PCR test refunds not covered under travel insurance

epm-84

Grooverider said:

epm-84 said:

Grooverider said:

epm-84 said:

There are some countries, outside of Europe, which require mandatory vaccines prior to entry.  Perhaps look at whether their worldwide policy covers mentions any inclusions relating to them, regardless of whether or not you have worldwide cover, as it's likely the insurer's underwriters will have a similar stance.

Mandatory PCR tests being introduced can cause all sorts of problems, sometimes the requirement is introduced at short notice and for those who don't live near London it can be impossible to get one before the scheduled departure date.  The issue in your case will likely be you received the PCR test, so it's a bit like buying things for a trip abroad that you have no use for if you don't go on it e.g. international adapters or factor 50 suncream but still having received the items.

I would also say On The Beach's claim regarding refunds is wrong.  They should refund everything you paid to them in the time frame cited in their T&Cs, it's not your problem if your refund is due before they get the flight refund from Easyjet.

You are correct in the fact that you cannot claim back for vaccinations but this is clearly not a vaccination, we were not protected against anything and there is no vaccine/treatment for COVID19 so I find it hard to believe they can classify it in the same way. 
With regards to saying its a bit like buying suncream etc it isnt, there is no legal requirement for chargers, travel adapters, suncream etc and those can be purchased while on holiday. 
Ironically if we had contracted COVID19 prior to departing, tested positive at the airport or whilst on holiday then the insurance would cover it. 

Yes but what I'm getting at is you purchased something and received what you purchased (a private COVID test) but it turns out you didn't need the COVID test and you can't get a refund now as you've already received the service.  If you're going to some exotic country and need a vaccine before entry against some tropical disease that isn't present in the UK then it's pointless having it if you don't actually go as even if you go in the future, it might not be done recently enough to meet the requirements, which is why I think it's similar.  The insurer could even argue there's a benefit to you knowing you were negative of COVID, given it's circulating in the UK currently.

If you booked the Cyprus holiday since March they could also argue that you knew there would be a risk of a second lockdown either in the UK or in Cyprus and that it could be announced at short notice.

There may not be a legal requirement to take a plug adapter in to the country but as you have to fill out an online form within 48 hours of your expected arrival time back in the UK, then it's a bit hard to fulfill that legal requirement if the battery is dead on the only Internet capable device you have!  As I found out once being in a hot country can cause the phone battery's to decharge much more rapidly then it would in the UK (it was a Samsung phone that I had at the time.)

There is actually no benefit to knowing you have tested negative for COVID19 
...
The holiday was booked when we came out of lockdown and there would be no argument for future predictions, the insurance cover is based on restrictions at the time of booking. My travel insurance is an annual policy and actually includes covid cover. 

What about if you plan to come in contact with someone who is elderly or vulnerable and want to reduce the risk of them getting infected?  Many people have private PCR tests for that reason.  (A NHS one is not appropriate as for most people you can only get one if you have symptoms and if you have symptoms but test negative then you still have to self-isolate for a minimum of 7 days from when the symptoms started and if you ask for a NHS test, they'll know you have said you had symptoms and should be self-isolating.)

The insurers argue standard cover is to insure you against unknown events, which is why you have to pay a premium if you already have a medical condition and want your insurance to cover medical reasons.  All insurers have pretty much said that COVID-19 stopped being an unknown event in March so unless you have both a trip and insurance booked before then, COVID-19 was a known risk.

sheramber

If you are not happy with your insurance company's decision then follow th complaint's procedure which will detailed in the policy document. You can then refer it to the Ombudsman. 

[Deleted User]

Don’t think anyone is responsible for reimbursement tbh.  You had the tests done so the service was provided. Presumably they didn’t offer the service on provision you could get to Cyprus?  Presumably also you didn’t check with your insurers PRIOR to getting the test that you would be reimbursed for it should you be unable to travel?  You can complain but can’t see them back tracking.  As you say opens the door for too many claims!   I fear this is one you will have to suck up.  As annoying as it is. 

silvercar

Your timeline isn't making sense to me, I understood that Cyprus requires a clear PCR test to be carried out within 72 hours of departure, so if you were due to travel on the morning of Thursday 5th, the earliest you could have taken the test is the morning of Monday 2nd. Boris announced on Saturday 30th October that he would be banning leisure travel from Thursday 5th, so why didn't you cancel the tests?

cubegame

Cyprus allows NHS tests so the mind boggles why you didn't use this free service.

tripled

sheramber said:

If you are not happy with your insurance company's decision then follow th complaint's procedure which will detailed in the policy document. You can then refer it to the Ombudsman. 

Seems to be the most relevant answer on this thread!

silvercar

cubegame said:

Cyprus allows NHS tests so the mind boggles why you didn't use this free service.

I can think of at least three reason why OP wouldn’t do that.
firstly, you are only eligible for an NHS test if you have symptoms. Morally, the NHS isn’t there to fund your holiday requirements!
secondly there is no guarantee how quickly the NHS results will come back.
thirdly, the NHS only notifies results by email or text, they don’t issue a ‘fit to fly’ certificate that quotes your passport number.

epm-84

silvercar said:

cubegame said:

Cyprus allows NHS tests so the mind boggles why you didn't use this free service.

I can think of at least three reason why OP wouldn’t do that.
firstly, you are only eligible for an NHS test if you have symptoms. Morally, the NHS isn’t there to fund your holiday requirements!
secondly there is no guarantee how quickly the NHS results will come back.
thirdly, the NHS only notifies results by email or text, they don’t issue a ‘fit to fly’ certificate that quotes your passport number.

The first point does have an exception in certain cases, like the mass testing currently being undertaken in Liverpool, the regular tests for care workers and tests for those who have out-patient appointments.  However, for most of us the only way to get a NHS test is to declare you have symptoms of COVID and to then self-isolate between requesting the test and getting a negative result (you could get an inconclusive result which means you have to be re-tested.)

silvercar

epm-84 said:

silvercar said:

cubegame said:

Cyprus allows NHS tests so the mind boggles why you didn't use this free service.

I can think of at least three reason why OP wouldn’t do that.
firstly, you are only eligible for an NHS test if you have symptoms. Morally, the NHS isn’t there to fund your holiday requirements!
secondly there is no guarantee how quickly the NHS results will come back.
thirdly, the NHS only notifies results by email or text, they don’t issue a ‘fit to fly’ certificate that quotes your passport number.

The first point does have an exception in certain cases, like the mass testing currently being undertaken in Liverpool, the regular tests for care workers and tests for those who have out-patient appointments.  However, for most of us the only way to get a NHS test is to declare you have symptoms of COVID and to then self-isolate between requesting the test and getting a negative result (you could get an inconclusive result which means you have to be re-tested.)

I did think of the exceptions, but I figured OP would have mentioned if they already had obtained a clear NHS test before paying out for private tests.
Still unclear on why OP went for tests when the government announced the no leisure travel rule before the tests would have needed to be taken.