Travel Insurance Claim

thebigbird8110

Hello. I would appreciate some help please regarding a recent claim we have made on our travel insurance.  My partner and I made a late booking for a holiday in mid August to travel on the 2nd September following a somewhat difficult time. I purchased travel insurance on the same day, but had forgotten that we already had insurance through our bank.  4 days prior to our holiday date (Friday 30th August) Tim's mother suddenly took a very steep downhill turn from an illness she has had for some years. Her downtown took the medical staff (doctors and carers etc) by surpise. Sadly she passed away in the early hours of the morning of Monday 2nd Septembert, which was the day we were due to travel, as such we had to cancel the holiday.  As you would expect we made a claim through the additional travel insurance I had purchased and after 2 months, they have now notified me that they will not be paying out.  The reason given is that she was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2022.  On the medical form that the doctor complete, it actually stated that her death was sudden and unexpected at that time.

Obviously, this is very disappointing but I am not sure if I have any way to dispute this, they sent me an excert from the policy that states;

• They have been receiving medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility for a medical condition in the last 12 months;
• They have been awaiting medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility or have been under investigation for a medical condition;
• That a doctor had diagnosed them as having a terminal condition, or that their medical condition was likely to get worse in the next 12 months"

When we took out the insurance there were no questions asked in relation to the above, so no option to declare (just for note).  The statements above (in my opinion) would probably cover every living person!

So, I have 2 questions:

1. Can I dispute this, do I stand a chance?
2. Can I now try to make a claim against the other insurance I already had?

I fear this is a lost cause, but I am just trying to explore all of my options.

DullGreyGuy

thebigbird8110 said:

Hello. I would appreciate some help please regarding a recent claim we have made on our travel insurance.  My partner and I made a late booking for a holiday in mid August to travel on the 2nd September following a somewhat difficult time. I purchased travel insurance on the same day, but had forgotten that we already had insurance through our bank.  4 days prior to our holiday date (Friday 30th August) Tim's mother suddenly took a very steep downhill turn from an illness she has had for some years. Her downtown took the medical staff (doctors and carers etc) by surpise. Sadly she passed away in the early hours of the morning of Monday 2nd Septembert, which was the day we were due to travel, as such we had to cancel the holiday.  As you would expect we made a claim through the additional travel insurance I had purchased and after 2 months, they have now notified me that they will not be paying out.  The reason given is that she was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2022.  On the medical form that the doctor complete, it actually stated that her death was sudden and unexpected at that time.

Obviously, this is very disappointing but I am not sure if I have any way to dispute this, they sent me an excert from the policy that states;

• They have been receiving medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility for a medical condition in the last 12 months;
• They have been awaiting medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility or have been under investigation for a medical condition;
• That a doctor had diagnosed them as having a terminal condition, or that their medical condition was likely to get worse in the next 12 months"

When we took out the insurance there were no questions asked in relation to the above, so no option to declare (just for note).  The statements above (in my opinion) would probably cover every living person!

So, I have 2 questions:

1. Can I dispute this, do I stand a chance?
2. Can I now try to make a claim against the other insurance I already had?

I fear this is a lost cause, but I am just trying to explore all of my options.

Can you prove none of the three bullets apply? Was the terminal diagnosis in 2022 for the same condition as what caused her passing? What were the timescales given in 2022?

Most insurers have similar terms and no mechanism to declare pre-existing conditions for anyone not covered by the policy. To do otherwise would be opening up a can of worms in terms of data protection and subsequently claims if you had correctly declared what you knew but actually the family member hadn't told you the whole truth etc. 

You can attempt a claim on the other policy, it would be sensible to read the terms before submitting as at least 1 bank does have terms about "sudden deterioration" which may be more favourable to you than others.

thebigbird8110

Thank you. All of the bullets apply, however, one and two would apply to just about anyone. three is relevant, however in 2022 she was given 12 months and she was still going stong after 2.5 years, no-one saw the sudden decline as it happened wich is why we were happy to book the holiday.