Avoid these Claims Assessors

[South West Traveller]

Do not use any Insurers who use Travel Claims Services Ltd. to handle their claims.

 

I was booked on two consecutive cruises, made the second one, wife travelled on her own for first. At last minute towards end of viral infection I suffered indescribable pain in the rib and back area, reported it but could not get to GP surgery as I was stuck in bed. Would not have made any difference as would have needed x-ray or scan to diagnose.

 

Policy was taken out through Insure4Travel, but many companies use this claims company. It is because although my GP completed the claim form, he could not say he saw me to validate my decision not to travel; by his own admission he would have had to take my word for it anyway.

 

Diabolical decision not to pay out, typical of insurers looking for any way out.

 

Before you take out insurance investigate the claims assessors and avoid this outfit.

[GeezerCouple]

Do not use any Insurers who use Travel Claims Services Ltd. to handle their claims.

 

I was booked on two consecutive cruises, made the second one, wife travelled on her own for first. At last minute towards end of viral infection I suffered indescribable pain in the rib and back area, reported it but could not get to GP surgery as I was stuck in bed. Would not have made any difference as would have needed x-ray or scan to diagnose.

 

Policy was taken out through Insure4Travel, but many companies use this claims company. It is because although my GP completed the claim form, he could not say he saw me to validate my decision not to travel; by his own admission he would have had to take my word for it anyway.

 

Diabolical decision not to pay out, typical of insurers looking for any way out.

 

Before you take out insurance investigate the claims assessors and avoid this outfit.

 

This may happen with *any* travel insurance claim based upon a medical problem.

Our policies have the same requirement: being SEEN by a physician who can then document the condition and, more importantly, state that travel is not possible for medical reasons.

 

Several of our claims were like that, including two large ones (one for me, one for DH). In both cases, it was required that we have a physician see the ill person and then complete a medical form.

In one case, it was in the USA, and the insurer (Travel Insured) sent us their claim form to take to the physician.

In the other case, they accepted a letter from the physician, who had seen me twice. (He had to state not only that I was too sick to travel, but also when I was "well enough" to travel, as we decided to continue the last part of the trip. However, mid-way through the medical emergency, we almost contacted MedJetAssist to take me to our "home hospital"... but just about that time, I seemed to turn a corner. So we waited a few more days until I was again 'fit to travel', and then we did the last week of the trip, although I mostly rested with beautiful vistas and almost no "activity".)

 

You do not know if the physician "would have needed x-ray or scan to diagnose".

That would be up to the physician, and there are plenty of diagnoses (or preliminary diagnoses) that are made without any scans/etc. Some things just don't "show up" on scans, even though there is something seriously wrong.

 

But READ the terms of the policy. If it requires being seen by a physician, then those are the terms, and no surprise if the claim was denied without it.

Our policies are quite clear that it is required that the ill traveler (or traveler-to-be) be seen by a physician who then would complete the paperwork and document the validity of the claim.

 

Think about how easy it would be for someone who just "changed their mind" to "claim" that they were "too ill to travel". So the insurer reasonably wants a medical professional to make that determination.

 

By the way, we purchase our travel insurance through www.TripInsuranceStore.com

When we had the first medical emergency, we contacted them to ask how to handle it, and one of the very FIRST things they told us was to SEE A PHYSICIAN asap for the claim to be valid.

We had just come from the physician, but we might have been calling before heading out for medical care, so we were glad they emphasized this.

 

This is only one reason to use a travel insurance broker: They can run interference with claims IF needed.

(We've never needed that. Travel Insured has paid all claims without any nonsense.)

 

GC

[Walfam]

I once hurt my back badly, just days before an international trip. I saw my chiropractor first (who was able to decompress and get me back on my feet). Next, I directly went from that appointment to an Orthopedic M.D. specialist, who did X-rays, etc. because my trip insurance cancellation section said "letter from a physician", and I did not even want to take the chance they would discount a chiropractor's word. Money well spent, IMHO, in case I was unable to travel. Fortunately, I made the trip, thanks to the chiropractor!

[Toofarfromthesea]

Do not use any Insurers who use Travel Claims Services Ltd. to handle their claims.

 

I was booked on two consecutive cruises, made the second one, wife travelled on her own for first. At last minute towards end of viral infection I suffered indescribable pain in the rib and back area, reported it but could not get to GP surgery as I was stuck in bed. Would not have made any difference as would have needed x-ray or scan to diagnose.

 

Policy was taken out through Insure4Travel, but many companies use this claims company. It is because although my GP completed the claim form, he could not say he saw me to validate my decision not to travel; by his own admission he would have had to take my word for it anyway.

 

Diabolical decision not to pay out, typical of insurers looking for any way out.

 

Before you take out insurance investigate the claims assessors and avoid this outfit.

 

Yup, definitely don't use an insurance company that pays out claims without requiring documentation - their rates will be higher than responsible insurance company.