After my experience with Barclaycard's Travel Insurance last year, I have a very jaundiced view of all Insurance Companies.
Whilst the Policy wording may seem reasonable at first sight,
that is far from the case when one discovers the hard way
how that wording can be interpreted.
Many Policies state
the Help line must be called in the first inst; ;
which may sound reasonable, until one tries!
After an accident in the Blue Ridge Mountains last springtime I called
the Barclaycard Travel Insurance " Help line"
who promised to call me back & then didn't
when I called again, they put me on hold for 16 minutes, until my cell-phone credit expired, & with it my cell-phone!
(One cannot "top-up" by Credit-card over there),
They left me
alone & injured & bleeding!
alone among the spring-hungry bears in the mountains!
(Bears who can reputedly smell blood from half mile away!)
alone & now without the means to summon ANY assistance.
It took me all of that terrifying night to find another phone!!
Many Policies state that they
" WILL direct you to their accredited/approved facility" ;
which may sound reasonable, until faced with the facts:
Having lost 4 pints of blood by the time I found another phone( as day broke next morning),
I was directed to "Our only accredited facility in Georgia"
which was some 200 miles away!!clear through the centre of Atlanta --- during rush hour
(roughly equivalent to being in Brighton at 0800, & being ordered to a hospital in Leeds, but driving thru' central London, not round the M25)
& told categorically that my Policy would be invalid if I "chose" to go elsewhere!
Many Policies contain a clause giving the absolute right to decide upon treatment;
which may sound reasonable, until faced with the facts.
Barclaycards Travel Insurance Helpline is supposed to be staffed by "Medically Qualified personnel"
( US Drs say this means "anyone who's done 1st year Med School")
Barclaycards Travel Insurance Helpline decided:
-only ONE x-ray was to be taken---( for serious internal bleeding)!!
-A transfusiion of 2 pints of blood was enough for anyone, & refused to pay for more!
-I could receive "emergency treatment only" & MUST be discharged on completion of this.
When re-admitted in agony later that day---
Barclaycards Travel Insurance Helpline said:
-This is NOW A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION SO NOT COVERED BY YOUR POLICY!
After eventual surgery to repair the damage,
Barclaycards Travel Insurance Helpline decided, ( from 2000 miles away):
-I was fit to drive myself back to my holidy cabin, pack my stuff, clean the cabin, drive some 200+ miles, return my hire car, & get myself to the airport, all with less than 24hrs notice
although the Surgeon had forbidden me to drive for another week!
Because I refused to attempt this journey, impossible in the time allowed, even if fit),
-they cancelled my cover!
-tried, but luckily failed, to cash in my return ticket, (valid 12 months)
-& left me to make my own way home, without insurance!
After I got back, while phoning around trying to foind areputable Company ro arrange an alternative policy for future trips,
I discover that the same company:
Financial Insurance Company, who were then calling themselves Barclaycard Direct Travel----
are now also calling themselves LLOYDS TSB TRAVEL INSURANCE
Has anyone out there ever had a successful claim with this company?
Ivor, sorry to hear how badly your holiday turned out. Sorry if this is like telling you to suck eggs, but you did include sufficient insurance for the US and Canada and 'dangerous sports' cover ... because that is what skiing is considered ... especially if you're in bear country!
All skiers, surfers and divers should make sure that they have extra insurance cover as these are counted as dangerous activities and require top-up supplemental cover. Don't be wise after the event.
All skiers, surfers and divers should make sure that they have extra insurance cover as these are counted as dangerous activities and require top-up supplemental cover. Don't be wise after the event.
Ivor
Sorry to hear about your accident, as for Insurance Companies, they state each claim is judged independently, so whilst one person may be successful with a claim, another person won't be.
One point to remember Ivor, you have the right under the T& C's of your policy to refer your claim to an independent judicator, the appeal process will be in your policy.
Whether you are successful or not, you will never know until you try.
Good Luck
Driver02
Sorry to hear about your accident, as for Insurance Companies, they state each claim is judged independently, so whilst one person may be successful with a claim, another person won't be.
One point to remember Ivor, you have the right under the T& C's of your policy to refer your claim to an independent judicator, the appeal process will be in your policy.
Whether you are successful or not, you will never know until you try.
Good Luck
Driver02
I have posted this over from another topic - Hope it helps.
