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BEWARE THE HOLIDAY COVER SURPRISE

Getting sick overseas can leave a hole in your wallet

Monday April 7,2008

By Maisha Frost

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(1)

GETTING sick overseas is one of the costliest causes of insurance claims but it’s not just cover for your own mishaps that you need to be sure about.

If you are travelling in a pair, it is worth reflecting what would happen if something happened to your partner and what impact that would have on both of you.

A lot of devil lurks in the detail of cancellation rights clauses.

Which is why David and Annette Elliott were particularly confident with their plan promising “worldwide cover for you and your partner”.

The comprehensive joint scheme was one of the best perks the retired couple received as Lloyds TSB Gold Account customers.

David rang to double check everything was in order before the two set off on a trip to Canada.

“We were assured everything was fine but David was persuaded to upgrade the policy so there was no excess waiver,” said Annette, from Colchester, Essex.

The Elliotts paid for both the holiday and the upgrade on their gold Visa card.

But just a few days into the trip last year, David was taken to hospital following a major stroke. He spent a month there before being flown back to a UK hospital where he a needed a further three months’ rehabilitation.

Annette has been his full-time carer ever since.

The couple had to cancel the major part of their break; a package touring the Rockies and cruising the Gulf of Alaska.

Insurance underwriter Axa paid David’s bills but was unforthcoming on Annette’s
£2,500 claim to cover her cancelled holiday costs.

“Of course if I’d just continued alone and left my desperately ill husband to fend for himself there would have been no problem. But we’ve been married for 42
years and I’d no intention of leaving his side,” Annette told Crusader.

“I thought we were covered. We should have read the small print but it never occurred to us. It seems a highwayman has been at work.”

But Lloyds TSB, where the Elliotts have banked for a long time, has now come
down on the side of right.

A spokeswoman explained: “There has been a full review of the case and we sincerely apologise to Mrs Elliott for the upset caused. In the light of the circumstances, her claim will be paid in full, no excess deducted.

We are also sending her a bouquet of flowers.” Annette said: “I felt so upset at the first response when we had been so careful to do everything correctly.

Crusader made the difference. We won’t be going on holiday again soon but I hope this will give others heart in their struggles

HOLIDAY INSURANCE COVER

10.11.08, 3:00pm

With regards to the story about the unfortunate Mr.& Mrs. Elliot, my family also have an ongoing claim for a canceled holiday, again through Lloyds TSB (PLATINUM account), with AXA being the underwriters.
Myself, my partner Alex, and our 11yr old daughter Carys, were due to go to Corfu in October, but had to cancel due to Alexs' aunt being diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a few weeks to live. Alex was her aunts next of kin and main carer.
We canceled our trip on the advice given by an employee at the insurances' travel department. We are now fighting their refusal to pay, as they say they have NO record of the initial phone call, eventhough we supplied them with all call dates/times from the first call.
Alexs' aunt passed away in the week we should have been away.
We may have re-scheduled or given the holiday to other family members, not thrown the money away.
We will fight to the last, as it was the insurers who gave the advice, not us giving incorrect information.
I will keep you informed of any progression in our case.
many thanks, MARTIN J SMITH

• Posted by: OSPREY31 • Report Comment