Topic: Travel Insurance

Mike and Margaret were travelling to Hawaii for a holiday. Unfortunately Margaret had a recurrence of leg ulcers and could not fly. Mike and Margaret changed their flights and accommodation to later in the year. Mike and Margaret’s separate travel insurance claims were declined because Margaret’s leg ulcers were deemed a pre-existing medical condition. Was this fair?

Renee and Raymond book a trip to the islands. Before purchasing travel insurance, Renee had been suffering chest pain and was awaiting a specialist appointment. When the specialist suspects Renee has blocked arteries he advises them to cancel their trip. Renee and Raymond’s travel insurer declines their claim for cancellation costs on the basis of a pre-existing medical condition exclusion clause.

Mei needed hospital treatment while she was in Hawaii. Her insurance company declined to cover the hospital bill as it considered Mei went to hospital for a pre-existing medical condition. Did the insurance company correctly decline Mei’s claim?

Period of Insurance ended when traveller returned to New Zealand, meaning bags left overseas were disposed of outside the period of insurance.

Kevin and his wife travel with their daughter, Elisa, to Bali. When Elisa’s departure is delayed, she returns home later than expected. However, because Elisa’s return flights are to Australia, Kevin’s claim is declined.

Laura travelled to Canada to attend her nephew’s wedding. En route to the wedding, Laura stayed a night at a B&B. She left one of her suitcases in her rental car parked in the B&B’s carpark. The suitcase was stolen overnight. Laura’s insurer declined her claim for her stolen property.

The insured cancels her travel because she expected to receive a hospital appointment during the period of her travel.

Pauline, an international student from the United States, needed surgery to remove abdominal adhesions while she was in New Zealand. Pauline had received surgery for the same issue prior to coming to New Zealand. Does her travel insurance policy cover the cost of her treatment?

While on a ski trip in Japan, Justin’s friend and travel companion sadly committed suicide. Justin took his friend’s ashes back to New Zealand and attended the funeral. Justin’s travel insurer denied his claim for his extra travel costs because an exclusion clause in the policy excluded cover for losses resulting from suicide. Justin thought the exclusion clause should only exclude cover for losses arising from an insured’s suicide.

Michael waited until after he had booked his trip to Europe to organise travel insurance. Michael did not disclose a recent skin infection to his insurer. A short time later Michael’s skin infection flared up requiring serious treatment. Michael had to cancel his trip but his insurer refused to cover his cancellation costs saying the condition was pre-existing. Michael complains this is unfair.