Travel insurance cover for viral outbreak?

sherpa_2

We have a holiday planned for Argentina, and while we are there were planning on going to Patagonia, but have just read there there is an outbreak of hantavirus, a very serious haemorraghic fever, in the area were were to be staying in.

We have our travel insurance through our bank account with First Direct, and they have been excellent in previous cases. I rang them about this, they pointed to the policy wording which says that we can claim if there is an outbreak of food poisoning at the hotel, or of influenza - hantavirus is closely related to be differrent from influenza.

Any chance we can get them to accept the claim/tips on how to do so?

Ganga

sherpa wrote: »

We have a holiday planned for Argentina, and while we are there were planning on going to Patagonia, but have just read there there is an outbreak of hantavirus, a very serious haemorraghic fever, in the area were were to be staying in.

We have our travel insurance through our bank account with First Direct, and they have been excellent in previous cases. I rang them about this, they pointed to the policy wording which says that we can claim if there is an outbreak of food poisoning at the hotel, or of influenza - hantavirus is closely related to be differrent from influenza.

Any chance we can get them to accept the claim/tips on how to do so?

Could you not make sure you are safe by giving Patagonia a miss.

NoodleDoodleMan

You really need to go back to the insurance company and ask for a definitive response - will they, or won't they, cover you if anybody included in the policy is stricken with this specific illness.

elsien

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

You really need to go back to the insurance company and ask for a definitive response - will they, or won't they, cover you if anybody included in the policy is stricken with this specific illness.

In writing or by email so it's not deniable further down the line.
Or are you asking them to cover the cost of the hotel if you are not able to go there due to the outbreak?

sherpa_2

Ganga wrote: »

Could you not make sure you are safe by giving Patagonia a miss.

Sorry, obviously I wasn't clear. That is what we want to do. But the hotel is paid for and not refundable. The flights too would cost money to change (it's *possible* we could keep the flights and take a hotel in a different area).

So we want the insurance to cover cancellation of this trip so that we can book another

sherpa_2

elsien wrote: »

In writing or by email so it's not deniable further down the line.
Or are you asking them to cover the cost of the hotel if you are not able to go there due to the outbreak?

Yes exactly - we want to cancel this trip and go elsewhere. We don't want them to cover us if we get ill - the virus has a 35-50% chance of death if you get it! No effective treatment and no vaccine available.

bradders1983

I think unless the UK government advises against all travel, you are on a sticky wicket

See https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina (last update was 7 days ago)

sherpa_2

bradders1983 wrote: »

I think unless the UK government advises against all travel, you are on a sticky wicket

See https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina (last update was 7 days ago)

That's what I thought originally - and that is one of the reasons given in the policy wording for cancellation that they would cover. But as the policy explicitly also allows for influenza and food poisoning outbreaks, I thought that someone might have knowledge/experience of claiming for cancellation due to another serous disease outbreak.

TELLIT01

The only way to get a definite answer is to contact the insurer. Each case is judged on its own merits. They may think it better to take a know 'hit' on the cost of the accommodation than to risk a much bigger bill if you do go down with a serious illness when away.

elsien

What is the wording in the policy booklet about valid reasons for cancellation? I think the person you spoke to may not have fully understood your query.

sherpa_2

"If you have to unavoidably cancel your trip or come home early, we will pay for the following .... if one of the following occurs:"

8. You are prevented from travelling within 31 days of your scheduled departure date or have to come home early because ....
b. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office advisory notice is in place advising against all travel or all but essential travel to your destination, or the FCO are advising British citizens to leave the area in which you are staying.
c Your accomodation is directly affected by a food poisoning outbreak, or the area in which you are staying is affected by pandemic or epidemic influenza"

All from p17 of https://www1.firstdirect.com/content/dam/fsdt/en/documents/pdf/travel_insurance_terms_conditions.pdf