Wednesday 7 December 2011

Do you have faith in travel insurance?

Here is a great example of a travel insurance company that is interested in one thing - profits!

Do you have faith in travel insurance?

If you read between the lines, you will see that terms of the policy were open to interpretation, and that where the medical term in the policy is being interpreted by a medical professional, ie doctor, the client is covered; whereas, where being interpreted by a lawyer with limited knowledge in the medical field, the claim is denied. Either way you read the article, it appears the claim should have been paid.

I have read other articles, however, that are more clear cut, and the insureds tried to use the media to corner the insurance companies, and force them to pay a travel insurance claim on a clearly deniable scenario. A great example of this is where the client gets drunk, falls off a balcony, submits a claim for his or her injuries, the claim is denied based on the level of alcohol in his or her blood, then goes to the media as a victim! Get serious. Does the insured not realize that they are only harming their image, and that for the most part the public will read between the lines and side with the travel insurance company that denied the claim in the first place?
That said, regarding the article, should you happen to read the comments from the readers on the travel insurance industry, it is evident that – regardless of the shameful act of the insurance company in this particular case – the readers haven’t a clue about what travel insurance is about and why a person of sound mind should purchase coverage.
Travel Insurance Coverage is for emergency health care, and it should not considered for the coverage of any pre-existing condition, routine medical review, or to expedite treatment of a condition in a foreign country where medical care is not accessible in Canada in a timely manner.

There are unique travel insurance companies, however, that promote the concept of coverage for stable pre-existing conditions. Whether through their regular travel insurance plan, or through a special underwritten insurance policy, always disclose all pre-existing conditions. Reputable plans will be able to offered coverage for most stable pre-existing conditions.

Travel insurance is a contract. And the contract in the case of travel medical insurance is contemplated for the coverage emergent medical conditions of sound people of sound mind. People that binge drink and that are alcoholics in reality cannot be considered of sound mind, and therefore coverage for alcohol abuse and alcoholism is never a covered term under any travel insurance contract. Alcoholism would be considered an unstable pre-existing condition, and therefore not covered.

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