Topic: Travel Insurance

You’ve booked a trip to travel to Australia with your elderly mother. You have to cancel the trip and your mother cannot travel without you. You tell your insurer this and then you book another trip to Rarotonga with your mother, during which your mother passes away. Your insurer then tells you there is only cover for people aged 59 years or less, and will not uphold your claim for additional expenses incurred. FSCL investigates.

Sophie travelled to Australia but only purchased her return ticket to New Zealand once she had arrived in Australia. When Sophie went to make a travel insurance claim her insurance company told her that she had not met its eligibility criteria to receive insurance cover.

Following Jason’s grandson in the United Kingdom being hospitalised, Jason cancelled his family holiday to Florida. Jason made a claim under his travel insurance policy for his lost deposit.

You start to suffer from symptoms of mercury poisoning while travelling overseas. You and your travel insurance company cannot agree on the quantum of your claim for ongoing medical costs incurred upon returning to New Zealand.

Jason was booked to travel from Wellington to Athens to take up a work opportunity.

While Graeme was on holiday in India he underwent emergency surgery for a detached retina. Once he returned to New Zealand Graeme required a second surgery to further restore his vision. Graeme’s travel insurance covered his medical treatment in India but did not cover the cost of the second surgery in New Zealand.

While overseas you go to a busy restaurant. You sit down, order and place your handbag on the table. After enjoying your meal, you notice that your handbag is gone. You report the theft immediately to local authorities and notify your insurer and bank. Your insurance claim for the money in your handbag is declined because the money was not ‘on your person’ at the time of the theft. Is this fair?

While Andrew and Penny were on a cruise they both fell ill and were quarantined on the ship for 5 days. Their claim for medical costs was declined because both Andrew and Penny were aged over 75 years.

While travelling back from Australia, Sally discovers her jewellery is missing from her handbag. FSCL weighs the evidence and decides John and Sally’s travel insurance claim to replace the jewellery should not be upheld.

While on holiday in Thailand, Eric’s tooth fell out. Eric received dental treatment in Thailand. Upon his return Eric made a claim to his insurer for his dental treatment. However, his insurance company declined his claim.