Megabear2

I think the truth is the whole travel industry is in crisis and we are far from alone. Here in Rome 37 degrees and everyone is going about business as usual. And if you're wondering ... no my aunt's not home! After all the organising their was no companions available so we wait in limbo. One good bit of news here, the GHIC replacement has arrived an we are now getting financial help that way.

They are indeed arguing. Meantime 7 potential wedding guests scrambling to find a way to Ireland is becoming a farce. Add to the conundrum the groom's mother and father had their flights cancelled by BA last week so hurried rebooking led them to Ryanair with no luggage availability from Stansted arriving on Wednesday past so they are at least in Ireland. Their wedding outfits however are not as they were with my brother in law going by ferry ... apparently cant even send the clothing by courier at this stage due to not clearing customs in time. On a more serious note we are now dealing with two travel insurance companies who appear to not know their arse from their elbow! Just waiting for the next one to come galloping over the horizon.... Really think my family are jinxed at present.

Some of the American cruise lines have returned to "normal" terms and conditions, ie no free changes. If P&O should do this there would be a charge and also it would have to be a more expensive cruise to move to. The free moving is a great benefit which hopefully will stay a while longer but we should be aware it most likely won't be here forever unfortunately.

The point surely is that Davies & Co have apparently been on the job only a couple of months and that the bad claims reviews only started a few months ago as well? Ironically a member of my family has a Staysure policy and after Irish Ferries cancelled their sailings to Ireland yesterday (my nephew's wedding is Monday) and were told their accommodation is non refundable I suggested they tried to claim for their loss. I'm told the first call elicited a reply that as Dublin was a UK city there would be no cover for the accommodation costs unless it was for 2 nights consecutively... Hmmm, not too promising there then. I am aware a lot on this board are insured with Staysure and if this change of claim handling may be detrimental to them I thought it best to let them research it. Clearly not welcome so I will refrain in future.

And that's exactly why I put the caveat on my original post to only look at the claims comments. The point I was making was that there are thousands of 5* comments on sales but you should consider claims comments if looking at underwriter behaviour. Very good companies make changes that unfortunately impact on the customer - anyone like Indian call centres for instance?

I doubt there is one as they are all equally difficult to deal with. I'm not saying that anyone is good or bad and was merely pointing out they now use a third party to handle claims. As I have said many times I'm not saying anyone is good or bad or what people should do. Incidentally I was not using Trustpilot for anything other than a source on whether Staysure is still handling claims in-house as I had a vague recollection there was a change. I'd ask you all not to shoot the messenger please, I've no axe to grind with anyone. If this is going to descend to attacks on me then I'll simply step back. I try to be helpful that's all. TERRIERJOHN: Re your policy. If a policy has a major change you are normally advised, probably by email. Rarely policies keep the same terms so it would be a good idea to have a chat or call with them. Incidentally I was unaware of the change previously and my husband is with the sister company. When I'm back home I will check the matter with Avanti too.

Staysure have a new third party emergency team recently appointed. Recent reviews of Davies & Co (the new third party) are pretty dire on Trustpilot. Example from a few days ago here: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.staysure.co.uk?stars=1 Remember these are claims not sales which score highly.

Age will also play a part. Over 70 the number of companies quoting force up the price. My husband is with Avanti. He is 65 with multiple illnesses including myocardial bridging from birth, fibromyalgia, ME and depression. Worldwide annual cover was £667. We had quotes as high as £3,000 so choice is very limited for him by the myocardial situation. Post Office who I chose was £980 for him alone but if I'd chosen a joint policy the cost was £200 more than two individual one. Makes no sense at all.

If the blood pressure is already declared then it will be covered. However if he is waiting for more tests he will not at this point be insurable with most companies. Once all tests are complete you just declare the condition of blood pressure, however if at any point his medication changes you need to redeclare that otherwise you have an error on the declarations. It's one of the most common get outs. In your case declare both things that were diagnosed on that hospital visit and you can do no more. Any doubts call them, record the name of person, date and time and what was said and keep it with the policy.