Mods it may be that you would like to put a sticky on this.
fwh
The Insurance Ombudsman is now incorporated into the Financial Ombudsman services according to the website. I would suggest contacting them.Link below:
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Mods it may be that you would like to put a sticky on this.
fwh
The Insurance Ombudsman is now incorporated into the Financial Ombudsman services according to the website. I would suggest contacting them.Link below:
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
FWH-------- thanks but: I have been in contact with the "Ombudsman" since last June!! They require a higher standard of "proof" than the Law-Courts--- which is proving quite difficult (to say the least) & very expensive too.---
Barclaycard Travel Insurance made it very clear that, because I was travelling alone, it was very unlikely that I'd be able to substantiate my complaint ----so they rejected it out of hand & referred me to the Ombudsman with disdain.
On contacting the Ombudsman's Office, the immediate comment was
"Oh, yes, We are aware of this Company"
-------------------------
Alsacienne---- sucking eggs??? ----
BUT ! No dangerous sports --- a simple pony ride!
AND this was an Annual renewable Policy, cost nearly double for USA travel,
NOT a cheap one, or a freebee!!!
AND I'd read the Policy!!!
It just didn't occur to me how the wording could/would be so twisted.
AND does ANYONE memorise their return Flight No? or carry their return Airline Ticket with them all the time, just in case of an accident?
Driver02 ---- no such clause in my Barclaycard Policy --- Complaints procedure is :
1) write in with your complaint---
2) They write back denying everything & tell you you can complain to the Ombudsman if you want!
held in contempt? or another toothless tiger??
-----------------
Noticed today that the same company,
Financial Insurance Company,
who were calling themselves Barclaycard Direct Travel----
AND
are now calling themselves LLOYDS TSB TRAVEL INSURANCE too,
are also calling themselves Genworth Financial,
& are offering " Payment Protection Policies" !!!!!!
---------------------------------- ivor
Barclaycard Travel Insurance made it very clear that, because I was travelling alone, it was very unlikely that I'd be able to substantiate my complaint ----so they rejected it out of hand & referred me to the Ombudsman with disdain.
On contacting the Ombudsman's Office, the immediate comment was
"Oh, yes, We are aware of this Company"
-------------------------
Alsacienne---- sucking eggs??? ----
BUT ! No dangerous sports --- a simple pony ride!
AND this was an Annual renewable Policy, cost nearly double for USA travel,
NOT a cheap one, or a freebee!!!
AND I'd read the Policy!!!
It just didn't occur to me how the wording could/would be so twisted.
AND does ANYONE memorise their return Flight No? or carry their return Airline Ticket with them all the time, just in case of an accident?
Driver02 ---- no such clause in my Barclaycard Policy --- Complaints procedure is :
1) write in with your complaint---
2) They write back denying everything & tell you you can complain to the Ombudsman if you want!
held in contempt? or another toothless tiger??
-----------------
Noticed today that the same company,
Financial Insurance Company,
who were calling themselves Barclaycard Direct Travel----
AND
are now calling themselves LLOYDS TSB TRAVEL INSURANCE too,
are also calling themselves Genworth Financial,
& are offering " Payment Protection Policies" !!!!!!
---------------------------------- ivor
It sounds as if you had a really traumatic experience but I think that your problem stems from confusing a travel insurance policy with a rescue service. Holiday insurance is designed to recompense you for the financial costs you might incur on holiday in the event of accident etc - not to provide a direct rescue service in the event of an accident. Had I been in your shoes it would have never occurred to me to start by ringing my insurance company but to have dialled 911 before I did anything else. Getting myself out of there and to a place of safety would have been my first thought rather than how it was going to be paid for.
If your accident had happened here I would be advising you to sue the stable that hired you the pony without providing you with an emergency contact tel no, a briefing about what to do in the event of an accident, ensuring that they had exact details about your proposed route and alerting the emergency services themselves once you were overdue and/or it got dark. That's assuming of course that they hadn't already been charged and found guilty of criminal negligence.
Pony riding in mountains on your own in bear country without any back-up in the event of an accident IS a dangerous sport and whoever provided you with the pony was negligent in letting you go off on your own like that. I'm surprised in such a litigious country as the US that any commercial company would let you do so without signing a disclaimer that you knew that what you were doing was dangerous and absolving them of all responsibility. In this country such a disclaimer would be worthless because they would still be regarded as having a duty of care towards to you and you aren't allowed to sign away your right to that - companies couldn't get way with saying that s/he knew they were doing something reckless and dangerous and it has nothing more to do with us. The question in this country would be whether THEY knew you were doing something reckless and dangerous and despite that knowingly let you continue.
