Sensitive issue that may involve Insurance claims
Discussion
We have had two holidays booked for well over a year. We have Barclays Insurance cover (underwitten by Aviva) - pay £15 a month for Insurance and breakdown cover.
We have a Miami stay followed by a Caribbean cruise next month. Fully paid up.
In April we have 12 nights in the Maldives for a delayed special birthday. In this case I've paid a £195 deposit. A further £1000 deposit is due on Thursday (to cover flights) then the rest (£6k) due in early March.
My elderly mother was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer in December confirmed by MRI (large tumour. Due to age (90's) and fragility no further investigation followed so we have no idea of timescale. She's been admitted to a care home and although her only symptoms are weight loss she's basically palliative.
So I contacted her GP and was told more than likely a few months but could go longer up to six months bless her.
The issue (taking all emotion out of the situation) is the Maldives holiday in April. She's in a safe place surrounded by family doing daily visits etc so no issues there and she wants us to crack on whatever happens but obviously that won't happen if her health drastically goes downhill beforehand or we face missing the funeral. I won't let it, naturally.
I'm not sure what to do and am wondering about the Insurance situation if we were to proceed. We paid £195 deposit last year, cancer discovered Dec. If I press on and pay for the flights now fully aware of the cancer,followed by the £6k balance in March are we leaving ourselves open to a potential claim being rejected due to a pre existing condition, a condition that didn't exist before we booked but manifested itself before we paid the final balance?
Easier just to bin it off? Worried if I call them they'll note it and subsequently do our legs if we claim.
We have a Miami stay followed by a Caribbean cruise next month. Fully paid up.
In April we have 12 nights in the Maldives for a delayed special birthday. In this case I've paid a £195 deposit. A further £1000 deposit is due on Thursday (to cover flights) then the rest (£6k) due in early March.
My elderly mother was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer in December confirmed by MRI (large tumour. Due to age (90's) and fragility no further investigation followed so we have no idea of timescale. She's been admitted to a care home and although her only symptoms are weight loss she's basically palliative.
So I contacted her GP and was told more than likely a few months but could go longer up to six months bless her.
The issue (taking all emotion out of the situation) is the Maldives holiday in April. She's in a safe place surrounded by family doing daily visits etc so no issues there and she wants us to crack on whatever happens but obviously that won't happen if her health drastically goes downhill beforehand or we face missing the funeral. I won't let it, naturally.
I'm not sure what to do and am wondering about the Insurance situation if we were to proceed. We paid £195 deposit last year, cancer discovered Dec. If I press on and pay for the flights now fully aware of the cancer,followed by the £6k balance in March are we leaving ourselves open to a potential claim being rejected due to a pre existing condition, a condition that didn't exist before we booked but manifested itself before we paid the final balance?
Easier just to bin it off? Worried if I call them they'll note it and subsequently do our legs if we claim.
Anyone used Chatgpt ? under our circumstances it says this : I guess I need to call them.
Most UK travel insurers treat each new payment as a new financial commitment.
Once you are aware of:
a serious illness, and
a reasonable chance the trip may need to be cancelled
then voluntarily increasing your financial exposure (by paying the balance) is often classed as:
“acting unreasonably” or “failing to mitigate loss”
Most UK travel insurers treat each new payment as a new financial commitment.
Once you are aware of:
a serious illness, and
a reasonable chance the trip may need to be cancelled
then voluntarily increasing your financial exposure (by paying the balance) is often classed as:
“acting unreasonably” or “failing to mitigate loss”
I've had 2 issues in the same area, both with Aviva.
For the first one, my Dad became very ill, sometime around July. We had a holiday booked and all paid for, leaving mid-september. My Dad got worse and I started to think I might need to cancel. Phoned Aviva - I was covered if I cancelled, but not covered if I chose to go and needed to cut the holiday short. The decision was made for me as he died a few days before we were due to go. Aviva paid out for all non refundable holiday costs pretty promptly.
The second one has just happened. We're supposed to be at Gatwick right now, waiting to fly to Lisbon to spend a month in Portugal. My Mum had an emergency operation on 8th December and the situation has been very fluid since then. I dithered for a few weeks and then came to the conclusion I needed to cancel. Aviva have paid out already.
You need to consider the impact if she died whilst you were away, or a couple of weeks before youre due to leave. You wouldn't be covered by insurance. Would you miss the funeral for the holiday? If not then you need to cancel now.
