Topic: Travel Insurance

James cancelled his holiday when his brother was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was declined cover because the insurer said his cancer was a pre-existing medical condition. James disputed this finding. Was James’s cancer really a pre-existing medical condition?

A minor prawn allergy is diagnosed as a life-threatening allergy weeks before leaving for Vietnam. Will the insurer accept the claim when the trip is cancelled?

John had a medical emergency overseas and needed to fly home to New Zealand. The overseas doctor recommended that John fly business class so that he could elevate his legs. John’s travel insurance declined to provide John a business class ticket and booked him an economy ticket home.

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’?