Travel Insurance - sick non traveller

[PaulyB]

Hello
I have read all the postings but don't seem to have one that covers our particular circumstances. I wonder if you can help?

My wife and I are traveling one way to the UK from Aust at the end of March. Leg one is to Singapore with Singapore Air (economy) Leg 2 is via Cathay using QANTAS FF (business). (We don't know when we will return so haven't booked anything else yet)

The issue at stake here tho is that my father was recently taken ill and is in hospital. At 94 he could conceivably die and so our flights may have to change. What is at stake is the kind of (if any) travel insurance that would cover our circumstances. (There are no hotels etc to allow for as we are staying with friends/family.) I spoke to QANTAS and was told with a Dr's letter they would be very sympathetic regarding re-booking the flights. I haven't addressed the issue with SA although I suspect they would have the same attitude.

So - I can't find any insurance that covers a pre-existing condition of a family member. Maybe the airlines' good nature is all that we will have. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hello

So - I can't find any insurance that covers a pre-existing condition of a family member. Maybe the airlines' good nature is all that we will have. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

I think you will find that any Insurance Co will exclude payment for pre-existing conditions such as this as it is not worth their risk. You are very likely to miss and so they are very liukely to have to pay out. They would either decline ir chargea huge premium.

I have two sisters that used to work for companies that provided travel insurance and they advised me some time back to take your insurance out straight away...and that they very carefully checked any claims for missed flights especially for any policies taken out late in the piece for the vary valid reason that quitea number of travellers took out policies after they knew they hada problem, or where very likely too.

Note too that if not declared that their later investigations would most likely exclude you from payment.

Insurance really needs to be taken out as soon as flight is booked, otherwise the the component covering change to travel plans is not really enjoyed.

If you piad witha CC that has built in travel insurance it would be woth reading it's clauses as your fathers none known illness should not be an issue, as long as the policy covers missinga flight due illness ofa close realtibe (which it may not).

 

[PaulyB]

Insurance really needs to be taken out as soon as flight is booked, otherwise the the component covering change to travel plans is not really enjoyed.

If you piad witha CC that has built in travel insurance it would be woth reading it's clauses as your fathers none known illness should not be an issue, as long as the policy covers missinga flight due illness ofa close realtibe (which it may not).

Thanks for this - yes - I think you are correct and unfortunately we hadn't taken out the insurance Re the card - yes our AMEX does cover many things but not this so that is a path we have already explored. Oh well.....

 

[NM]

Most travel insurance has limitations for the duration of the trip. Even annual policies usually limit to a maximum of 60 or 9 days per trip. As this seems to be a one-way trip, I doubt travel insurance is going to cover it. Best may be to ensure your flights a flexible fares.

You have noted the use of FF points redemption for part of the journey and most travel insurance policies will not refund points for flights changes. If you need to cancel the redemption flight there will be a points penalty incurred and you can only rebook according to availability.