Avanti is "cheap" given the extent of its cover. The question is really do you need those sums of cover? Staysure is the sister company, they use identical underwriters and the policies are identical apart from the cover limits and excess. By cheap I'm referring to the underwriting not the name on the policy. You may well find much better deals, certainly check. However a word of caution look at the underwriters and emergency response teams, they're often the same.

This is from Staysure online quote page: Quote For each traveller named on this policy, please select Yes if they: have, in the last two years, suffered from any medical or psychological conditions and for which they've received treatment, been prescribed medication, attended any consultations, investigations or check-ups. have ever suffered from or received treatment, investigations or tests for: heart attack, angina, chest pain(s) or any other heart condition high blood pressure, blood clots, raised cholesterol, aneurysm or any circulatory disease any form of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or brain haemorrhage. Section a is the relevant part for minor problems. You will see it refers to treatment, medication, consultations, investigations and check ups. This is the catch all for my ear infection example. If you click you have pre existing conditions you will find very minor illnesses etc there. For example you might have had antibiotics prescribed for the ear infection by a nurse over the phone. It will be declarable as it's on your medical record. That is therefore an existing condition for the underwriter if it's in Staysure's two year area. Ludicrous as it is ear wax will come up, colds, ingrown toenails etc. They are there with no questions as they clearly aren't relevant for much but if they are on your recordd - say you had a cold that didn't clear up and you mentioned it in passing - the underwriter will look at it in the event of a claim. Cheaper policies such as Staysure and Avanti (same owners, same rules) do not publish a list of automatically included minor illnesses so they are declarable. Bigger companies like AXA, LV, Prudential etc publish a list at the quote point. They cost more but don't pass the buck back to the customer and generally as a rule the insured person gets a quicker and easier resolution to their claim as the records are not inspected in minute detail for missed declarations.

And the moral of the story is remember this and think like an underwriter when declaring. No matter how small or irrelevant you think it is declare it. Why give them wriggle room?

A very sensible action by yourself. The last two paragraphs are very important as often doctors change, add or amend your medicine and a lot of companies such as Staysure require you to notify them of this. It is this sort of thing insurers use to say conditions are not declared correctly. To anyone reading this please note all insurers have different rules so best to check if in doubt as Emam has done.

At least the FCC is currently still there.

You will note I said pre April covid needs declaring on some policies. That's because it's in your medical records, now it's not although if you know you've had it and tested if there's a question on your insurance application why not declare it and just answer the questions? Surely better safe than sorry down the line.

I'm afraid the insurers are not just interested in chronic illnesses or injuries. They want chapter and verse on any illness no matter how minor you have consulted a doctor or medical establishment on in a set number of years they define. This includes minor conditions which have been cleared up and will not return. Basically if you've talked about it to someone at the surgery or been prescribed medication for it, that's a pre existing condition. Silly things like ear infections if you are prescribed ear drops or antibiotics are declarable. Try thinking of a something like that and fo a mock quote. These conditions are there. You don't get charged for declaration of them as the premium won't alter but they are declarable, hence some companies wanting covid declared.

I assume you are playing devils advocate? A pre existing condition is defined by the company you are choosing to buy your policy from. Some conditions related to breathing, cancer, blood pressure, heart disease etc as defined have to be declared if you have ever had them. Asthma, diabetes etc are included in these must always be declared conditions. Your insurer will then ask for conditions treated, diagnosed or discussed in a medical environment in any number of years as selected by their underwriter. This can be as little asc2 years and as much as six again depending on your choice of insurer. I'm not going to argue the detail of declarations, that's for you to individually decide. Regarding covid not all insurers want it declared, others do. If for instance you complete a Staysure quote it does not accept covid as a condition as they are treating it like a cold. However Zurich for instance, as I set out do require you to declare it and they are not alone. Everyone has an individual opinion on what they wish/think to declare. It's for you all alone to decide but the option is there. Personally I'd rather take an extra 10 minutes to read my doctor's notes and jot down dates and tests to declare them. For instance I'm pre diabetic and have blood tests every three months. I'm not I'll, don't have diabetes but am monitored. If you declare pre diabetes it is on the list, one question to answer do you have diabetes, no. Then the issue is fully covered no questions asked. As I say my choice, my time. Regarding

An example. This is from Zurich one of the leading UK providers: Quote I have had COVID -19. Am I able to quote for travel insurance? Yes. You should treat COVID-19 just as any other pre-existing medical condition when you quote and buy your travel insurance. Please enter Coronavirus or COVID-19 when prompted for pre-existing medical conditions and complete your quote in the usual way.