For the first one, my Dad became very ill, sometime around July. We had a holiday booked and all paid for, leaving mid-september. My Dad got worse and I started to think I might need to cancel. Phoned Aviva - I was covered if I cancelled, but not covered if I chose to go and needed to cut the holiday short. The decision was made for me as he died a few days before we were due to go. Aviva paid out for all non refundable holiday costs pretty promptly.
The second one has just happened. We're supposed to be at Gatwick right now, waiting to fly to Lisbon to spend a month in Portugal. My Mum had an emergency operation on 8th December and the situation has been very fluid since then. I dithered for a few weeks and then came to the conclusion I needed to cancel. Aviva have paid out already.
You need to consider the impact if she died whilst you were away, or a couple of weeks before youre due to leave. You wouldn't be covered by insurance. Would you miss the funeral for the holiday? If not then you need to cancel now.
Contacted Aviva. The first holiday (which is paid up) can be cancelled at any time up to and during booking with refund of all non refundable costs.
The second holiday to Maldives, although booked prior to illness being diagnosed, any further further payments made after diagnosis won't be refunded so I've cancelled it.
The second holiday to Maldives, although booked prior to illness being diagnosed, any further further payments made after diagnosis won't be refunded so I've cancelled it.
Sorry - my previous response was typed on my phone, so I missed some of the points in your original post, particularly the bit about not wanting to miss the funeral.
Aviva are pretty good regarding paying out. For me, it was a case of submit the claim, breaking it down into individual items - e.g. hotel, flights, villa, ferry etc, then wait for their email asking for proof of both the original booking and the fact that it's been cancelled and no refund (or partial refund) is due. They'll also ask for proof of your Mum's illness - I had a couple of pieces of hospital correspondence which was good enough. At this point, if you've found you've claimed for something that was actually refundable, just put a note and they'll be fine with that. I found the process very straightforward, and there was no holding on the phone for hours.
Aviva are pretty good regarding paying out. For me, it was a case of submit the claim, breaking it down into individual items - e.g. hotel, flights, villa, ferry etc, then wait for their email asking for proof of both the original booking and the fact that it's been cancelled and no refund (or partial refund) is due. They'll also ask for proof of your Mum's illness - I had a couple of pieces of hospital correspondence which was good enough. At this point, if you've found you've claimed for something that was actually refundable, just put a note and they'll be fine with that. I found the process very straightforward, and there was no holding on the phone for hours.
omniflow said:
Sorry - my previous response was typed on my phone, so I missed some of the points in your original post, particularly the bit about not wanting to miss the funeral.
Aviva are pretty good regarding paying out. For me, it was a case of submit the claim, breaking it down into individual items - e.g. hotel, flights, villa, ferry etc, then wait for their email asking for proof of both the original booking and the fact that it's been cancelled and no refund (or partial refund) is due. They'll also ask for proof of your Mum's illness - I had a couple of pieces of hospital correspondence which was good enough. At this point, if you've found you've claimed for something that was actually refundable, just put a note and they'll be fine with that. I found the process very straightforward, and there was no holding on the phone for hours.
Many thanks. We went through a similar process a few years back with Barclays / Aviva when the father in law died but that was straight forward. The non refunding of balance payments after diagnosis in this case (and long after initial booking) is worth noting - they were adamant on that point but happy to refund the initial deposit and any balance payments before diagnosis. It's a £7k holiday, not worth taking any risks I guess. Aviva are pretty good regarding paying out. For me, it was a case of submit the claim, breaking it down into individual items - e.g. hotel, flights, villa, ferry etc, then wait for their email asking for proof of both the original booking and the fact that it's been cancelled and no refund (or partial refund) is due. They'll also ask for proof of your Mum's illness - I had a couple of pieces of hospital correspondence which was good enough. At this point, if you've found you've claimed for something that was actually refundable, just put a note and they'll be fine with that. I found the process very straightforward, and there was no holding on the phone for hours.
I had a similar situation over last summer. I'd booked a holiday to India for November paying £2k deposit around April time. Mother in law gets admitted to hospital in July and ongoing care looks like we wouldn't be able to spend 12 days away. So I rang the agent who I booked it with and I had to pay another £3k (I think because I'd booked business class flights?) to cancel it and then reclaim on the insurance. Fortunately for me I'd taken out their insurance which included the option to 'cancel for any reason' up to 7-days before departure as well as the usual extended family illness crisis cover.
