Travel Insurance

AdvocateQC

Has anyone else had a problem with travel insurance?

A Canadian survivor of estrogen-positive breast cancer, my insurance was cancelled by TIC travel insurance after it received a claim from a Florida hospital. Its grounds? Really questionable from my perspective. Breast cancer survivors beware.

On an on-line pre-coverage questionnaire I'd read the question on cancer and when it said "do not include basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or breast cancer treated only with hormone therapies such as Tamoxifen, Femara, Arimedex" I thought that described my type of cancer very well. I'd dodged the chemotherapy bullet.

Apparently not. What the question meant, I'm now told is that it excluded only those on hormones therapies who had not received surgery or radiation in the last 24 months. Oops. I've asked the company to change the wording on-line so others don't fall victim to it.

Meanwhile, I'm stuck with a rather large hospital bill.

dlb823

I have two questions... Was your hospital visit/bill related to bc or bc tx?  And if their pre-coverage question had been worded better and you had checked "yes" to it, would you have been denied all coverage, or just had anything related to bc (e.g. a pre-existing condition) excluded?     Deanna

Chickadee

If its anything like the travel insurance I just bought there is a period before purchase wherein they describe certain actions must not have occurred to get the pre existing condition waiver.

I hope I don't need to invoke it.



Mine is 60 days, no med change, no hospitalization, no surgery, related to my BC. I changed treatment in April so I should meet the criteria. Those insurance jerks can find a way to weasel out of paying anything.

AdvocateQC

The hospital bill was not at all related to breast cancer. It was a bump on the head in the kitchen that caused a prolonged headache and tenderness. Nothing more. Had I known the high cost of hospital emergency care in the U.S. I would certainly have waited for an Urgent Care facility to open on that Sunday morning. I'd already waited overnight. 

Had the question been worded differently I certainly would have replied in the affirmative--as I did the previous year in declaring the diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery. I was not asking that pre-existing conditions be covered.

dlb823

Then I don't get why they denied your claim if the incident had nothing to do with bc.  How did your past bc hx even enter the picture?  Since you answered the question about cancer truthfully based on how it was worded and you have a contract with them, I fail to see how they can now deny this claim.  I think it's at least worth a call to an attorney for a professional opinion.   Deanna

Chickadee

Count me confused. I'd consult with an atty as well. If it had nothing to do with the pre existing diagnosis I dont understand the insurance company denial.

dlb823

And if they're too stupid to word their question to rule out applicants they meant to rule out, well that's not your problem.

peggy_j

Sorry to hear this happened. My sense is that this company is being a slime-ball. They gladly took your money without asking clarifying questions and then when you filed a claim they suddenly reviewed your application. This feels like a rescission issue to me.  FWIW, at least one state (California) sued the health insurance companies over their slimy rescission policies and won. (this was prior to the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act, aka Obamacare, which made rescission harder for normal health insurance. Not sure if it covers travel insurance).  So one option is to find the state which this company is incorporated and complain to a state agency. In CA, it was the attorney general who sued. There is also a government agency that helps consumers with health insurance issues. (when I called the guy was surprisingly knowledgeable and helpful). Travel insurance feels like it might be different beast but it's definitely worth fighting.

This situation makes me really mad. Let's face it, they gladly took your money and would have kept it if you didn't file a claim. Once you did, then they took the time to see if you were qualified.  How many other consumers do they do this to? It's a total rip off. (not to mention, leaves you completely hanging since you assumed you had the coverage you paid for). If you can't get relief through usual means, maybe you should at least complain via the internet (post bad reviews on any website that discusses travel insurance options). good luck!

GG27

There was a program on tv, not too long ago about this exact problem.  The insurance companies word the questions ambiguously & then when you have a claim they do an indepth examination of your medical records finding whatever they can to deny your claim, it doesn't need to have anything to do with what you were treated for. 

I'm sorry that you got caught up in this but even the media said that there was little that you could do after the fact, they were trying to warn the public that if you aren't sure about how to answer a question to call the insurance company to get clarification prior to purchasing the insurance.

AdvocateQC

The claim was denied, according to TIC travel insurance, because my "complete medical history was not disclosed at the time of purchase."  (It doesn't matter that I was honestly answering the vague and misleading question.) It was kind enough to refund the premium while voiding the policy and is offering assistance in dealing with the Florida hospital in obtaining a discount on the invoice. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

If I were a U.S. citizen and heard that a foreign company was playing this game which reduced the revenue for my state health-care system, I'd be a tad annoyed.

The post from Vancouver offers excellent advice. I'd go further and suggest that on-line applications be avoided entirely. If you apply by phone and get clarification of any vague questions from the agent on the other end, then the company would not have the escape valve.

No doubt survivors of other significant health conditions also get caught in a trap--deliberately set or otherwise. I do want those who have survived estrogen-positive cancer to avoid this particular one. And yes, that's what I'm hoping this forum and others will do.

As far as I know, it's a Canadian company and good state laws won't help. I am taking the good suggestion to take it to a higher level in government--likely the federal government as financial institutions such as banks and insurers are regulated federally here.

Thanks for the suggestions and please tell others to be beware of this and similar traps.

crabbiepattie

Hi Advocate,

It might help for you to send your case to a travel or consumer advocate or even a newspaper - they sometimes get bad companies to behave.  I'm planning to travel some next year and hope I have better luck with travel insurance.

Pat