COVID Testing on Iona

[Harry Peterson]

7 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Harry, do we know if Saga have actually had any covid passengers to deal with in the area of the Spanish ports?  The updates on all the cruise lines' protocols which appeared on 1 January or thereabouts all refer specifically to Spain and her islands.  We have confirmation from reliable sources that it is Spanish ports following the EU directive on cruising that is causing the offloading of negative testing close contacts (and it seems in Italy, Greece and Cyprus although we have no P&O/Cunard guests in these countries at present).

 

Would it be at all possible for you to return to Saga and ask about Spain and her islands particularly, perhaps stating that another cruise line you deal with have told you it is enforced by Spain and they state the port overrides the cruise line wishing to keep the passengers on board?

 

Thank you.

A very fair question, Megabear, and I have raised it with them.  Specifically for Spain and the Spanish islands, but also to include all EU ports in view of the directive.

 

You'll recall the early days of your own assiduous work, and I have to add the caveat that this is still very much in its early stages and therefore being handled at a clerical level.

[watsonbeau]

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Following this flush of success I have written in almost  the same terms to Allclear, Cover for You and Avanti.

 

I think along with Staysure, Saga and Holiday Extras I've covered most of the companies those on here are insured with, leaving aside the bank account and M&S policies.  If anyone wishes me to contact a specific insurer not mentioned here please let me know and I will follow up.

 

Will keep you posted in any replies received.

Hello Megabear2 

 

been following this thread for awhile as I’m sure have many others. I have  RBS Platinum bank insurance - underwriters UK insurance - so not sure which one would be the one to contact but would be much obliged if you would do this and may help others.
 

I did ring them - RBS number- and made notes but they wouldn’t provide an email for a written reply and there isn’t one on the RBS website so don’t feel totally comfortable because of that. The written word at least is there for all to see. . 
 

Many thanks on behalf of us all.

[Megabear2]

28 minutes ago, watsonbeau said:

Hello Megabear2 

 

been following this thread for awhile as I’m sure have many others. I have  RBS Platinum bank insurance - underwriters UK insurance - so not sure which one would be the one to contact but would be much obliged if you would do this and may help others.
 

I did ring them - RBS number- and made notes but they wouldn’t provide an email for a written reply and there isn’t one on the RBS website so don’t feel totally comfortable because of that. The written word at least is there for all to see. . 
 

Many thanks on behalf of us all.

RBS underwriter is actually the same as Direct Line and Nationwide. I will see what I can do. I bank with RBS personally as well as Halifax/Lloyds  so will go in via that route. 

 

[Teddy123]

My policy (from a major insurer, not a travel specialist) seems to provide a partial solution to being offloaded even if not infected.  It pays for additional accommodation and travel costs for return home "for you to stay longer at your destination because of a quarantine period that has been ordered by a government or public authority for you specifically whilst you are at your destination".  

On the plus side, no need to actually have tested positive, just to have been ordered into quarantine.  On the negative side, the policy explicitly excludes food and has a limit of £1,000 per person.  There could also be some debate over the meaning of the undefined term "destination", although the policy does cover cruises.  It's on a "reimbursement with receipts" basis.

So, better than nothing but certainly not a full solution.

[Interestedcruisefan]

32 minutes ago, Teddy123 said:

My policy (from a major insurer, not a travel specialist) seems to provide a partial solution to being offloaded even if not infected.  It pays for additional accommodation and travel costs for return home "for you to stay longer at your destination because of a quarantine period that has been ordered by a government or public authority for you specifically whilst you are at your destination".  

On the plus side, no need to actually have tested positive, just to have been ordered into quarantine.  On the negative side, the policy explicitly excludes food and has a limit of £1,000 per person.  There could also be some debate over the meaning of the undefined term "destination", although the policy does cover cruises.  It's on a "reimbursement with receipts" basis.

So, better than nothing but certainly not a full solution.

I think it's relevant to the discussion

 

Some close contacts may have been instructed to leave the ships in the past alongside positive close contacts and could have claimed insurance above

 

I think now the cruise ships will be asking negative close contacts to choose to leave or stay on board

 

And if you choose to leave you arent covered 

[Megabear2]

49 minutes ago, Teddy123 said:

My policy (from a major insurer, not a travel specialist) seems to provide a partial solution to being offloaded even if not infected.  It pays for additional accommodation and travel costs for return home "for you to stay longer at your destination because of a quarantine period that has been ordered by a government or public authority for you specifically whilst you are at your destination".  

