Potential holiday cancellation

newatc

lisyloo wrote: »

Out of interest what was the reason for the rejected claim?
Did they consider it wasn't serious enough at the time?

I couldn't remember when I wrote my original response but having thought about I think there was a justifiable reason relating to the timing of the insurance being taken out so I was being rather presumptuous in attributing to it being because of cheap insurer. My insurer was LV.

sheramber

Only the underwriters of the insurance can say whether they consider a cancellation is covered by the policy terms. It will depend on the terms of the policy that that company issues.

You could try phoning and asking them when they would consider it appropriate to cancel and what medical evidence they would need but I doubt they will make any decision until you actually cancel and they have a completed claim form and all the medical evidence they need.

Cyclizine

I'm sorry that this has happened to you, it is a very difficult situation to find yourself in. In my day job I'm involved in many family discussions like this. You should ask the Consultant in charge their opinion, rather than his GP, who will not be privy yet to all the information gleaned in hospital.

From what you are describing in his presentation, this is a very frail gentleman, with significant medical problems. Having been in many similar situations before, I think you should prepare yourselves for the possibility that, despite everything, he does not recover from this. I would definitely think about cancelling the holiday.

csgohan4

Money can't buy time with your family

lisyloo

You should ask the Consultant in charge their opinion, rather than his GP, who will not be privy yet to all the information gleaned in hospital.

Yes agreed. We asked the GP when he was under the GPs care before he was in hospital. They could not give us any opinion at all and said 9 days was way too early.

I would definitely think about cancelling the holiday.

We are definitely thinking about it.
At the present time we still have no clue how serious it is, but without a diagnosis we will certainly have to start asking how serious the consultant thinks it is and his/her opinion on whether we should go.

I would add that once we get on our boat we have no chance of turning back for 8 days (unless someone on board is seriously ill) and we are not passing any ports of call. Who goes on holiday to uninhabited places? That would be scuba divers.

lisyloo

Money can't buy time with your family

There is also an issue that should say a life-support machine need turning off that my husband and his sister would want to be there and do it together.

lisyloo

You could try phoning and asking them when they would consider it appropriate to cancel

I have thought of that and I've considered the mitigating of losses point, but at the moment I cannot give them any clue even how serious it is let alone a diagnosis.

Quentin

lisyloo wrote: »

There is also an issue that should say a life-support machine need turning off that my husband and his sister would want to be there and do it together.

You wouldn't want them to await your return if it would be over a week should that be necessary???


Has anyone (qualified) at the hospital discussed "preparing for the worst"?

elsien

lisyloo wrote: »

There is also an issue that should say a life-support machine need turning off that my husband and his sister would want to be there and do it together.

I'm sorry your relative is so unwell.

You may find that if he is as frail as you say, with a DNAR in place, he would not be considered a candidate for a high dependency unit / more invasive treatments so will not be in a position for any life support to be turned off. That may be another question to ask the consultant.
Sometimes it gets to the point where the medics (in connunction with family) start to consider whether active treatment is still in the person's best interests. In these situations they may stop antibiotics etc and put the person on a palliative care route so they can pass away in peace without drips etc still being put into them. There aren't aren't any timescales, as it's very much an individual decision, but it's a possibility you need to be aware of.

lisyloo

That's a good point. GP said without hesitation that he would not be a candidate for resucitation. We all believe (again without hesitation) that he is not a candidate for surgery or chemotherapy. Tests are only useful if there is a palliative benefit.