Holiday Insurance

[bethbilly]

My husband and myself go on a cruise round the med on Sunday.2weeks ago today he saw a doctor about blood clots and bleeding from his badder .he got antibiotics .and I also phoned our insurance to let them know.the doctor also said he refer him for an exploratory of his bladder when we got back .the insurance said they would still insure us for all his other ailments (of which there are a few !) but not for a recurrence of the bladder problem .he finished course of antibiotics and three days later problem reoccurred, got more antibiotics which he,s still on . Problem is the course end on second day of holiday .my daughter says the insurance should still cover us as we got insured 5 weeks ago .what any abs think (sorry for length of question )

[ummmm]

In my experience they ask if any symptoms of an illness/condition has occurred in the last year.

[Ellipsis]

I think your insurers are saying that if the bladder problem recurs while you're on holiday, they're not covering you; if you therefore choose to cancel the holiday, you're covered for that.

I would say don't go unless you can be sure this condition is covered.

[FoxLee2]

Could your husband see the gp today and get another course of antibiotics in case he needs them while you are away?

[Bobbisox1]

Any reoccurrence of a problem has to be told to the insurer even a second time, that's my interpretation of the small print anyhow

[Bobbisox1]

Sorry forgot to add, it'll be now classed as a pre condition

[Sqad]

I can't help with your insurance problem although I guess that your husband would not be discovered for another bladder bleed on the cruise.
If I were in your situation, I would cancel my cruise.
Antibiotics are not going to be the answer here and should he bleed on the cruise, he may well develop "clot retention" which is not only painful but would need hospitalisation, which may well prove costly.
He will certainly need an endoscopy of his bladder and the sooner the better.It is disappointing to cancel a cruise, but would it be spoiled by worrying about his bladder problems?

[Sqad]

"covered" ^^^^^

[woofgang]

If they have said they won't insure you for a recurrence then that would seem to be the answer.....but I am not sure why you are asking us? whatever we say will not change what the insurers will say and you should be talking to them.

[gingejbee]

I know somebody who had just these same symptoms that antibiotics didn't help....and it turned out to be rather more serious than an infection. I wouldn't want to go abroad with those symptoms possibly recurring while I was away from the UK.

[teacake44]

Its not a hard decision albeit a very disappointing one to have to make. A holiday can be taken another time, and could also be at a more relaxed time. I'm afraid its a case of priority.

[Hymie]

I think this type of problem with insurance companies is a common issue.

Imagine I insure myself against becoming ill and being able to travel on a holiday. One week before the holiday I become ill (and advise the insurance company) and the insurance company advises me that I will not be covered for this illness.

Clearly even if such a condition was within the insurance term’s small print, the financial ombudsman would find against the insurance company as an unfair term - as it would make any successful claim against the insurer virtually impossible.

[Hymie]

Should you decide to takes Squad’s advice and cancel the cruise, your only chance of successfully claiming for the cost of the cruise (against the insurer) would be to have a doctor advise against travel.

[Deskdiary]

There's no such thing as "small print" in any insurance contract, and certainly not within a contract aimed at consumers. Consumer insurance contracts are very easy to understand.

All insurance contracts set out what is and what is not covered...the word 'policy' is a misnomer - they are contracts, and like all contracts there are obligations each party must adhere to

The above said, pre-existing conditions are generally excluded, but it sounds to me as though you took out the insurance before your husband's condition was diagnosed, and what is happening is an extension of the original condition...and therefore did not exist when you took the policy out, and was therefore not pre-existing.

You need to speak to somebody a bit higher-up in the organisation as the person you spoke is either employing a bit of sharp practice, or doesn't understand how the contract works - I suspect the latter. Unfortunately the vast majority of the rank and file working in the consumer insurance industry are (a) generally young and (b) have no idea.

[Ellipsis]

I think the insurance company's approach is fair enough. They have told you you're not covered for that condition, which is enough to cancel and get a refund (less excess). Or you can travel and be covered for anything but that condition - your risk. For things that might not cost you much, e.g. antibiotics, it may be worth travelling depending on your financial state and appetite for risk.

[Hymie]

Rather than ‘small print’, perhaps I should have said the insurance document terms and conditions printed in a smaller font.

[ubasses]

I have just looked at my travel insurance policy. It clearly states that if I got an illness between booking holiday and travelling they will tell me whether they are able to cover that illness. I then have the choice of cancelling which they will pay out for, or continuing without cover for the new illness.

[maggiebee]

As a slight aside - can you take a chance and go on holiday without insurance or do travel companies insist on it?

[ubasses]

The risk of being taken ill on a cruise ship, are financially, very high. All bills for care are charged to the cabin's account and have to be paid by the passenger, reclaiming it later from insurance (if any is held). If serious and helicopter evacuation is required, the bill could end up in the 10's of thousands.
Bethbilly is going to have to think very seriously about continuing.

[TonyV]

Maggie bee of course you can go without or minimal insurance, but if you have a medical problem, just watch the bills tot up.

[237SJ]

Yes, you can travel without insurance and the travel companies/airlines have no record of whether you have insurance or not.