Travel insurance not covered when non travelling family member became ill

sheramber

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"There is nothing in the highlighted section that you must report any condiotn that she has been treated for."

Maybe I'm misreading those insurance company Ts&Cs highlighted above - but it looks clear (to me at least) that pre-existing conditions require to be declared. Sadly this has not been so in this case.

I read the statement about pore existing conditions to refer to those travelling.

The next bullet point states   'any claim that is the result of a close relative .................."

So only the conditions stated withing that bullet point should apply.  There is only a requirement to notify them in the slecified circumstances.  not just having  pre existing condition.

Ayr_Rage

Having read it all again I think being under the care of a consultant and on medication would count as "bring put on a waiting list for hospital treatment" which is their get-out clause.

jackieblack

Ayr_Rage said:

Having read it all again I think being under the care of a consultant and on medication would count as "bring put on a waiting list for hospital treatment" which is their get-out clause.

But OP hasn’t said that their mother was on a waiting list for anything, she was already receiving hospital treatment as an outpatient 🤷🏻‍♀️

maman

Ayr_Rage said:

Having read it all again I think being under the care of a consultant and on medication would count as "bring put on a waiting list for hospital treatment" which is their get-out clause.

Not all referrals to consultants are intended to result in being put on a list for surgery/in-patient treatment. They're often for specialist advice on managing chronic conditions. 

Doshwaster

Doesn't seem reasonable to expect people to have to ask all of their close relatives about their recent medical history every time they book travel insurance. I'm sure some would tell me to "mind my own business" and I possibly would too.

photome

Doshwaster said:

Doesn't seem reasonable to expect people to have to ask all of their close relatives about their recent medical history every time they book travel insurance. I'm sure some would tell me to "mind my own business" and I possibly would too.

Agreed , which is fine if you don’t want to  make a claim if any of those close relatives prevent you from travelling

elsien

sheramber said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"There is nothing in the highlighted section that you must report any condiotn that she has been treated for."

Maybe I'm misreading those insurance company Ts&Cs highlighted above - but it looks clear (to me at least) that pre-existing conditions require to be declared. Sadly this has not been so in this case.

I read the statement about pore existing conditions to refer to those travelling.

The next bullet point states   'any claim that is the result of a close relative .................."

So only the conditions stated withing that bullet point should apply.  There is only a requirement to notify them in the slecified circumstances.  not just having  pre existing condition.

I read it the same way as well.

And even if the relative is seeing a consultant for ongoing reviews,  if they’re not on the waiting list for treatment I think there’s a case to argue that it should still be paid out.

twopenny

It's not the first time I've seen this. Holidays booked well ahead and if you take out insurance then, as you should, it's possible that such events weren't on the horizon.

But they do crop up in the mean time and that's when the policy needs updating but with a chance you wouldn't be covered.

Dreadful for the OP and others who find themselves in the same situation.

But reading around a few comparison/travel sites it is down to if it's a known condition or a sudden loss and it's either vague or not promising.

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/travel-insurance/death-in-family/

There may be a policy out there that will take the risk but it's going to be expensive and take a lot of digging.

k12479

photome said:

Doshwaster said:

Doesn't seem reasonable to expect people to have to ask all of their close relatives about their recent medical history every time they book travel insurance. I'm sure some would tell me to "mind my own business" and I possibly would too.

Agreed , which is fine if you don’t want to  make a claim if any of those close relatives prevent you from travelling

Exactly.
Ask them and get adequately covered or at least understand where you stand.
Don't ask them and then don't disrupt your plans if something comes up.

But why should the rest of us pay, via higher premiums, because people don't want to communicate with those they're close to yet expect insurance to pick up the pieces?

silvercar

k12479 said:

photome said:

Doshwaster said:

Doesn't seem reasonable to expect people to have to ask all of their close relatives about their recent medical history every time they book travel insurance. I'm sure some would tell me to "mind my own business" and I possibly would too.

Agreed , which is fine if you don’t want to  make a claim if any of those close relatives prevent you from travelling

Exactly.
Ask them and get adequately covered or at least understand where you stand.
Don't ask them and then don't disrupt your plans if something comes up.

But why should the rest of us pay, via higher premiums, because people don't want to communicate with those they're close to yet expect insurance to pick up the pieces?

You are missing the point. Often the elderly claim they are fine when they are not.