If of course, the pony was loaned to you by a friend then the issue is more complicated but I can't imagine any of my 'horsey' friends being that careless of the welfare of their pony, let alone you, as to let you do something similar either without being absolutely sure that you knew who to contact in the event of an accident and they knew where to start looking for you if you didn't return when expected.
From the sound of it you are very lucky to be alive because losing 4 pints of blood before any treatment even starts would kill most people, given that most of us have only in the region of 8 circulating around us in the first place. Also, most of us would have fallen unconscious long before we lost that amount and you must have the constitution of an ox to have survived which has to be a blessing.
All things considered, I'd be fussing less about the insurance company and more about getting compensation from the people who negligently let me get into that situation, assuming of course that you hadn't disregarded their advice or not heeded their warnings about the dangers.
SM
If your accident had happened here I would be advising you to sue the stable that hired you the pony without providing you with an emergency contact tel no, a briefing about what to do in the event of an accident, ensuring that they had exact details about your proposed route and alerting the emergency services themselves once you were overdue and/or it got dark. That's assuming of course that they hadn't already been charged and found guilty of criminal negligence.
Pony riding in mountains on your own in bear country without any back-up in the event of an accident IS a dangerous sport and whoever provided you with the pony was negligent in letting you go off on your own like that. I'm surprised in such a litigious country as the US that any commercial company would let you do so without signing a disclaimer that you knew that what you were doing was dangerous and absolving them of all responsibility. In this country such a disclaimer would be worthless because they would still be regarded as having a duty of care towards to you and you aren't allowed to sign away your right to that - companies couldn't get way with saying that s/he knew they were doing something reckless and dangerous and it has nothing more to do with us. The question in this country would be whether THEY knew you were doing something reckless and dangerous and despite that knowingly let you continue.
If of course, the pony was loaned to you by a friend then the issue is more complicated but I can't imagine any of my 'horsey' friends being that careless of the welfare of their pony, let alone you, as to let you do something similar either without being absolutely sure that you knew who to contact in the event of an accident and they knew where to start looking for you if you didn't return when expected.
From the sound of it you are very lucky to be alive because losing 4 pints of blood before any treatment even starts would kill most people, given that most of us have only in the region of 8 circulating around us in the first place. Also, most of us would have fallen unconscious long before we lost that amount and you must have the constitution of an ox to have survived which has to be a blessing.
All things considered, I'd be fussing less about the insurance company and more about getting compensation from the people who negligently let me get into that situation, assuming of course that you hadn't disregarded their advice or not heeded their warnings about the dangers.
SM
Has the ombudman/FOS issued you with their decision yet?? Whats your views on how you have been treated by them??
Not sure if SM is an apologist PR for the Insurance Industry, or just another Politician who can't help chucking in a few red-herrings to divert attention from the subject.
For the record:
1. I phoned the "24hr Helpline" as required by my Policy!!!! to ask "where is the nearest Hospital with an ER facility" (to the town nearest my location). A simple enough request?
2. Had SM been "in my shoes" he would have invalidated his insurance immediately!
3. The pony ride was accompanied; & had been completed; there was nothing inherently dangerous about it; nobody could be blamed (except myself) nobody was negligent, (except maybe the pony?)
4. I had no idea at the time, that my injury was at all serious--- It was not until I got back to my cabin, some 2 hours later, that I found I was bleeding (externally), & after my initial call to the 24hr Helpline that I knew I was bleeding internally as well.
5. I didn't call 911 because I couldn't have directed ANYONE to my location --- I often got lost finding it myself!
6. When I called the "Helpline" the 2nd time, it was still daylight & I was still fit enough to drive myself --- at least as far as the main Highway.
7. After a night of driving a way, then parking in time to pass out, then driving some more, I eventually found a phone & called them again-(still not sure which way I should be heading) that's when they ordered me to drive another 200 miles to THEIR hospital
8. I found one another 5-10 miles further on & the Doctors on duty took some persuading that I had driven myself there in that condition,
9. Yes, they ALL agreed, I was VERY lucky to be alive.
10. When Doctor said I'd lost "mor'n 4 pints" of blood,& needed a transfusion, I asked how much I'd have had to start with--- he said "someone yor size? a little over 8 pints"
11. Yes I did pass out--- I don't know how many times, or for how long each time; the distance I covered would have taken 30-45 minutes in daylight, it took me at least 10 hours.
12. I am "fussing about the Insurance Company" because
I bought it in good faith, but they failed to deliver on any of the (Implied) terms of their Policy.
They did everything in their power to interfere with & obstruct my treatment.
