Travel Insurance pre-existing conditions

johnsue

Hi, I just saw an episode of rip off Britain and confused. I have e mailed them but got no reply, this is what I asked below-:
Hi, please can you help clarify the following.
I have just watched your episode, Series 9 Episode1.
On this episode it describes a young man who had renewed a travel insurance policy (I believe in June) before his travel dates in November, however his father had been given a terminal prognosis earlier in the year and sadly passed away in the October.  His insurance did not cover this event as it was classed as a pre existing condition??
Can you please clarify the following :-
Was the father part of the travel party insured?
This is not clear on your programme.
If the insurance provides cover for cancellation due to a close relatives death, (and if this was the case in this instance) and the person was not part of the holiday, why was it not covered ??
When you take out a policy with pre-existing conditions cover, you are only asked questions about the people who are travelling and not about Close relatives ( who may then die as a result of their pre-existing condition before you travel)
If the father was due to travel (and was included in the cover) I understand that his condition should have been declared, and if not there lies the reason the policy declined the case.
Please can you clarify,
Many thanks in anticipation,
Kind regards,
(I have pre existing conditions and always take out such policies but certainly do not declare the conditions of close relatives who are not traveling with us)

davidmcn

Why are you writing to the producers? They're not offering free advice to viewers! 

csgohan4

have you asked your insurers if they need such info, that is more important

Carrot007

Reading the t&c's of your policy should indicate wheter they would pay out in the case of a death of a close relative with a pre existing condition at the renewal date.

Having not seenthe programme I cannot comment.

Ask your insurers is the T&C's do not make it clear. (note this would need to be formal and not just some idiot (apologies to such idiots and the pressures they get from above to get rid of people not making money) on the front line).

Neil49

I am pretty sure that when you check your own policy terms and conditions you will find a clause relating to such circumstances.  It will also specify the range of relationships covered by the policy.

I haven't looked at my policy but as far as I know it is a requirement to advise them of any person who has a terminal pre existing illness as described in your initial post. 

Sandtree

No one here will answer questions on the specific case in the programme if it didnt cover them in the show.

Insurance will generally cover cancellation for a close relative's illness/death even if they are not party to the policy. The T&Cs normally have a blanket exclusion for any pre-existing conditions for these close relatives however so if you book a holiday and buy insurance after your father has a cancer diagnosis the insurance wont cover cancelling if they deteriorate quicker than expected and you dont want to travel.

A small number of insurers do ask if any close relatives have pre-existing conditions and in theory they could choose to allow these to be covered... I say in theory as the insurers I've worked for didnt offer this and whilst I've been asked the Q on a personal level I've fortunately never had to answer yes.

sheramber

 One example Avanti travel Insurance
The policy includes restrictions regarding the health of close relatives and friends upon whom your trip may depend, even if they are not being insured by this policy.

Important limitations Anyone your trip depends on – Cancellation & Cutting Short Your Trip Cover is extended to claims relating to preexisting medical conditions if the persons medical practitioner is able to confirm that at the time you bought the policy or booked the trip (whichever is later), there would not have been any substantial likelihood of the condition deteriorating so that cancellation or cutting short your trip would become necessary. If the medical practitioner cannot confirm this in writing, your claim will not be covered. You should also refer to what is not covered under Sections 1 and 2 and the General Exclusions.