On the plus side, no need to actually have tested positive, just to have been ordered into quarantine.  On the negative side, the policy explicitly excludes food and has a limit of £1,000 per person.  There could also be some debate over the meaning of the undefined term "destination", although the policy does cover cruises.  It's on a "reimbursement with receipts" basis.

So, better than nothing but certainly not a full solution.

May I ask which insurer, they may share an underwriter and we can investigate further with them to see if anyone else might benefit from this clause. Thanks.

[Teddy123]

13 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

May I ask which insurer, they may share an underwriter and we can investigate further with them to see if anyone else might benefit from this clause. Thanks.

Sure - it's LV=. The underwriters are stated as Liverpool Victoria so as I understand it, it's "all their own work".

[Megabear2]

3 minutes ago, Teddy123 said:

Sure - it's LV=. The underwriters are stated as Liverpool Victoria so as I understand it, it's "all their own work".

Thank you.  Back three months ago I had a long chat with LV who were very open and said absolutely not covered - one of the few.  They did mention their curtailment and special terms and this sounds like its one of those. It's certainly interesting and better than nothing.

[watsonbeau]

Thank you for all your hard work 🙏

[Teddy123]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

Thank you.  Back three months ago I had a long chat with LV who were very open and said absolutely not covered - one of the few.  They did mention their curtailment and special terms and this sounds like its one of those. It's certainly interesting and better than nothing.

I took out the policy recently, so perhaps the clauses are a new addition.  Or perhaps LV don't think they give the cover the words seem to imply!  I'm not currently inclined to risk putting it to the test!  I looked in detail at the precise wording of several policies but must admit being offloaded while negative wasn't a scenario I considered, and I focused on cover for land-based holidays on the assumption any cruise quarantine would be in my cabin!

[Megabear2]

It's been a busy day! I confirm emails sent and read receipts received for all suggested insurers.  It is proving difficult to contact RBS but this is as I expected.  I will tomorrow track down the underwriter rather than the actual bank.  This is a shared underwriter as explained previously so any information we get will cover RBS, NatWest, Direct Line and Nationwide policies.

 

In light of the interesting LV clause I shall also contact them for an update on my previous correspondence, together with Aviva who were on my original list as well. 

 

How nice it has been for us all to be on the same page today, it's been a pleasure all round. Hopefully tomorrow may bring floods of information.  Meantime thanks everyone and good night.

[PEMCO007]

Again, thank you for all your hard work Megabear.  My policy is with Barclays, which I believe the underwriter is Aviva, so I wait interestingly for any feedback you get from them.

 

 

[terrierjohn]

8 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

It's been a busy day! I confirm emails sent and read receipts received for all suggested insurers.  It is proving difficult to contact RBS but this is as I expected.  I will tomorrow track down the underwriter rather than the actual bank.  This is a shared underwriter as explained previously so any information we get will cover RBS, NatWest, Direct Line and Nationwide policies.

 

In light of the interesting LV clause I shall also contact them for an update on my previous correspondence, together with Aviva who were on my original list as well. 

 

How nice it has been for us all to be on the same page today, it's been a pleasure all round. Hopefully tomorrow may bring floods of information.  Meantime thanks everyone and good night.

MB, not sure how relevant this is to your lack of a reply from  RBS, however I think they have now dropped the toxic RBS title and reverted to become Natwest.

[Clodia]

17 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Following this flush of success I have written in almost  the same terms to Allclear, Cover for You and Avanti.

 

I think along with Staysure, Saga and Holiday Extras I've covered most of the companies those on here are insured with, leaving aside the bank account and M&S policies.  If anyone wishes me to contact a specific insurer not mentioned here please let me know and I will follow up.

 

Will keep you posted in any replies received.

I am with Insure and Go and pay an extra premium specifically for Cruise Cover including covid cover. I believe the underwriter is Mapfre Assistencia.

[Megabear2]

49 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

MB, not sure how relevant this is to your lack of a reply from  RBS, however I think they have now dropped the toxic RBS title and reverted to become Natwest.

They indeed are Natwest, hence my comment. However those of us who are customers still have RBS branding on our debit cards, cheque books etc and it's a weird set up. There are still separate telephone numbers and address to write to.  To date it's been cosmetic for the press it seems.  As a customer myself I have the relevant details but I know from personal experience they are absolute hell to get hold of for anything in writing!

[Megabear2]

22 minutes ago, Clodia said:

I am with Insure and Go and pay an extra premium specifically for Cruise Cover including covid cover. I believe the underwriter is Mapfre Assistencia.

I will add them to my list for today. Thank you.

 

You may not know this but Insure and Go are now part of AllClear in September 2021.

