Has anyone else suffered a similar bad experience?
My dad aged 80 died in July. He had been diagnosed with vascular dementia two years before, and for the last 10 months of his life he was in an EMI nursing home. He recieved fantastic care and only deteriorated quickly in his final week as his body gave up with his lungs and heart unable to keep going.
In February of this year my husband and I booked a two week holiday and bought travel insurance over the internet. We were not asked any questions about anyone elses health except our own. We were due to fly to Spain two days after my dad died, so obviously had to cancel. After 56 years together my mother was distraught, and as executor and eldest daughter a holiday was the last thing on my mind. We made a claim for the cancelled holiday, and despite supporting information from the GP, the insurance company is refusing to pay as my dad had a pre existing condition that is an exclusion on the policy.
As more than half the population must have an elderly relative (or even friend - if you look at the small print hidden away in the policies it states 'anyone you know'?) and this elderly person might have a pre existing condition that might kill them at anytime then be warned that your travel insurance does not cover you if you cancel because they die.
We continue to fight the company but I wanted to warn as many people as possible as I think this type of exclusion is immoral. It is hard enough losing a loved one. I have always paid insurance trusting that this was the right thing to do and have never made a claim until now. It now seems a total waste of money as it appears that having an elderly relative will exclude any kind of claim!
My dad aged 80 died in July. He had been diagnosed with vascular dementia two years before, and for the last 10 months of his life he was in an EMI nursing home. He recieved fantastic care and only deteriorated quickly in his final week as his body gave up with his lungs and heart unable to keep going.
In February of this year my husband and I booked a two week holiday and bought travel insurance over the internet. We were not asked any questions about anyone elses health except our own. We were due to fly to Spain two days after my dad died, so obviously had to cancel. After 56 years together my mother was distraught, and as executor and eldest daughter a holiday was the last thing on my mind. We made a claim for the cancelled holiday, and despite supporting information from the GP, the insurance company is refusing to pay as my dad had a pre existing condition that is an exclusion on the policy.
As more than half the population must have an elderly relative (or even friend - if you look at the small print hidden away in the policies it states 'anyone you know'?) and this elderly person might have a pre existing condition that might kill them at anytime then be warned that your travel insurance does not cover you if you cancel because they die.
We continue to fight the company but I wanted to warn as many people as possible as I think this type of exclusion is immoral. It is hard enough losing a loved one. I have always paid insurance trusting that this was the right thing to do and have never made a claim until now. It now seems a total waste of money as it appears that having an elderly relative will exclude any kind of claim!