Insurance Cancellation

[emam]

I'm curious, what would happen if after full payment your insurance provider cancelled your policy? A few people have mentioned that while waiting for tests/investigations that their insurance was cancelled. So if something arose after full payment what would happen, would the insurance provider cancel your holiday and reimburse you? I doubt that P&O would give you your money back. 

[zap99]

14 minutes ago, emam said:

I'm curious, what would happen if after full payment your insurance provider cancelled your policy? A few people have mentioned that while waiting for tests/investigations that their insurance was cancelled. So if something arose after full payment what would happen, would the insurance provider cancel your holiday and reimburse you? I doubt that P&O would give you your money back. 

There are Insurance companies that will still cover you . Insure and go cancelled ours. We got cover from goodtogo, but the wouldn't give cover for cancellation if you were on a waiting list.

Edited July 26, 2022 by zap99

[ElmaLee]

12 hours ago, emam said:

I'm curious, what would happen if after full payment your insurance provider cancelled your policy? A few people have mentioned that while waiting for tests/investigations that their insurance was cancelled. So if something arose after full payment what would happen, would the insurance provider cancel your holiday and reimburse you? I doubt that P&O would give you your money back. 

Why would they cancel your policy?
 Is it an annual policy and circumstances had changed at renewal but after cruise booked and company declined to provide cover for coming year?  If so there may be a get out if, when the cruise was booked the insured were not aware of any adverse circumstances. 

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, ElmaLee said:

Why would they cancel your policy?
 Is it an annual policy and circumstances had changed at renewal but after cruise booked and company declined to provide cover for coming year?  If so there may be a get out if, when the cruise was booked the insured were not aware of any adverse circumstances. 

Most annual policies require you to notify them of any changes in circumstances.  This includes new medical conditions, doctor visits, change of medication etc.   You are obliged during the life of your annual policy to notify the company otherwise your policy becomes invalid - my aunt's policy is currently refusing to pay out medical bills as a result of non notification of an ECG a month after the policy was purchased.

 

If at the point of notification of change the company or its underwriters do not wish to continue your cover they will lapse it and refund you pro rata.  If they do accept the medical change there is often an additional charge.

 

Some of the specialist insurers of older/medically impaired people ask after 6 months for you to confirm no change in conditions - Staysure used to send an email asking for confirmation of no change but I'm not sure if they still do.  One of two high end (national general insurers) accept your health declarations for a year without the need to amend declarations but most low to mid range insurers insist on "new conditions" being notified to them.

 

If you find yourself on a list for further investigation or awaiting surgery the insurance companies will cancel your policy and you become uninsured.  There are as Zap said one or two companies who will cover you if you are on a waiting list but not for cancellation.

 

[emam]

Ours hasn't been cancelled, it's just curiosity from things that have been mentioned before. For an example taken from Zap reply, someone takes out a yearly insurance, books a cruise and at the due time pays the balance. Then say a few weeks later but before the cruise they have to go on a waiting list (or something else crops up). The insurance then cancel your policy, so what would happen to your cruise or your money? 

[emam]

4 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

If you find yourself on a list for further investigation or awaiting surgery the insurance companies will cancel your policy and you become uninsured.  There are as Zap said one or two companies who will cover you if you are on a waiting list but not for cancellation.

 

 

So you lose your cruise and money.

[Megabear2]

19 minutes ago, emam said:

 

So you lose your cruise and money.

Not necessarily. You cannot cruise with P&O without insurance so assumedly if you called them and explained the situation they may well offer a solution. Or as I'm not aware of anyone who has been placed in the situation under discussion, but assuming it is a medical problem the traveller could cancel the cruise and claim on the insurance rather than just let the insurer know of the change in health.  

 

The insurer will only cancel your policy if the underwriter won't offer cover. Most people presumably wouldn't want to travel if they'd been diagnosed as unwell with something that dramatic. Otherwise as Zap said there are specialist insurers who will cover you if you are on a waiting list, normally for something non serious.

[Bin man]

I had a similar problem although I moved my two cruises for this year to 23/24 but now my coltis is now covered I had to declare that my heart rate was high and waiting for ecocardigram to see if there was anything wrong .They rang the underwriters and suspended my yearly cover till I got results supposed to refund me £3.61 .I have now informed them of no further investigation required from results and charged me £28 extra for the colitis cover which I guess is fair enough Now looking to book again but you are always wondering if you needed them would they try and get out of paying up .