The insurance company was French (Xplorassur) and you can sense where this is going with my limited language skills and their 'availability' of an English speaking agent. I was then in a dilemma, do I write off the £2k (in which case the tavel agent may pursue the remaining balance as a debt as in the t&c) or do I pay the £3k to cancel and then claim though the insurance?
I went through the insurance using their online portal. Yes there was a lot of 'proof of indentity and bank IBAN details' but within 10 days got the full refund minus a small percentage and purchase price of the insurance. I was very impressed with the quick and smooth process.
I've already got annual worldwide insurance cover with Aviva (thinking this would be my reserve option) but Mrs S has a number of ailments that they will not cover and the Travel Agent I use (Voyage Prive) offers the insurance with Xplorassur which doesn't appear to exclude pre-existing conditions (after several reads of their t&c) and provided you're not travelling against medical advice you're covered. Xplorassur used to offer travel insurance direct but it appears it's now only available via third-party travel agents.
I rebooked India with Voyage Prive after we stabilised the MIL's ongoing treatment and travelled in December. The second time I've used VP and have to say they were again outstanding.
OP the first time I booked with VP was to the Maldives and have to say it's the best and most beautiful place we've ever been! An island with a sea plane transfer with 'flip-flop airways' is essential! You'll enjoy it.
The insurance company was French (Xplorassur) and you can sense where this is going with my limited language skills and their 'availability' of an English speaking agent. I was then in a dilemma, do I write off the £2k (in which case the tavel agent may pursue the remaining balance as a debt as in the t&c) or do I pay the £3k to cancel and then claim though the insurance?
I went through the insurance using their online portal. Yes there was a lot of 'proof of indentity and bank IBAN details' but within 10 days got the full refund minus a small percentage and purchase price of the insurance. I was very impressed with the quick and smooth process.
I've already got annual worldwide insurance cover with Aviva (thinking this would be my reserve option) but Mrs S has a number of ailments that they will not cover and the Travel Agent I use (Voyage Prive) offers the insurance with Xplorassur which doesn't appear to exclude pre-existing conditions (after several reads of their t&c) and provided you're not travelling against medical advice you're covered. Xplorassur used to offer travel insurance direct but it appears it's now only available via third-party travel agents.
I rebooked India with Voyage Prive after we stabilised the MIL's ongoing treatment and travelled in December. The second time I've used VP and have to say they were again outstanding.
OP the first time I booked with VP was to the Maldives and have to say it's the best and most beautiful place we've ever been! An island with a sea plane transfer with 'flip-flop airways' is essential! You'll enjoy it.
Armitage.Shanks said:
I had a similar situation over last summer. I'd booked a holiday to India for November paying £2k deposit around April time. Mother in law gets admitted to hospital in July and ongoing care looks like we wouldn't be able to spend 12 days away. So I rang the agent who I booked it with and I had to pay another £3k (I think because I'd booked business class flights?) to cancel it and then reclaim on the insurance. Fortunately for me I'd taken out their insurance which included the option to 'cancel for any reason' up to 7-days before departure as well as the usual extended family illness crisis cover.
The insurance company was French (Xplorassur) and you can sense where this is going with my limited language skills and their 'availability' of an English speaking agent. I was then in a dilemma, do I write off the £2k (in which case the tavel agent may pursue the remaining balance as a debt as in the t&c) or do I pay the £3k to cancel and then claim though the insurance?
I went through the insurance using their online portal. Yes there was a lot of 'proof of indentity and bank IBAN details' but within 10 days got the full refund minus a small percentage and purchase price of the insurance. I was very impressed with the quick and smooth process.
I've already got annual worldwide insurance cover with Aviva (thinking this would be my reserve option) but Mrs S has a number of ailments that they will not cover and the Travel Agent I use (Voyage Prive) offers the insurance with Xplorassur which doesn't appear to exclude pre-existing conditions (after several reads of their t&c) and provided you're not travelling against medical advice you're covered. Xplorassur used to offer travel insurance direct but it appears it's now only available via third-party travel agents.
I rebooked India with Voyage Prive after we stabilised the MIL's ongoing treatment and travelled in December. The second time I've used VP and have to say they were again outstanding.
OP the first time I booked with VP was to the Maldives and have to say it's the best and most beautiful place we've ever been! An island with a sea plane transfer with 'flip-flop airways' is essential! You'll enjoy it.