I posted this to warn others who have the misfortune to either have this Policy, or any other with similarly worded "Get Out" Clauses,
--- there are loads of Policies for sale in UK; --- many written with similar phraseology
I repeat----- Has anyone out there ever had a successful claim with this company?
============================
For the record:
1. I phoned the "24hr Helpline" as required by my Policy!!!! to ask "where is the nearest Hospital with an ER facility" (to the town nearest my location). A simple enough request?
2. Had SM been "in my shoes" he would have invalidated his insurance immediately!
3. The pony ride was accompanied; & had been completed; there was nothing inherently dangerous about it; nobody could be blamed (except myself) nobody was negligent, (except maybe the pony?)
4. I had no idea at the time, that my injury was at all serious--- It was not until I got back to my cabin, some 2 hours later, that I found I was bleeding (externally), & after my initial call to the 24hr Helpline that I knew I was bleeding internally as well.
5. I didn't call 911 because I couldn't have directed ANYONE to my location --- I often got lost finding it myself!
6. When I called the "Helpline" the 2nd time, it was still daylight & I was still fit enough to drive myself --- at least as far as the main Highway.
7. After a night of driving a way, then parking in time to pass out, then driving some more, I eventually found a phone & called them again-(still not sure which way I should be heading) that's when they ordered me to drive another 200 miles to THEIR hospital
8. I found one another 5-10 miles further on & the Doctors on duty took some persuading that I had driven myself there in that condition,
9. Yes, they ALL agreed, I was VERY lucky to be alive.
10. When Doctor said I'd lost "mor'n 4 pints" of blood,& needed a transfusion, I asked how much I'd have had to start with--- he said "someone yor size? a little over 8 pints"
11. Yes I did pass out--- I don't know how many times, or for how long each time; the distance I covered would have taken 30-45 minutes in daylight, it took me at least 10 hours.
12. I am "fussing about the Insurance Company" because
I bought it in good faith, but they failed to deliver on any of the (Implied) terms of their Policy.
They did everything in their power to interfere with & obstruct my treatment.
I posted this to warn others who have the misfortune to either have this Policy, or any other with similarly worded "Get Out" Clauses,
--- there are loads of Policies for sale in UK; --- many written with similar phraseology
I repeat----- Has anyone out there ever had a successful claim with this company?
============================
sorry
I can't help but just wanted to say what a dreadful time you've had. That story is quite frightening. I hope you get some success-please let us know the outcome.
I can't help but just wanted to say what a dreadful time you've had. That story is quite frightening. I hope you get some success-please let us know the outcome.
Leighanne
Not yet! So far, I get the distinct impression that their whole "raison d'etre" is to make things too difficult & costly for me to proceed.
The Insurance Company told me as soon as I got home & complained, that as I was travelling alone, I wouldn't be able to prove anything--- so they would deny everything, which they did; & then said if I didn't like it, "Complain to the Ombudsman"! with the very much implied "& see how far that'll get you!!!"
The Ombudsman said as I was travelling alone it would be very hard for me to prove anything at all, & more or less implies that I'd be wasting my time, but I'm pressing on regardless, may even go back to get sworn statements from witnesses . Ivor
Not yet! So far, I get the distinct impression that their whole "raison d'etre" is to make things too difficult & costly for me to proceed.
The Insurance Company told me as soon as I got home & complained, that as I was travelling alone, I wouldn't be able to prove anything--- so they would deny everything, which they did; & then said if I didn't like it, "Complain to the Ombudsman"! with the very much implied "& see how far that'll get you!!!"
The Ombudsman said as I was travelling alone it would be very hard for me to prove anything at all, & more or less implies that I'd be wasting my time, but I'm pressing on regardless, may even go back to get sworn statements from witnesses . Ivor
Sorry to hear about your problems Ivor! You mention about the wording of the policy in your first post on this thread. So for the benefit of those of us who are also novices at this travel insurance thing what should we watch out for? I hope you are feeling better now despite that stress that this must have caused. Any elaboration on the specific wording would be helpful to the rest of us.
I have read what you have to say with interest and have some sympathy for your plight, however, I cannot understand why you called the insurer in the first place. You needed medical assistance and rescue. You should have called the emergency services. From experience teaching survival I know that calling a third party not only wastes time but can lead to further complications.
fwh
fwh
Fiona & Wendye-----
Thanks for the kind wishes---it was, without doubt, the scariest night I 've ever spent, but then, when I got to hospital, the real fun with Barclaycard's Travel Insurance really began.The hospital staff even asked if it was being secretly filmed by (the US equivalent of) Candid Camera !!