 

AllClear Travel Insurance has acquired InsureandGo from Mapfre Asistencia for an undisclosed sum. InsureandGo will join AllClear Gold, Tailor Made, Breeze and Black Travel Insurance as part of AllClear’s portfolio of UK brands. AllClear is backed by continued strong support from its growth investor, Synova

Edited January 14, 2022 by Megabear2
Missed words

[Cristaltips]

I’m with Travel50Plus, under the Civil Service Insurance Scheme. They’re underwritten by Union Reiseversicherung AG UK and managed by PJ Hayman and Co Ltd on its behalf! Any claims go through the TIF group who have mixed reviews. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on them and thank you sincerely,  Megabear for all your hard work

[Megabear2]

21 minutes ago, Cristaltips said:

I’m with Travel50Plus, under the Civil Service Insurance Scheme. They’re underwritten by Union Reiseversicherung AG UK and managed by PJ Hayman and Co Ltd on its behalf! Any claims go through the TIF group who have mixed reviews. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on them and thank you sincerely,  Megabear for all your hard work

TIF left the travel insurance market last year and as far as I am aware no longer involved with travel insurance policies.  I suggest before contacting them you should check whether TIF are still your emergency contacts?  

 

I'll have a look meantime at Travel50Plus and their set up. 

[niltava42]

51 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

They indeed are Natwest, hence my comment. However those of us who are customers still have RBS branding on our debit cards, cheque books etc and it's a weird set up. There are still separate telephone numbers and address to write to.  To date it's been cosmetic for the press it seems.  As a customer myself I have the relevant details but I know from personal experience they are absolute hell to get hold of for anything in writing!

 

Hi, this was a corporate branding exercise - they changed the name of the controlling Group company from RBS Group to Natwest Group.

 

All the constituent parts still operate as they did prior. So there is still RBS, Natwest, Ulster, Coutts etc as Bank brands within the Group.      

[Medeba]

Hi Megabear2.  Thank you so much for everything you are doing. 

 

We are insured with the Civil Service Insurance Society (providing the security of Ergo Travel Insurance on behalf of Great Lakes Insurance).  Whilst we got written affirmation that cruises were covered under the policy we did not also ask about cover for accompanying partners with negative results or close contacts.  Having looked at the policy again, I believe that partners are not covered.  So, perhaps you would be kind enough to add CSIS to your list.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Medeba
typo

[Cristaltips]

50 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

TIF left the travel insurance market last year and as far as I am aware no longer involved with travel insurance policies.  I suggest before contacting them you should check whether TIF are still your emergency contacts?  

 

I'll have a look meantime at Travel50Plus and their set up. 

Thank you. TIF are the emergency contact on my policy details

[Megabear2]

To anyone insuring with Cover For You, we have news:

 

Thank you for your email.

 

[Text removed as referred to age cover]

 

Nevertheless, please note that in our policies, if there is no advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Developemnt Office (FCDO) against travelling to the countries our clients intend to visit at the time of their departure from the UK, they will be covered - subject to the policy terms and conditions and subject to medical certification and/or test results and/or the official notice from the ship captain/doctor - if any of the insured contracts Covid-19 or tests positive for Covid-19 whilst travelling, and needs to be offloaded to land from the cruise or if the insured are offloaded to land from the cruise as the captain of the ship has officially decided that close contacts to a Covid-19 carriers need to be taken off the ship and cannot isolate in the ship under cabin confinement, for reasonable additional transport and/or accommodation expenses incurred, if it is medically necessary for them to stay beyond their scheduled return date.  On this event our Emergency Medical Team needs to be contacted as soon as possible, they are available 24/7 at +44 (0) 1473 351 755.

 

If the reason for travel is not listed on https://www.coverforyou.com/coronavirus_cover.php as an essential reason for travel the following terms apply:

 

FCDO advises against 'all travel'

 

No Cover

 

FCDO advises against 'all but essential travel'

 

If your travel is not 'essential':  Cover excluding any claim arising either directly or indirectly from the reason the FCDO advice against travel is in place. For example if your destination states 'The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to … based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.' then your policy would provide full cover for any otherwise valid claim other than a claim caused either directly (for example you contracting COVID-19) or indirectly (for example your accommodation becoming unavailable due to COVID-19) by COVID-19.

Only the insured persons can make an informed decision based on their own individual circumstances and the risks, so long as you are not travelling soley for the purposes of a holiday and believe that your travel is essential then we will provide full cover (subject to the normal terms and conditions of your policy). We may ask you at the point of claim to provide documentary proof of your reason for travel.