Thanks, we've done the Maldives a few times so no real issues with cancelling and rebooking. Last June the seaplane pilot was barefoot, he'd binned off the flip flops completely until the bloody thing broke down and left us stranded on some random Island !The insurance company was French (Xplorassur) and you can sense where this is going with my limited language skills and their 'availability' of an English speaking agent. I was then in a dilemma, do I write off the £2k (in which case the tavel agent may pursue the remaining balance as a debt as in the t&c) or do I pay the £3k to cancel and then claim though the insurance?
I went through the insurance using their online portal. Yes there was a lot of 'proof of indentity and bank IBAN details' but within 10 days got the full refund minus a small percentage and purchase price of the insurance. I was very impressed with the quick and smooth process.
I've already got annual worldwide insurance cover with Aviva (thinking this would be my reserve option) but Mrs S has a number of ailments that they will not cover and the Travel Agent I use (Voyage Prive) offers the insurance with Xplorassur which doesn't appear to exclude pre-existing conditions (after several reads of their t&c) and provided you're not travelling against medical advice you're covered. Xplorassur used to offer travel insurance direct but it appears it's now only available via third-party travel agents.
I rebooked India with Voyage Prive after we stabilised the MIL's ongoing treatment and travelled in December. The second time I've used VP and have to say they were again outstanding.
OP the first time I booked with VP was to the Maldives and have to say it's the best and most beautiful place we've ever been! An island with a sea plane transfer with 'flip-flop airways' is essential! You'll enjoy it.
Good to hear about Voyage Prive, they do some exceptional deals to the Maldives, I find their site quite addictive .
DT1975 said:
We have had two holidays booked for well over a year. We have Barclays Insurance cover (underwitten by Aviva) - pay £15 a month for Insurance and breakdown cover.
We have a Miami stay followed by a Caribbean cruise next month. Fully paid up.
In April we have 12 nights in the Maldives for a delayed special birthday. In this case I've paid a £195 deposit. A further £1000 deposit is due on Thursday (to cover flights) then the rest (£6k) due in early March.
My elderly mother was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer in December confirmed by MRI (large tumour. Due to age (90's) and fragility no further investigation followed so we have no idea of timescale. She's been admitted to a care home and although her only symptoms are weight loss she's basically palliative.
So I contacted her GP and was told more than likely a few months but could go longer up to six months bless her.
The issue (taking all emotion out of the situation) is the Maldives holiday in April. She's in a safe place surrounded by family doing daily visits etc so no issues there and she wants us to crack on whatever happens but obviously that won't happen if her health drastically goes downhill beforehand or we face missing the funeral. I won't let it, naturally.
I'm not sure what to do and am wondering about the Insurance situation if we were to proceed. We paid £195 deposit last year, cancer discovered Dec. If I press on and pay for the flights now fully aware of the cancer,followed by the £6k balance in March are we leaving ourselves open to a potential claim being rejected due to a pre existing condition, a condition that didn't exist before we booked but manifested itself before we paid the final balance?
Easier just to bin it off? Worried if I call them they'll note it and subsequently do our legs if we claim.
My sister in law went on a Carribbean holiday with her Mum in a care home. She was still there when her Mum passed away. She's never forgiven herself. We have a Miami stay followed by a Caribbean cruise next month. Fully paid up.
In April we have 12 nights in the Maldives for a delayed special birthday. In this case I've paid a £195 deposit. A further £1000 deposit is due on Thursday (to cover flights) then the rest (£6k) due in early March.
My elderly mother was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer in December confirmed by MRI (large tumour. Due to age (90's) and fragility no further investigation followed so we have no idea of timescale. She's been admitted to a care home and although her only symptoms are weight loss she's basically palliative.
So I contacted her GP and was told more than likely a few months but could go longer up to six months bless her.
The issue (taking all emotion out of the situation) is the Maldives holiday in April. She's in a safe place surrounded by family doing daily visits etc so no issues there and she wants us to crack on whatever happens but obviously that won't happen if her health drastically goes downhill beforehand or we face missing the funeral. I won't let it, naturally.
I'm not sure what to do and am wondering about the Insurance situation if we were to proceed. We paid £195 deposit last year, cancer discovered Dec. If I press on and pay for the flights now fully aware of the cancer,followed by the £6k balance in March are we leaving ourselves open to a potential claim being rejected due to a pre existing condition, a condition that didn't exist before we booked but manifested itself before we paid the final balance?
Easier just to bin it off? Worried if I call them they'll note it and subsequently do our legs if we claim.