You can all help by telling everyone you know about the methods this Insurance Company (& how many others?) use to avoid paying out.
Apart from the obvious --- buy your Insurance soon enough to have read it before you go!
(How many Policies arrive after you've flown, so can't be read till after the event) ?
Only buy a Policy if it allows you to attend the nearest facility in an emergency!
Make certain the Policy does NOT allow them to overule a Doctor treating you.
In the event of emergency medical attention, get a written statement from the Doctor that your treatment is incomplete & ongoing --- BEFORE you leave the hospital--- then, if you do need to go back it can't be classed as a "pre-existing condition"
If you have a Policy with similar wording as Barclaycards Annual Travel" (see my original posting) , send it back as unacceptable & demand a refund.
If you ask any Company for a copy of the Policy & are told you can't have one until you've bought it --- tell them what to do with it.
(The 14 day rule is another scam, at least 10 days will have expired before you get to see it)
If the only address for an Insurer is a PO Box number---- don't touch'em with a barge-pole --- they are most likely an "Offshore" coterie, well beyond your reach if claim-time ever comes
----------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the kind wishes---it was, without doubt, the scariest night I 've ever spent, but then, when I got to hospital, the real fun with Barclaycard's Travel Insurance really began.The hospital staff even asked if it was being secretly filmed by (the US equivalent of) Candid Camera !!
You can all help by telling everyone you know about the methods this Insurance Company (& how many others?) use to avoid paying out.
Apart from the obvious --- buy your Insurance soon enough to have read it before you go!
(How many Policies arrive after you've flown, so can't be read till after the event) ?
Only buy a Policy if it allows you to attend the nearest facility in an emergency!
Make certain the Policy does NOT allow them to overule a Doctor treating you.
In the event of emergency medical attention, get a written statement from the Doctor that your treatment is incomplete & ongoing --- BEFORE you leave the hospital--- then, if you do need to go back it can't be classed as a "pre-existing condition"
If you have a Policy with similar wording as Barclaycards Annual Travel" (see my original posting) , send it back as unacceptable & demand a refund.
If you ask any Company for a copy of the Policy & are told you can't have one until you've bought it --- tell them what to do with it.
(The 14 day rule is another scam, at least 10 days will have expired before you get to see it)
If the only address for an Insurer is a PO Box number---- don't touch'em with a barge-pole --- they are most likely an "Offshore" coterie, well beyond your reach if claim-time ever comes
----------------------------------------------------------
Fwh--- see previous, the question I asked, & remember my circumstances.
You may well be trained to deal with other peoples hypothetical situations;
I trust you'll be as calm & detached if ever alone, wounded & faced with reality.
After all , what's a 24 hr Helpline for, if not to help?
I still think any "Helpline" worth the name, would have the answer in under 3 minutes--- leaving me with time, energy, (certainly at that time, enough blood!!!) & 20 minutes "airtime credit" left to call the "emergency services" and got off the mountains to rendezvous with them.
I didn't know which way to head out of the mountains - so which of 3 different State emergency services (Georgia. Tennessee, & N.Carolina) should I have contacted?
I knew there was a large hospital about 60 miles to the East, but also knew there was one nearer than that, as I'd chatted to someone a few days before who worked as a nurse at a hospital "about 40 miles up the road" , (up? possibly North?) but I didn't know; as it turned out, I'd never have made it to either of these.
The one I was eventually ORDERED to attend, was over 200 miles to the South!
The one I found was 20-25 miles away----- to the West!
How much more time would have been wasted if I'd gone in the wrong direction-
Trust this makes as much sense to you now, as it did to me at the time.---ivor
-------------
You may well be trained to deal with other peoples hypothetical situations;
I trust you'll be as calm & detached if ever alone, wounded & faced with reality.
After all , what's a 24 hr Helpline for, if not to help?
I still think any "Helpline" worth the name, would have the answer in under 3 minutes--- leaving me with time, energy, (certainly at that time, enough blood!!!) & 20 minutes "airtime credit" left to call the "emergency services" and got off the mountains to rendezvous with them.
I didn't know which way to head out of the mountains - so which of 3 different State emergency services (Georgia. Tennessee, & N.Carolina) should I have contacted?
I knew there was a large hospital about 60 miles to the East, but also knew there was one nearer than that, as I'd chatted to someone a few days before who worked as a nurse at a hospital "about 40 miles up the road" , (up? possibly North?) but I didn't know; as it turned out, I'd never have made it to either of these.