 

For more information on the Covid-19 cover on your policy, please visit the following webpage: https://www.coverforyou.com/fcdo_travel.php

Unfortunately, with any claims we are unable to fully confirm if a claim will be accepted, as we have no jurisdiction in regards to claims, and all claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by our Claims Department, who will analyse all factors surrounding the claim event in order to validate a claim.

 

Our Claims Department only answers queries when an actual claim has been submitted, as per above, considering that hypotetical situations do not reflect the actual event, as the review is based on actual facts and factors that led to a claim.

 

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Kindest regards,

 

We appear to have a success!!! Clarification on any necessary testing  nursing expenses would be covered is probably needed but these should be minimal

Edited January 14, 2022 by Megabear2

[Teddy123]

11 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

It's been a busy day! I confirm emails sent and read receipts received for all suggested insurers.  It is proving difficult to contact RBS but this is as I expected.  I will tomorrow track down the underwriter rather than the actual bank.  This is a shared underwriter as explained previously so any information we get will cover RBS, NatWest, Direct Line and Nationwide policies.

 

In light of the interesting LV clause I shall also contact them for an update on my previous correspondence, together with Aviva who were on my original list as well. 

 

How nice it has been for us all to be on the same page today, it's been a pleasure all round. Hopefully tomorrow may bring floods of information.  Meantime thanks everyone and good night.

 

If it helps, the relevant clauses in the LV policy are K9 and K10.

[Teddy123]

3 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

To anyone insuring with Cover For You, we have news:

 

Thank you for your email.

 

[Text removed as referred to age cover]

 

Nevertheless, please note that in our policies, if there is no advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Developemnt Office (FCDO) against travelling to the countries our clients intend to visit at the time of their departure from the UK, they will be covered - subject to the policy terms and conditions and subject to medical certification and/or test results and/or the official notice from the ship captain/doctor - if any of the insured contracts Covid-19 or tests positive for Covid-19 whilst travelling, and needs to be offloaded to land from the cruise or if the insured are offloaded to land from the cruise as the captain of the ship has officially decided that close contacts to a Covid-19 carriers need to be taken off the ship and cannot isolate in the ship under cabin confinement, for reasonable additional transport and/or accommodation expenses incurred, if it is medically necessary for them to stay beyond their scheduled return date.  On this event our Emergency Medical Team needs to be contacted as soon as possible, they are available 24/7 at +44 (0) 1473 351 755.

 

If the reason for travel is not listed on https://www.coverforyou.com/coronavirus_cover.php as an essential reason for travel the following terms apply:

 

FCDO advises against 'all travel'

 

No Cover

 

FCDO advises against 'all but essential travel'

 

If your travel is not 'essential':  Cover excluding any claim arising either directly or indirectly from the reason the FCDO advice against travel is in place. For example if your destination states 'The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to … based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.' then your policy would provide full cover for any otherwise valid claim other than a claim caused either directly (for example you contracting COVID-19) or indirectly (for example your accommodation becoming unavailable due to COVID-19) by COVID-19.

Only the insured persons can make an informed decision based on their own individual circumstances and the risks, so long as you are not travelling soley for the purposes of a holiday and believe that your travel is essential then we will provide full cover (subject to the normal terms and conditions of your policy). We may ask you at the point of claim to provide documentary proof of your reason for travel.

 

For more information on the Covid-19 cover on your policy, please visit the following webpage: https://www.coverforyou.com/fcdo_travel.php

Unfortunately, with any claims we are unable to fully confirm if a claim will be accepted, as we have no jurisdiction in regards to claims, and all claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by our Claims Department, who will analyse all factors surrounding the claim event in order to validate a claim.

 

Our Claims Department only answers queries when an actual claim has been submitted, as per above, considering that hypotetical situations do not reflect the actual event, as the review is based on actual facts and factors that led to a claim.

 

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Kindest regards,

 

We appear to have a success!!!

 

But this says that if a negative contact is offloaded then accommodation and travel will be covered "if it is medically necessary for them to stay beyond their scheduled return date." Some scope for debate about whether it's "medically necessary" for a negative contact to stay, surely - unless being offloaded in these circumstances is seen as consituting a "medical necessity" even for a fit person.  This seems ambiguous to me.

[Megabear2]

32 minutes ago, Cristaltips said:

Thank you. TIF are the emergency contact on my policy details

I have written to them via their website. I did check all the email links and telephone numbers, the latter is live but answered, the email link dead. I note the policies run until March this year on the Travel50Plus site.

 

Most of TIF's underwriting business has been taken up by Great Lakes. I am contacting them for Medeba so we will get a reply one way or the other.