Sensitive issue that may involve Insurance claims
Sensitive issue that may involve Insurance claims
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Discussion

DT1975

Original Poster:

1,036 posts

49 months

Yesterday (19:33)
quotequote all
We have had two holidays booked for well over a year. We have Barclays Insurance cover (underwitten by Aviva) - pay £15 a month for Insurance and breakdown cover.

We have a Miami stay followed by a Caribbean cruise next month. Fully paid up.

In April we have 12 nights in the Maldives for a delayed special birthday. In this case I've paid a £195 deposit. A further £1000 deposit is due on Thursday (to cover flights) then the rest (£6k) due in early March.

My elderly mother was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer in December confirmed by MRI (large tumour. Due to age (90's) and fragility no further investigation followed so we have no idea of timescale. She's been admitted to a care home and although her only symptoms are weight loss she's basically palliative.

So I contacted her GP and was told more than likely a few months but could go longer up to six months bless her.

The issue (taking all emotion out of the situation) is the Maldives holiday in April. She's in a safe place surrounded by family doing daily visits etc so no issues there and she wants us to crack on whatever happens but obviously that won't happen if her health drastically goes downhill beforehand or we face missing the funeral. I won't let it, naturally.

I'm not sure what to do and am wondering about the Insurance situation if we were to proceed. We paid £195 deposit last year, cancer discovered Dec. If I press on and pay for the flights now fully aware of the cancer,followed by the £6k balance in March are we leaving ourselves open to a potential claim being rejected due to a pre existing condition, a condition that didn't exist before we booked but manifested itself before we paid the final balance?

Easier just to bin it off? Worried if I call them they'll note it and subsequently do our legs if we claim.

DT1975

Original Poster:

1,036 posts

49 months

Yesterday (20:07)
quotequote all
Anyone used Chatgpt ? under our circumstances it says this : I guess I need to call them.

Most UK travel insurers treat each new payment as a new financial commitment.

Once you are aware of:

a serious illness, and

a reasonable chance the trip may need to be cancelled

then voluntarily increasing your financial exposure (by paying the balance) is often classed as:

“acting unreasonably” or “failing to mitigate loss”

fooman

979 posts

85 months

Yesterday (20:11)
quotequote all
Sorry to state the obvious but be on the safe side and check with your insurance, otherwise you could find yourself selling the house to cover the bills

craig1912

4,323 posts

133 months

Yesterday (20:13)
quotequote all
fooman said:
Sorry to state the obvious but be on the safe side and check with your insurance, otherwise you could find yourself selling the house to cover the bills
What bills?

DT1975

Original Poster:

1,036 posts

49 months

Yesterday (20:15)
quotequote all
fooman said:
Sorry to state the obvious but be on the safe side and check with your insurance, otherwise you could find yourself selling the house to cover the bills
Thanks, not sure you read it right, she isn't coming with us :-)