The one I was eventually ORDERED to attend, was over 200 miles to the South!
The one I found was 20-25 miles away----- to the West!
How much more time would have been wasted if I'd gone in the wrong direction-
Trust this makes as much sense to you now, as it did to me at the time.---ivor
-------------
Thanks for the tips Ivor. I tend to buy my annual policies over the internet so you can actually see the policy before you buy and get to print it out too. I must admit I always look at the amount of cover as well as the exclusions clauses but am not sure if I have looked into the claims procedures before but since we have never so far had to claim I can't honestly remember and as I mainly travel to Europe I have so far not really needed to look into it too closely but as we are planning a trip to Florida next year I certainly will read it closely now.
I can sympathise with you on this, I've never had to make an insurance claim but getting the right cover is a nightmare. I do a lot of diving abroad and you have to read the policies very carefully. Some say they cover dangerous sports, including scuba diving and give you depth limits (normally 30m) etc then put at the bottom 'all divers must be accompanied by a qualified instructor at all times'. This is like saying you need to have a driving instructor with you if you hire a car! Unless you are undertaking a course, most dive centres use guides which are qualified 'Divemasters', not instructors (they are too busy on courses). This effectly makes most insurance policies useless for diviers. Even some of the policies tailored for divers have this clause. It just goes to show you have to check carefully and read the small print. It took me 2 months to find a suitable policy for my travels. Realising you are not covered afterwards maybe very costly.
Darren
Darren
Dazbo5 sorry for the delay,
You are right, of course, without a qualified INSTRUCTOR those Policies are totally invalidated --- but how many buyers actually read that far?
Come to that, if they but it when they book, how many actually get to SEE their Policy until after they get back home?
You are right, of course, without a qualified INSTRUCTOR those Policies are totally invalidated --- but how many buyers actually read that far?
Come to that, if they but it when they book, how many actually get to SEE their Policy until after they get back home?
I got a copy of Halifax's Travel Policy & finding the wording therein almost identical to my previous Barclaycard Policy, wrote & asked 3 simple questions.
I got a page & a half of complete drivel back again, completely avoiding the subject.
I wrote again, & got another page & a half of (different) drivel, but still no answers.
I had therefore to conclude that they DO in fact use the same pretexts as Barclaycard to avoid meeting claims.
I'vs also discovered a whole batch of Policies being sold, with the perfect let-out, certainly for the whole of N.America, & probably everywhere there is no "Reciprocal Agreement"
These Policies state that you MUST notify the "Assistance Company" & get prior approval if your medical costs are likely to exceed £350 ------- not even enough to get you through the door of an E.R. ---- so ANY accident you may have, which leaves you unable to phone the UK before going , (or being taken unconscious) to a hospital, will put you "In Breach of Policy wording" & leave you without cover !!!
I got a page & a half of complete drivel back again, completely avoiding the subject.
I wrote again, & got another page & a half of (different) drivel, but still no answers.
I had therefore to conclude that they DO in fact use the same pretexts as Barclaycard to avoid meeting claims.
I'vs also discovered a whole batch of Policies being sold, with the perfect let-out, certainly for the whole of N.America, & probably everywhere there is no "Reciprocal Agreement"
These Policies state that you MUST notify the "Assistance Company" & get prior approval if your medical costs are likely to exceed £350 ------- not even enough to get you through the door of an E.R. ---- so ANY accident you may have, which leaves you unable to phone the UK before going , (or being taken unconscious) to a hospital, will put you "In Breach of Policy wording" & leave you without cover !!!
I always make sure I obtain a full hard copy of any insurance policy I have, whether it is motor, house, travell etc. Its amazing some of the clauses they include, like the diving instructor I previously mentioned. Its no surprise some people get caught out as some of the small print can be difficult to understand and unless you have 20:20 vision, you can't even see some of the small print!
Darren
Darren
What a terrible and frightening experience. I agree that insurance companies should make their small print large print. Too many cases seem to be coming to light recently. I work for Lloyds Tsb and have their insurance which covers winter sports. I am off to Jamaica soon and thought I should call to confirm my cover, there are many things I find I am not covered for, ie parasailing and jetskiing. I thought jetskiing might not be covered but was really surprised about parasailing, I've done it before and taken the kids up! Seems there's no fun without a catch! Keep on with your claim, I think you've been treated terribly. Maybe watchdog should hear about this one? P.s I've not heard of any complaints re insurance at work but your case was an exceptionally rare occurance
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