[ElmaLee]

9 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Most annual policies require you to notify them of any changes in circumstances.  This includes new medical conditions, doctor visits, change of medication etc.   You are obliged during the life of your annual policy to notify the company otherwise your policy becomes invalid - my aunt's policy is currently refusing to pay out medical bills as a result of non notification of an ECG a month after the policy was purchased.

 

If at the point of notification of change the company or its underwriters do not wish to continue your cover they will lapse it and refund you pro rata.  If they do accept the medical change there is often an additional charge.

 

Some of the specialist insurers of older/medically impaired people ask after 6 months for you to confirm no change in conditions - Staysure used to send an email asking for confirmation of no change but I'm not sure if they still do.  One of two high end (national general insurers) accept your health declarations for a year without the need to amend declarations but most low to mid range insurers insist on "new conditions" being notified to them.

 

If you find yourself on a list for further investigation or awaiting surgery the insurance companies will cancel your policy and you become uninsured.  There are as Zap said one or two companies who will cover you if you are on a waiting list but not for cancellation.

 

I appreciate what you say.  However my post was intended to be about booking a holiday before you were aware of any changes incircumstances, then finding that insurer cancels when informed of subsequent changes in circumstances.  

The Financial Ombudsman Service has considrered this and states:

"If your insurer withdraws cover entirely, we’d expect them to offer to cover the costs of cancelling any holiday which was due to be taken during the policy year. Even if cancellation isn’t medically necessary at that point, we think this is the fair and reasonable thing for insurers to do."

[tring]

Insurance underwriters covering our insurance policies have always honoured holidays which had been booked prior to a change in health circumstances, though yes, if at the time of booking you were awaiting tests/investigations, any condition related to that would not be covered.  If something is not identified it is considered not insurable at all considering they could not put a risk assessment on it and charge the necessary extra premium.

 

I am thinking any cancellation after a holiday has been booked is perhaps for the low cost insurances, as Megabear implied.  Insurance is not something to economise on IMO and DH is careful to read all terms and conditions of policies - I am lucky his professional background leaves him very capable regards that.

 

With annual insurance though, that is assessed every year, so could be problems at that stage presumably, but once renewed, our insurance companies in recent years have only asked for health updates if a new holiday is booked and not if the only holidays booked, had been booked before the health change.  We have done well with any claims as well.  The insurance's have mainly been with AXA.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by tring

[davecttr]

I have a single trip policy with Axa for a cruise in late September with the final balance paid. I discovered a few days ago that I might need investigations for a potential heart condition which I might have but won't know for certain for a couple of weeks. If the decide to go ahead with the investigations I presume my cruise is toast and the money I paid is gone as well. Stressful times 🥺

[terrierjohn]

19 minutes ago, davecttr said:

I have a single trip policy with Axa for a cruise in late September with the final balance paid. I discovered a few days ago that I might need investigations for a potential heart condition which I might have but won't know for certain for a couple of weeks. If the decide to go ahead with the investigations I presume my cruise is toast and the money I paid is gone as well. Stressful times 🥺

If the need for the investigation occurred after you arranged the insurance then I would hope that the insurance would reimburse any cancellation costs. However since the sooner you cancel the less you will lose, then I would expect the insurer will want you to advise them of this situation asap, otherwise they may limit your claim to what you would have lost at the point you knew about the investigation.

[tring]

28 minutes ago, davecttr said:

I have a single trip policy with Axa for a cruise in late September with the final balance paid. I discovered a few days ago that I might need investigations for a potential heart condition which I might have but won't know for certain for a couple of weeks. If the decide to go ahead with the investigations I presume my cruise is toast and the money I paid is gone as well. Stressful times 🥺

 

Surely one of the reasons to take out travel insurance is for it to cover the cancellation costs if you cannot go for medical reasons?   I do not understand this thread at all.  Whilst it is usually necessary to inform an insurance company of any change in health issues, in our experience previously booked holidays are still covered as long as they are kept informed.  As I understand it, the problem Megabear's aunt had was because she had not informed her insurance company about a change.

 

As all policies vary, perhaps worth having a good read of your insurance T&C's if it is something you have not done previously though.  I agree with with John that you would be best telling your insurance company as soon as you know of any change.

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by tring

[davecttr]

Of course I will tell them if further investigations are needed as I have done for newly diagnosed Glaucoma recently. I have a face to face consultation next week so will have to hold on until then.

