Topic: Travel Insurance

Jesse and Robin were overseas when Robin caught a nasty stomach bug. While Robin was recovering, Jesse reorganised their flights home to New Zealand. When they returned to New Zealand, their insurer declined their claim for the cost of the new flights, saying that Jesse and Robin needed to provide a medical certificate as proof Robin was too sick to fly.

Veronica lost her dentures on her return flight and needed her dentures to eat. She made a claim under the emergency dental section of her travel insurance policy but was turned down by the insurer.

The travel agent knew the holiday was a motorcycle trip – should she have sold a policy that excluded all but 200cc motorcycles?

Jamie and Rose were travelling in Bali. Following media reports of a volcanic eruption, they returned to New Zealand. Their travel insurer declined their claim for costs, noting they had left due to their own personal choice. Jamie and Rose disagreed.

Shona changed her mind about travelling overseas when she was made redundant from her job. Shona knew that redundancy was a possibility when she booked her travel. Would Shona’s travel insurance cover her cancellation costs?

Should your travel insurer cover your loss when you feel you have no option but to cancel your travel?

Otto travels to the Netherlands when his father falls gravely ill and dies. Can the family claim back Otto’s travel costs on the basis he was an ‘accompanying person’?

Unexpected change of plans impact the decision to travel, but did the unexpected events cause the journey to be cancelled?

Monty sought to be reimbursed for the costs of a trip to Rarotonga. A few days before Monty was due to go, he felt unwell and went to see his doctor. He had low iron levels. The day before he was meant to leave Monty returned to the doctor and it was agreed he was too sick to go. Monty’s claim was declined because the insurer determined that his low iron levels were a pre-existing medical condition.

Sally and her family were unable to get to Vanuatu for their planned holiday because of the impact that Cyclone Cook had on their flights. Sally and her family travelled by taxi from Wellington to Napier in order to try and make their international flight from Auckland. Twenty minutes from Napier, they learnt that the flight from Napier was also cancelled. The insurance company refused to pay for the taxis.