No. Their underwriters pay the bill. It becomes the insurers responsibility or rather their claims people. Ambassador walks Scot free. You and the insurance company have a discussion. If you've done everything right, dotted every I and crossed every t you get your money back minus your excess. If you have a policy with an excess you lose that. That's why I'm warning everyone check, check and check again and declare even if you've sneezed in the five, four or three years before you bought your policy. Best advice, get access to you medical records online and check verbatim any tests, telephone calls or notes in there and declare even if nothing was diagnosed. Then it's the underwriting teams problem, not yours.

They needed a nudge on quarantine for contacts though. Apart from that they've been very good.

Yes, I'm aware of that. It's some of the others, M&S, LV etc which have the requirement. Always best to check, just to be safe. Wouldn't want anyone looking at tens of thousands to pay like my family just for overlooking a test or something so simple.

Hopefully most of the insurance policies are now updated since April to cover the 14 days or whatever period is set. Celebrity have always for instance said 10 days. Declaring pre April covid as a medical condition is for an individual. The problem is these insurance policies are updating and changing all the time and those with annual or multi policies often forget to check for the insurers latest terms and updates. With covid we are being conditioned that it's now minor but we still have to remember its a get out for an insurer like any other thing we get checked out medically or take medication for - mild chest infections we discuss over the telephone with nurses at the surgery are one of the most common causes for rejection of major travel claims according to Which research. The real problem is the multinational cruise lines who are blindly following US requirements and as we know these cruises are booked under totally different terms and conditions. Assumedly P&O, Fred, Marella and Saga having very British markets will have to adapt to the UK lack of testing, reporting medical procedures outlined by the government and NHS. Of course we don't actually know FCC and movement of cruises free of charge will cease either and surely the cruise lines will be very careful to not just end things without advance notice of their winding down. However the realist must see this will be a natural next step, I would have thought.

I think all lines are stopping testing as CDC states not required. Everyone is assuming every country will stop requiring tests, not necessarily the case. Italy for instance are reviewing on 30 September and we have absolutely no idea how some of the Caribbean islands and destinations on the world cruise might react, yet these are the exact voyages where large sums of money are going to be spent very shortly. The problem for the passenger will be if they know they are unwell when they complete the health declaration. Technically they should answer honestly they are poorly, many won't as there is no credit for being honest. That will allow more symptomatic people on the ship and inevitably some won't be able to avoid being spotted. Passengers will be between two stools: I feel awful but I'm going, or I feel awful but how do I get my money back without a fight. Then there's the legal argument, if you lie when completing the health declaration you're breaking the contract! As I see it a whole minefield.

Those of us who had covid before April 30 took tests which we were required to report. These appear on your covid/medical records and therefore some companies request you declare it. I purchased a new annual policy in May this year and did a lot of quotes. Quite a lot of companies wanted it declared. Your point about how would an insurance company know is very valid and something I mentioned earlier in the thread. It's a very grey area which would need an answer if the cruise lines stop the FCC option. Some lines are, of course, approaching that point rapidly - the RCI and Celebrity confidence programs are apparently already announced as stopping asbo understand it.

My husband once acquired a stalker on Queen Elizabeth after a woman became somewhat obsessed with him after he spoke with her in the swimming pool one morning! One evening she approached me in the night club and remonstrated with me that I didn't deserve to be with him as I wasn't paying him enough attention. Despite him clearly stating he wasn't interested she followed him around for days. It became very grating.