Travel Insurance Question

kerash

Can anyone tell me why this insurer http://www.blueinsurance.ie/common/BlueDirectPolicy-09-10-V1.pdf
excludes

claims arising directly or indirectly if You are suffering from stress, anxiety, depression or any other mental or nervous disorder.

but Illness is covered?

I was to travel on holiday but we cancelled due to a member of our party suffering from Illness - specifically anxiety and depression.
The insurer rejected the claim and we cannot recover any of our money (€1200)

mikedragon32

You need to take this up with the insurer and if that doesn't get you the result you want, then you may need to take legal advice.

Suffice to say though, that you took out the insurance and in doing so agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the insurance policy, so I doubt you're going to get a favourable outcome.

It's a bummer, but one should always read the fine print before signing or agreeing to anything.

undo

I guess the explanation is rather simple. It is very easy to say you are feeling a bit blue and demand your money back. It would be hard to prove the onset of a genuine mental disorder. So, to prevent from being gamed, the insurance company is excluding all mental illnesses from what is covered.

A physical illness would be much harder to fake and hence is covered. As the previous poster said, you should have read the fine print. I do not see anything you could do.

kerash

mikedragon32 wrote: »

You need to take this up with the insurer and if that doesn't get you the result you want, then you may need to take legal advice.

Suffice to say though, that you took out the insurance and in doing so agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the insurance policy, so I doubt you're going to get a favourable outcome.

It's a bummer, but one should always read the fine print before signing or agreeing to anything.

Thank you mike, yep I am resigned to the fact that it was in the terms so not much can be done.
Obviously on reading that it covered illness I missed the exclusion on mental illness but it's a lesson learned.

undo wrote: »

I guess the explanation is rather simple. It is very easy to say you are feeling a bit blue and demand your money back. It would be hard to prove the onset of a genuine mental disorder. So, to prevent from being gamed, the insurance company is excluding all mental illnesses from what is covered.

A physical illness would be much harder to fake and hence is covered. As the previous poster said, you should have read the fine print. I do not see anything you could do.

Excuse me no where did I say that feeling a bit blue and demanding money back was applicable to our case.
You wont find a doctor certifying someone sick due to feeling a bit blue you idiot.
In future think before you speak or you are likely to offend.

3DataModem

You will find plenty of doctors in Ireland who will certify someone sick due to "stress" with presentation of mild symptoms.

While I am sure the OPs case is genuine, unfortunately when it comes to car, house and travel insurance there is a lot of "moral hazard" and dishonest people exploit this... so unfortunately we all suffer.

Alas it is all to easy to go to a doctor and claim shortness of breath, tightness in chest, and fake high BP.

kerash

3DataModem wrote: »

You will find plenty of doctors in Ireland who will certify someone sick due to "stress" with presentation of mild symptoms.

While I am sure the OPs case is genuine, unfortunately when it comes to car, house and travel insurance there is a lot of "moral hazard" and dishonest people exploit this... so unfortunately we all suffer.

Alas it is all to easy to go to a doctor and claim shortness of breath, tightness in chest, and fake high BP.

So mental illness isn't covered because you cant see it. That's great stuff.

Back injury anyone?

3DataModem

kerash wrote: »

So mental illness isn't covered because you cant see it.

No.... it's because lots of people fake it for insurance claims.

kerash

3DataModem wrote: »

No.... it's because lots of people fake it for insurance claims.

I'd be interested to see official stats on this if it's available.

Does anyone know what travel insurance would be best in the future considering mental illness will be a pre-existing condition?