Backpacker insurance taken out in January

rumncoke

My daughter purchased insurance in January, and began her travels on 8th Feb. Not intending to be back unitl this month. She had several flights booked during the 7 months. Only 1 of which has been refunded by the airline, the others have not even replied to her enquiries. Reply from her insurance states 

"Looking at the policy you purchased the reasons that can be considered if you have to cut short are as a result of; the death, injury or illness of you, a travelling companion or close relative. Your requirement for Jury Service Duty or being called as a witness in a court of law. You being called home by the Police after your home or usual place of business has suffered a burglary, serious fire, storm or flood.  the requirements of H.M Forces. I regret to inform you that the details surrounding your claim simply do not fall within the accepted criteria, and as a result the insurance will not be able to refund you for your losses." At the time of taking out the insurance covid was only in China. She returned home the day after the Home Office advised against foreign travel. Can anyone advise on how best to proceed please. Many thanks

Caz3121

Have you/she read over her policy details in full and found anything in the inclusions that imply she should be covered?
also worth checking the exclusions
If you believe the policy details confirm she is wrongly declined, follow their complaints procedure. If it is confirmed that she was correctly declined due to scope of policy she should concentrate on chasing up with the airlines where there were flights cancelled and where flights still operated, see if the airline offered any waivers for reschedule/credit etc (although may be too late if flight dates are passed) also investigate any taxes that may be refundable
Not everyone will come out the other end of this without some financial losses

[Deleted User]

Put bluntly it sounds like the insurance she took out doesn't cover for pandemics or other unforeseen circumstances.   Your daughter should be able to claim for any flights that were cancelled.   She needs to claim from the individual airlines.

rumncoke

Shes going to check all the wording tomorrow. Problem with the airlines is a lot of the flights werent actually cancelled, but she obviously wasnt able to take them. 
Maybe a case of lesson learned for her, but then how many 23 year olds (or any age come to that) buying travel insurance back in January would have given a thought to a pandemic occuring. 

[Deleted User]

Yes you are right rumncoke...Lots of people, of all ages,  caught up in these unprecedented times.   Nobody could have advised her any differently when she booked.   It is upsetting but not sure she can do anything other than try to claim from the airlines or ask for goodwill to rebook?