You can always do the Maldives another time,. I'd hope the holiday company would allow you to hold the holiday for a later time.
LHRFlightman said:
My sister in law went on a Carribbean holiday with her Mum in a care home. She was still there when her Mum passed away. She's never forgiven herself.
You can always do the Maldives another time,. I'd hope the holiday company would allow you to hold the holiday for a later time.
Sorry for the late reply but yes this is still our issue. Although my mother has in the last week or so 'bounced back' ie stabilised, has a semblance of an appetite she's still in the care home (for good), very frail but can walk a short distance, talk, shower (with assistance), dress herself, do crosswords, read the paper but she's still sitting on a very aggressive liver cancer diagnosis which was found by accident.You can always do the Maldives another time,. I'd hope the holiday company would allow you to hold the holiday for a later time.
The daft thing is she now looks like a frail, smartly dressed 93 year old in a care home, not someone in the last weeks / days or even months of their life on a palliative care package. Of course we have no idea how long she has, the prognosis was a few months + up too how's long a bit of string but probably not six months . However I'm now struggling with the idea she only has a few months left.
The Maldives holiday has been cancelled (only loss of small deposit) but the US / Caribbean trip is set to start in three weeks - for 3 weeks so putting it within a two month time frame.
If we were going tomorrow we probably would, she has the family visiting, she's safe and cared for. My sister is visiting her kids and grandkids in Oz in March for six weeks - she's adament she still going and has asked that if anything happens the funeral be delayed until her return. That's her choice.
My issue now for Insurance purposes is getting our GP to provide evidence to say that my potential cancellation is justifiable for any claim.
I'll probably leave it two weeks, if any noteable downturn in condition / weight then we'll pull the plug.
When my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer we put everything on hold as there was no way of knowing when would be our final goodbye.
My wife ensured that I went to visit him every day where physically possible when he was in hospital, home and ultimately a hospice. This meant usually setting off to work 7ish and getting home 9-10pm every night for 3-4 months, believe me I was knackered.
But I have zero regrets, I made sure I was there every day and it game me some closure and no thoughts of I should have done this or that.
My wife ensured that I went to visit him every day where physically possible when he was in hospital, home and ultimately a hospice. This meant usually setting off to work 7ish and getting home 9-10pm every night for 3-4 months, believe me I was knackered.
But I have zero regrets, I made sure I was there every day and it game me some closure and no thoughts of I should have done this or that.
If there is the slightest chance / need / want to return mid holiday I personally would say don’t go.
This is based on completely different circumstances but my Father was suddenly taken very ill and ended up in ICU whilst I was away in the Bahamas on a business trip with my wife - honestly.
Whilst only being a short hop away from Miami it was absolute nightmare to do this even with Virgin telling me to get to any hub and they would throw people off planes to get us home.
They did and we managed to still be in time to see ( and speak ) to Dad.
This is based on completely different circumstances but my Father was suddenly taken very ill and ended up in ICU whilst I was away in the Bahamas on a business trip with my wife - honestly.
Whilst only being a short hop away from Miami it was absolute nightmare to do this even with Virgin telling me to get to any hub and they would throw people off planes to get us home.
They did and we managed to still be in time to see ( and speak ) to Dad.
Wills2 said:
I'd just cancel holiday, what fun will it be worrying about the inevitable, even though you can do nothing about it I wouldn't be spending thousands just so I could sit in a pool of my own guilt.
Agreed.We went away last year with my in-laws, and my wife's grandmother was in hospital at the time time in Cornwall.
FiL went and spent a week with her before the holiday, and she was improving, so we pushed ahead with plans to go to Thailand.
Grandmother passed away whilst we were on the way to Gatwick. FiL pushed ahead with the holiday but he was a shell of himself, absolutely ridden with self guilt. Ruined his holiday and had quite an affect on everyone else's too.
Wills2 said:
I'd just cancel holiday, what fun will it be worrying about the inevitable, even though you can do nothing about it I wouldn't be spending thousands just so I could sit in a pool of my own guilt.
Yep, needs to be done. Thanks for the replies, you're all reading off the same hymn sheet. We just can't go on pretending this ain't going to happen sometime soon (like i'm fighting some kind of built in defence mechanism ). All of my research on the cancer (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ) untreated, aggressive liver cancer -suggests it won't be long. She's had a bloody good innings mind, lets enjoy what time she has left.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff