Partner ill abroad we have separate travel insurance

Kath26

Thanks for all the comments. Clearly there is something in my partner's medical history that has invalidated the claim although judging from the doctor's comments here it's hard to establish what. That will have to be for a later date. I do not have power of attorney. It has never been necessary. I guess I could have asked them to phone my partner and ask his consent but he is struggling to use a mobile with one operating arm and slurred speech. 

I had to go down the route of sorting out a medical repatriation myself. The hospital fees are covered. it's a private clinic but GHIC and treatment were approved. So less of a financial burden but still not cheap. Thanks to my bank for a loan.

I did get hold of the embassy who were supportive but not really able to help with repatriation. The hospital has been fantastic with patient assistance helping and providing advice.

I know the clam was declined but some general support would have been helpful in just who best to talk to. I found myself in the hotel room googling the hell out of anything I could come up with including citizens advice. The insurer gave me a quote from their repatriation people which given the price had to be a scheduled flight. I asked them to proceed but heard nothing for 4 days. Again not very helpful given all the telephone blurb about support. 

We are now back in the UK and my partner is receiving treatment in hospital.

katejo

Kath26 said:

Thanks for all the comments. Clearly there is something in my partner's medical history that has invalidated the claim although judging from the doctor's comments here it's hard to establish what. That will have to be for a later date. I do not have power of attorney. It has never been necessary. I guess I could have asked them to phone my partner and ask his consent but he is struggling to use a mobile with one operating arm and slurred speech. 

I had to go down the route of sorting out a medical repatriation myself. The hospital fees are covered. it's a private clinic but GHIC and treatment were approved. So less of a financial burden but still not cheap. Thanks to my bank for a loan.

I did get hold of the embassy who were supportive but not really able to help with repatriation. The hospital has been fantastic with patient assistance helping and providing advice.

I know the clam was declined but some general support would have been helpful in just who best to talk to. I found myself in the hotel room googling the hell out of anything I could come up with including citizens advice. The insurer gave me a quote from their repatriation people which given the price had to be a scheduled flight. I asked them to proceed but heard nothing for 4 days. Again not very helpful given all the telephone blurb about support. 

We are now back in the UK and my partner is receiving treatment in hospital.

Thanks for the update. Glad you are back safely. I have asked the firm which is setting up my power of attorney whether a holiday insurer would have to disclose the reason for a payout refusal to my brother (if I were suddenly ill/unconscious abroad). 

DullGreyGuy

Kath26 said:

Thanks for all the comments. Clearly there is something in my partner's medical history that has invalidated the claim although judging from the doctor's comments here it's hard to establish what. That will have to be for a later date. I do not have power of attorney. It has never been necessary. I guess I could have asked them to phone my partner and ask his consent but he is struggling to use a mobile with one operating arm and slurred speech. 

I had to go down the route of sorting out a medical repatriation myself. The hospital fees are covered. it's a private clinic but GHIC and treatment were approved. So less of a financial burden but still not cheap. Thanks to my bank for a loan.

I did get hold of the embassy who were supportive but not really able to help with repatriation. The hospital has been fantastic with patient assistance helping and providing advice.

I know the clam was declined but some general support would have been helpful in just who best to talk to. I found myself in the hotel room googling the hell out of anything I could come up with including citizens advice. The insurer gave me a quote from their repatriation people which given the price had to be a scheduled flight. I asked them to proceed but heard nothing for 4 days. Again not very helpful given all the telephone blurb about support. 

We are now back in the UK and my partner is receiving treatment in hospital.

It would be easier if you are there with him, you make the initial call and explain his condition, you put it on speaker phone or hold the phone for him whilst he goes through DPA and gives consent for them to talk to you and then you take the phone back and continue the call. This approach works in most cases but occasionally an operator may question if the customer has sufficient mental capacity to know what they are consenting to... certainly known it to be the case in the world of pensions when a close relative calls saying their parent/spouse has dementia and so struggles to use the phone. 

Once you find out the reason for the decline you can then decide if its worth challenging it or not, ultimately you've nothing to lose but others dont see it a worth while use of their time if they're sure it will fail. 

The problem with the law change introduced by CIDRA is that the false declaration doesn't have to have anything to do with the claim in question. If it was intentional, reckless or careless but the insurer would not have offered cover had they known then they can avoid the claim. People have had large medical claims declined because they failed to mention they were previously made bankrupt, for example.

lisyloo

Wrt LPA and “it’s never been needed”.
the problem is you need these things in place of a sudden event so one could argue they are always needed.
my MIL would not grant one and we had a long process of getting deputyship via the court of protection when she had dementia.

everyone should have one.
i know that doesn’t help OP directly now for this event but would be worth putting in place for both when circumstances permit.

spiro

In terms of repatriation it can be very expensive and people have been advise not to fly following heart attach or stroke. Another route back to UK is ferry to Barcelona, fast train to Paris and then Eurostar to London.