[terrierjohn]

3 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Of course I will tell them if further investigations are needed as I have done for newly diagnosed Glaucoma recently. I have a face to face consultation next week so will have to hold on until then.

You really should advise them regardless of whether you need further investigations, otherwise if you did need to make a claim for anything, the fact you have not disclosed these tests could give them cause to dismiss your claim. And as I said in my previous post the insurer will want to know asap just in case they believe you will need to cancel this cruise.

[tring]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

You really should advise them regardless of whether you need further investigations, otherwise if you did need to make a claim for anything, the fact you have not disclosed these tests could give them cause to dismiss your claim. And as I said in my previous post the insurer will want to know asap just in case they believe you will need to cancel this cruise.

 

I agree that you need to tell them if have been referred to a hospital, but not so sure if the situation is just a wait for a GP face to face apt., which can be an issue nowadays, unless the GP has already ordered some sort of test or investigations - perhaps just a blood sample, which I agree should be reported to an insurance company, unless it is just a routine test for screening purposes regards another condition.

 

Our previous insurance always said we need to notify them about pending tests and Investigations, but also told us that any hospital appointment is considered as such. 

 

The situation often occurs now with a phone apt with a GP and the GP says they need a face to face apt to assess a situation properly.  We then find it can be another week or two wait before the face to face apt.  Oh for some decent medical facilities like we used to have pre-covid!  I had better not start on dentistry - and I am not talking about NHS dentistry either...........

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by tring

[Megabear2]

6 hours ago, tring said:

As I understand it, the problem Megabear's aunt had was because she had not informed her insurance company about a change.

Actually that is not what happened.  My aunt had what was described as a funny turn and her neighour called the paramedics who came and checked her out. For peace of mind when they couldn't find anything wrong they sent her to hospital to be checked out thoroughly. All tests including an ECG came back with nothing shown as wrong.  After the tests she had a face to face appointment with her GP who informed her there was nothing wrong and the tests were all normal.  He was aware she had three holidays booked and as requested completed the wellness certificate suggested by Princess and P&O.

 

As the results showed nothing wrong there was technically nothing to declare but Good to Go are refusing payment based on a possible existing heart problem which the ECG did not show up.

 

Very complicated but under discussion with medical and insurance experts - the bill is pretty big!

[Megabear2]

6 hours ago, davecttr said:

I have a single trip policy with Axa for a cruise in late September with the final balance paid. I discovered a few days ago that I might need investigations for a potential heart condition which I might have but won't know for certain for a couple of weeks. If the decide to go ahead with the investigations I presume my cruise is toast and the money I paid is gone as well. Stressful times 🥺

If you have had any investigations of any type you should put your insurer on notice you are awaiting tests but currently have nothing to declare.  Your policy should certainly cover cancellation if you are found to be unwell.

[tring]

22 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Actually that is not what happened.  My aunt had what was described as a funny turn and her neighour called the paramedics who came and checked her out. For peace of mind when they couldn't find anything wrong they sent her to hospital to be checked out thoroughly. All tests including an ECG came back with nothing shown as wrong.  After the tests she had a face to face appointment with her GP who informed her there was nothing wrong and the tests were all normal.  He was aware she had three holidays booked and as requested completed the wellness certificate suggested by Princess and P&O.

 

As the results showed nothing wrong there was technically nothing to declare but Good to Go are refusing payment based on a possible existing heart problem which the ECG did not show up.

 

Very complicated but under discussion with medical and insurance experts - the bill is pretty big!

 

Gosh, that does sound unfair.  I hope all turns out in your aunt's favour.  I was aware you had mentioned this whilst we were away recently, but did not read all the posts and also had not been around before your first thread was pulled, which I had seen mentioned on a later thread.

 

Insurance certainly is a very big minefield and I do wonder if the companies are becoming more problematic to deal with as time goes on.  A lot of people would just not be able to contest such a situation as well, which is very sad.

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by tring

[terrierjohn]

18 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Actually that is not what happened.  My aunt had what was described as a funny turn and her neighour called the paramedics who came and checked her out. For peace of mind when they couldn't find anything wrong they sent her to hospital to be checked out thoroughly. All tests including an ECG came back with nothing shown as wrong.  After the tests she had a face to face appointment with her GP who informed her there was nothing wrong and the tests were all normal.  He was aware she had three holidays booked and as requested completed the wellness certificate suggested by Princess and P&O.

