Travel insurance
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31042)
United Kingdom
January 18, 2013 4:51am CST
A family of five people wanted to visit New York in the half term break last October. They spent around five thousand pounds on the flights there from the UK and the accommodation. They booked travel insurance just in case something bad happened. Unfortunately Hurricane Sandy hit New York. They rang their travel insurance provider. They said you can still go there because the UK Foreign Office haven't issued a travel warning advising people not to visit New York due to the natural disaster. The family traveled there otherwise they would lose all the money. The mean travel insurance company wouldn't give them a refund. They had to fly there and stay most of their time in the hotel.
I know a man that traveled to America with no travel insurance. Medical costs are very high in America and Canada it seems to me. A good travel insurance policy should cover medical costs, baggage and these days airline failure. I learned always read the small print of the travel insurance policy.
What do you think of the attitude of the travel insurance company?
Why are cheaper travel insurance companies keen on getting money but they are not keen on paying out claims?
Did you ever experience lost or delayed luggage?
Have you had an airline failure?
4 responses
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
21 Jan 13
They say the US and UK economies are struggling with their social security and healtcare systems.
We have neither in our country. We have to plan for them. And yet our government is not able to manage its funds. Its only the poorest of the poor out here who are entitled to such facilities from the government. Likewise, government employees, which includes politicians. Some of the companies that are modern offer medical insurances as long as the employee is with them. Otherwise, rest of us private citizens have to buy medical insurance. If I buy medical insurance for 5000 they will give me around 2000 or 3000. It seems so illogical. The only reason I continue is...that 2000 or 3000 may be necessary in more than one year...the probability...so I pay hefty premiums.
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 13
You really do have to read the small t&cs with a fine toothcomb, because you know if you don't you will a real important clause that they've snuck in and then you find too late that because of the clause you aren't entitled to a penny. They are very very clever in how they word their insurance policies! Fortunately albeit I've always taken out insurance I've never had to rely on it, or needed it when I've travelled. You do hear horror stories of people going away and not getting covered because they didn't read the smallprint.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
20 Jan 13
Hi Wolfie. It is wise of you to read the small print on the travel insurance policy you think of buying. Next time I will get travel insurance the same day I buy my transport. I am glad you have never had to make a travel insurance claim. I feel sorry for the people with the horror stories.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
19 Jan 13
There will always be insurance companies which will try to avoid paying out if possible, irrespective of whether it is travel, car or house insurance.
I very rarely bother with insurance because I only tend to travel within a couple of thousand miles. I do realise that I could be unfortunate and it could easily cost me a lot of money if there is an unexpected problem. Nevertheless, since I usually take a holiday 2 or 3 times a year, it would have cost a lot of money so far if I had used travel insurance.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
18 Jan 13
I have had delayed luggage a couple of times, fortunatly at those times where you took more than one suitcase. And I once took advantage of an insurance I had bought. I did not ask for the refund of lost things because the trouble was too much for what it was worth it. But the stolen luggage had my husband`s and my pills. I called a doctor and the gave me a Rp. with the brand name of our pills in that country. That was priceless.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
20 Jan 13
Hello Marguicha. It was a shame you had delayed luggage a few times. I know what you mean about the hassle of claiming for lost luggage. It was terrible your and your husband's medication went missing and so you needed a doctor to tell you the name of the pills in that country you were in. In Colombia my children had vomiting turn and I went to a local chemist with them. Hug.
