later.

The point i was making what the FOS were not happy with lack of continuity, where a trip was booked before renewal with a potential claim issue occuring before renewal. As long as the policyholder registers potential claim, when they become aware of an issue which might lead to cancellation of a trip.

magpiecottage

Exactly, Huckster,

I suggest the OP does all this in writing (e-mail will do) and keeps copies just in case this needs to go to FOS later.