Travel insurance

[alisonbestford]

This is a travel insurance question...... with a twist.

Before I begin I'll apologise for confusing everyone!

DD and I are off to Florida next year and I'm about to book our travel insurance

Now, I'm not too concerned about prices as I'm a firm believer that cheapest isn't always best but I'm unsure as to whether to arrange for a single trip, single parent policy, an annual single parent policy or a family annual policy

DH won't be travelling to the US with us as he can no longer get insurance (so, if I bought a family policy he wouldn't be insured for Florida) but we're hoping to travel within Europe this summer.
I'm not sure about arranging an annual policy for Eve and myself and a separate one for DH (when we travel within Europe) - if we were to run into problems whilst we were all away would we be likely to encounter any difficulties having different policies?

I thought that if there were any insurance advisers amongst us you might be able to offer some advice please

Also, can anyone recommend travel insurance that doesn't involve AXA as the underwriters? (I've had trouble claiming from them before )

Thanks

 

[Claire L]

I am thinking getting a policy from the same company for all of you will be better as an insurance policy always has a clause about 'travel depending upon a non travelling party', so if your DH were to get worse and you couldn't go to Florida if he were not mentioned specifically then they may not pay out for cancellation or curtailment. At least if all booked with same company then it will be easier to cross reference things.

HTH

Claire

 

[mobius]

Trt tesco insurance, they are underwritten by RBS

 

[alisonbestford]

I am thinking getting a policy from the same company for all of you will be better as an insurance policy always has a clause about 'travel depending upon a non travelling party', so if your DH were to get worse and you couldn't go to Florida if he were not mentioned specifically then they may not pay out for cancellation or curtailment. At least if all booked with same company then it will be easier to cross reference things.

HTH

Claire

Mmm, I know where you're coming from Claire but I don't think they'll pay out for cancellation, or curtailment, anyway as he's classed as being terminally ill and I don't want that fact to bump up the ins premium so much that we can't afford to go at all
His consultant, at the hospital, said we were probably looking at £8,000 - £9,000 if he were to actually want to go to the US himself
Guess it's worth ringing round to see what anyone has to say though

Sorry if that sounds harsh but we've lived with this problem for so long that I might sound as though I don't care

 

[paulh]

try www.insureandgo.com underwriten by AIG.our case not as serious as yours,eldest just had appendix out and i am inbetween 2 cattract opps.We are both covered and no extra costs, so if any problems were ok.As for there family if you pay for an adult child is free.Good luck in getting some
Paulh

 

[Claire L]

Mmm, I know where you're coming from Claire but I don't think they'll pay out for cancellation, or curtailment, anyway as he's classed as being terminally ill and I don't want that fact to bump up the ins premium so much that we can't afford to go at all
His consultant, at the hospital, said we were probably looking at £8,000 - £9,000 if he were to actually want to go to the US himself
Guess it's worth ringing round to see what anyone has to say though

Sorry if that sounds harsh but we've lived with this problem for so long that I might sound as though I don't care

True about bumping up the insurance and I know it must be hard living day to day knowing that it will happen but not knowing when to you all. If you just want cover for yourself and your DD re medical expenses etc then I guess you don't need to mention your DH as you are not wanting to be covered for cancellation or curtailment regarding him, if you know what I am trying to say! I take it there are no insurance companies that work with people or families of people who have terminal illnesses,even if the terminal may mean quite a while?

Claire

 

[alisonbestford]

I take it there are no insurance companies that work with people or families of people who have terminal illnesses,even if the terminal may mean quite a while?

Claire

'Terminal', so far, has been 10 years..........

There are insurance companies mentioned, through the BACUP newsletter, but their premiums tend to be sky high

We'll work something out, and it'll all be fine, but it's been great to hear some different view points

Thank you

 

[gilld]

Have you tried Free Spirit, All Clear and Venturesure? They will all cover Cancellation and Curtailment due to my daughter, even though she doesn't come on holiday with us, and she has very severe mental health problems with high suicide risk factors. Almost all other companies exclude her problems. They're not cheap but not exhorbitant either....around £250 for the two of us to USA for 2 weeks.

 

[alisonbestford]

Have you tried Free Spirit, All Clear and Venturesure? They will all cover Cancellation and Curtailment due to my daughter, even though she doesn't come on holiday with us, and she has very severe mental health problems with high suicide risk factors. Almost all other companies exclude her problems. They're not cheap but not exhorbitant either....around £250 for the two of us to USA for 2 weeks.

Thnaks Gilld, I'll certainly give them a try

 

[rpbert1]

I called Insureandgo, as DW has Lupus, was expecting quite a bit to be added on , but they gave me a quote on the phone , and for an extra £23 she is covered if she was to take ill because of her illness, which was quite good, although we have been away a few times and her illness is under control with medication.
I hope you get something sorted , just call and ask for quotes ,sure you will get one somewhere

 

[Alexander!!!]

I work for a claims handling company and we deal with over 150 different travel insurances out of the same building.

Therefore in respect of your European trips, if you perhaps got (purely as an example) Churchill for yourself and Virgin for DH, if a major problem did arise it would all be the same 24 hour Assistance department who would be on the phone sorting things out regardless of which policy you were using. Of course the exact monetary entitlement may differ based on the wording of each policy, but at least it would all tie up and you could speak to one set of people in respect of both policies.

Its very rare for Insurers to actually do their own claims handling, so it's often a good idea to find out who the claims handlers are before you purchase the insurance.

This does however bring us great amusement when snotty customers tell us "they're taking their business elsewhere" only to find out the new insurance they've taken out is underwritten, handled and dealt with by exactly the same people!

 

[alisonbestford]

That's the sort of thing I was wondering about too

I've not done anything about insurance yet as planning DH's birthday party, for Saturday, is sending me crazy

Thanks to everyone for your advice