Topic: Travel Insurance

A couple cancels their travel plans because of a death in the family. The insurer denies their claim for cancellation costs, saying the couple isn’t covered for the death of any person aged 85 or over. Should the couple have been told about the exclusion?

Holly’s insurer declined her claim for treatment and antibiotics for a urinary tract infection (UTI) while Holly was overseas. Because she had consulted a doctor and received treatment for a number of UTI’s in the two years prior, her insurers classed it as a pre-existing medical condition. Holly believed each infection was an isolated incident.

What if your doctor and your insurer disagree about whether appendicitis is a pre-existing medical condition?

Tim had a double bypass and aortic aneurysm a number of years ago, but had suffered no issues since. His medicine for these conditions hadn’t changed in a number of years. After declaring these conditions in his medical declaration, Tim obtained travel insurance with these conditions excluded from the policy. Days before he left on his trip to South Africa, Tim experienced major ‘cramp’ in his leg and could no longer travel. Did he have cover?

Bob and his wife were travelling to Norfolk Island. Because he had experienced previous heart issues, Bob purchased more expensive insurance with better cover. Before take-off Bob, who also had a history of panic attacks, had an ‘episode’ on the plane. The paramedics recommended he didn’t fly. The insurers declined his claim because of an exclusion clause to do with panic attacks. Bob believed he wasn’t allowed to fly because of his heart. Was the insurer right to attribute the episode to a ‘panic attack?’

What happens when a doctor will not say how someone died to allow an insurer to process the claim?

You are a student in New Zealand and require expensive dental treatment – does you your student policy cover this expense?

A man leaves his laptop on a table on a busy street in Chiang Mai while he pops around the corner to relieve himself, only to find when he returns that his laptop has vanished into thin air.

Travel insurance policy limited to cover for lost travel documents, not the disruption to travel caused by the loss

Patrick fell for a credit card scam when enjoying a drink at a bar in Krakow. Should his travel insurer have to compensate him for his loss?