travel insurance horror story

[ROSEBASKETS]

I only ask because insurers are businesses, they make money for their shareholders, their only aim is to make money. If they can get out of paying someone they have a duty to their shareholders to do so, this is why they have over the last few years changed their policies to try and create further wiggle room on the policies they provide.

 

In years gone by, you were insured once you paid your premium, prices were considerably higher but only those with severe pre existing medical conditions like cancer heart disease etc had to pay more.

 

If you'd have gone into Lunn Poly when you booked your holiday and told them you had jumping acid and occasionally dribbled pee when you sneezed the'd have fallen about laughing (and probably said "get away" or called for the men in white coats)

 

My point is now that competition has increased and with the advent of the internet people are paying lower "advertised" premiums but in reality most pay twice as much for minor ailments that previously would have not been taken into consideration.

[ROSEBASKETS]

No, in Canada. By the way, I should add that I always encourage my clients to load up on medical coverage, but I don't believe in cancellation or lost-luggage insurance, other than what you can get on a credit card. I have my reasons. :D

 

Is it cheaper in Canada to insure a £250,000 home or to get a years travel insurance? because it's about the same here!

 

Do travel insurance companies in Canada charge an additional $150 CAD for a two week holiday for someone in their 30's with mild asthma whose never had an hospital appt.

[MoneyGuy]

Is it cheaper in Canada to insure a £250,000 home or to get a years travel insurance? because it's about the same here!

 

Do travel insurance companies in Canada charge an additional $150 CAD for a two week holiday for someone in their 30's with mild asthma whose never had an hospital appt.

 

I do very little of this kind of insurance, but I'd say it's about the same here. Can't say for sure without running a quote using these circumstances, because every case if different.

[capnpugwash]

Sadly we have the situation nowadays whereby everything of any worth or value has been reduced to it's absolute lowest cost. People want to pay next to nothing to fly, so we have a plethora of so called budget airlines like Ruin Air, that offer the absolute base product and then charge for everything that the passenger might need. If you want to sit with your partner, there is acharge of £10 each and similarly if you want to check a bag, there is a cost charged.I used to travel abroad from the UK about 15 to 20 times a year. I would normally travel at the front of the plane and can remember when lunch was served at my seat and the beef fillet or rack of lamb would be physically carved on a trolley by a stewardess. This was before they became flight attendants. All that has gone and the same has happened to travel insurance. A risk needs to be underwritten and there are two ways to do that, the first is to have a detailed proposal form completed prior to accepting a risk and then setting a price for the risk. This proposal form would be a complete history of the medical problems of all people to be insured. Currently potential customers don't want to go to all that hassle and the insurers have responded to their demands and now will underwrite the risk retroactively in the event of a claim, they will rely totally upon the fact that the insured has declared that he has given full information to the Underwriter taking the risk, so it is only fair that when it is discovered that there has been a non-disclosure of a material fact that would have influenced the decision to accept the risk at the price quoted, that the insurer asserts his rights to say that had he known the true state of the health of the person, he would either have wanted more money for the risk or he would have declined to take the risk. You can't have your cake and eat it. If you want a proper insurance you are not going to get it for £60 per couple for an annual policy and you won't get it by going direct to an insurer by phone or on the internet. You need a professional intermediary who will ensure that you have the correct policy for your needs with a professional insurer. This has a cost, obviously, but you will get your claim paid and you will be able to travel without having the worry of what a disputed claim might do to your finances. I am not touting for custom by the way but I think that it is important that people realise why these things happen.

[dsrdsrdsr]

As I understand it you now need to inform them of everything you have ever had and/or suffer(ed) from in the last 3 years no matter how serious including hayfever, colds and flu, headaches, toothache and any other insignificant minor ailments you may have seen your doctor / dentist for.

 

I had to declare sea sickness to the AA this year, even though I've never been sea sick, but because I saw my doctor for the tablets!

 

My policy is with PJ Hayman (24/7 cruise insurance), one of very very few that insures a 72 day holiday more than a year in advance. What they ask for is:

 

(i) ever if your life, medical history for any treatment for heart, stroke, high blood pressure, breathing condition including asthma, cancer, diabetes;

 

(ii) within the last 2 years, any treatment for serious or recurring condition, regular prescription medicine, or referral to hospital or a specialist for anything.

 

So basically if you visit the doctor feeling ill but he says there's nothing wrong and doesn't prescribe, you are covered even if he's wrong. But if you've ever had asthma and don't declare it, you're not covered. Rather like the unfortunate but (I'm sorry to say) foolish friend of the OP.

[Somerset Cruiser]

Oh you're back are you!

 

What if you unintentionally forget to declare a medical condition? How many would declare their athletes foot, ingrowing toenails or that they have a bridge or a crown?

 

 

To forget is unintentional by the nature of its action, but would anyone forget Asthma.

 

But insurance is a minefield and there are many companies who will do anything to avoid a payout, however there are many more who will try to be fair.

 

My advice is to tell insurers anything and everything, keep notes of details and names of those spoken to. Better still deal with a local Broker (self interest alert ) and think less about price and more about cover.

 

Save a pound on the cost of Insurance and you have saved a pound. Save a pound and you could lose everything.

[Somerset Cruiser]

I only ask because insurers are businesses, they make money for their shareholders, their only aim is to make money. If they can get out of paying someone they have a duty to their shareholders to do so, this is why they have over the last few years changed their policies to try and create further wiggle room on the policies they provide.

 

In years gone by, you were insured once you paid your premium, prices were considerably higher but only those with severe pre existing medical conditions like cancer heart disease etc had to pay more.

 

If you'd have gone into Lunn Poly when you booked your holiday and told them you had jumping acid and occasionally dribbled pee when you sneezed the'd have fallen about laughing (and probably said "get away" or called for the men in white coats)

 

My point is now that competition has increased and with the advent of the internet people are paying lower "advertised" premiums but in reality most pay twice as much for minor ailments that previously would have not been taken into consideration.

 

Bear in mind that the market is consumer driven, most want cheaper and care little about anything else, until..........................

[MoneyGuy]

Bottom line: This was a disaster because the person failed to disclose, plain and simple. If he or she has met that obligation, we wouldn't even be discussing this.

 

Capnpugwash, please use paragraphs. One extremely long paragraph is very hard to read.

[ROSEBASKETS]

Capnpugwash, please use paragraphs. One extremely long paragraph is very hard to read.

 

Does anyone else see the irony? ey! :D

[capnpugwash]

Bottom line: This was a disaster because the person failed to disclose, plain and simple. If he or she has met that obligation, we wouldn't even be discussing this.

 

Capnpugwash, please use paragraphs. One extremely long paragraph is very hard to read.

 

Sincerest apologies, I was in somewhat of a rush, and I do thank you for pointing out my failure.

[MoneyGuy]

Sincerest apologies, I was in somewhat of a rush, and I do thank you for pointing out my failure.

 

It's not a failure. In my previous career I was a writer/editor for over 20 years and wrote lots of speeches and did lots of writing for many publications. I know that long paragraphs significantly reduce the chance the material will be read. I ws hoping you wouldn't take my advice wrongly, and am glad to see that you did not.

 

I love this thread as it's a pet topic of mine. And, no, I don't see the irony. Maybe it's a failure on my part. :D