 

As the results showed nothing wrong there was technically nothing to declare but Good to Go are refusing payment based on a possible existing heart problem which the ECG did not show up.

 

Very complicated but under discussion with medical and insurance experts - the bill is pretty big!

You have my sympathy MB, it must be very stressful for the whole family.  I had a similar situation to your aunt where the paramedics ECG and tests looked normal but took me into hospital just in case. A&E did a further ECG  which was OK, but to be safe my doctor then ordered a heart monitor test, which also proved normal. 

This was in between cruise bookings, but to be safe I contacted my insurer and gave them the ful details and this is now recorded on my pre existing conditions, and no extra cost was added. So hopefully if I have to claim in future for a heart problem they won't have any reason to invalidate it because it was not disclosed.

[Megabear2]

12 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

You have my sympathy MB, it must be very stressful for the whole family.  I had a similar situation to your aunt where the paramedics ECG and tests looked normal but took me into hospital just in case. A&E did a further ECG  which was OK, but to be safe my doctor then ordered a heart monitor test, which also proved normal. 

This was in between cruise bookings, but to be safe I contacted my insurer and gave them the ful details and this is now recorded on my pre existing conditions, and no extra cost was added. So hopefully if I have to claim in future for a heart problem they won't have any reason to invalidate it because it was not disclosed.

A most sensible course of action.  Interestingly the call record of Paying Too Much shows my aunt discussing the event and explaining nothing found to be wrong.  They obviously relay the information to their chosen insurer, in this case Good to Go. Lesson here is that the intermediary didn't add it to the declarations and my aunt at 83 assumed they were the same company, she didn't realise Paying Too Much wasn't the insurer as all the paperwork is emblazoned with their name.  

 

Fingers crossed she is flying back into UK tomorrow after several false alarms with no companion carer being available. The flight company are now prepared to take her with only one nurse.  She is now awake, albeit not really communicating, but certainly stable.  

 

 

[Fionboard]

Had a BP test last week and it was slightly elevated. Phoned surgery yesterday and got a face to face appointment at 9.30. Doc prescribed standard BP medication. Told Payingtoomuch. Condition added to policy at cost of extra ten pounds. Think I was lucky.

[Megabear2]

20 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

Had a BP test last week and it was slightly elevated. Phoned surgery yesterday and got a face to face appointment at 9.30. Doc prescribed standard BP medication. Told Payingtoomuch. Condition added to policy at cost of extra ten pounds. Think I was lucky.

Pleased it was reasonable.  Paying toomuch are not an insurer, they are the price comparison site.  They will have allocated you to one of their panel of insurers, do you know which one as a matter of interest?  

 

The paperwork from Payingtoomuch is confusing as it makes it look as if they are your insurer, it's what confused my aunt as she thought they were her insurer when it was actually Good to Go.

 

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/payingtoomuch

Edited July 27, 2022 by Megabear2

[tring]

3 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Actually that is not what happened.  My aunt had what was described as a funny turn and her neighour called the paramedics who came and checked her out. For peace of mind when they couldn't find anything wrong they sent her to hospital to be checked out thoroughly. All tests including an ECG came back with nothing shown as wrong.  After the tests she had a face to face appointment with her GP who informed her there was nothing wrong and the tests were all normal.  He was aware she had three holidays booked and as requested completed the wellness certificate suggested by Princess and P&O.

 

As the results showed nothing wrong there was technically nothing to declare but Good to Go are refusing payment based on a possible existing heart problem which the ECG did not show up.

 

Very complicated but under discussion with medical and insurance experts - the bill is pretty big!

 

DH has just reminded me the way forward with problems like this is via the insurance ombudsman.  Whilst I am sure you know what you are doing, I thought it worth mentioning here for the sake of anyone who has a claims problem, now or in the future, which they think should have been met by their insurance company, but is being disputed. 

 

The ombudsman service is a user friendly system I am told, so should be fine for use by those without knowledge of consumer law.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by tring

[Billish]

3 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Pleased it was reasonable.  Paying toomuch are not an insurer, they are the price comparison site.  They will have allocated you to one of their panel of insurers, do you know which one as a matter of interest?  

 

The paperwork from Payingtoomuch is confusing as it makes it look as if they are your insurer, it's what confused my aunt as she thought they were her insurer when it was actually Good to Go.

 

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/payingtoomuch

Good point. 

Same as car insurance etc. You find a quote through Compare the Market or similar,  but you buy your policy  through the link they provide.