Is an Australian travel insurance company right not to honor a cancellation claim even if I can't enter the country while pregnant?
So I've booked tickets to Malaysia about a year ago after we found some super cheap tickets (non-refundable, non-changeable). A couple of months after booking the ticket, I got pregnant, and will be in my third trimester when we go on this flight.
We rang up the insurance company and according to them, pregnancy is a pre-existing condition and therefore is not covered. It is considered preexisting even through this all occurred after the booking of the tickets.
The problem is that Malaysia doesn't give out visas to pregnant women after the 6th month of pregnancy. We wouldn't be allowed to go even if we wanted to.
So do I have some sort of case here for me to complain somehow (to somebody?) or is this quite standard process and I should just accept that we won't get our money back?
Best Answer
Most trip cancellation insurance is designed to cover for unexpected occurrences, accidents, illnesses, etc. Pregnancy on the other hand is often considered a controllable occurrence. While some pregnancies are unexpected, those become more of a "we didn't you did" argument and the insurance company usually wins.
Buried deep within the terms of your coverage, there is likely a definition of coverage regarding pregnancy. You might be able to track it down yourself or might need a legal eagle to help understand your options. But check the wording before giving up.
Also with the airline, as your issue is medical you may be able to get them to waive the non-changeable rule and let you reschedule for a fee. But you need to approach it from a very polite point of view, explaining the situation and your desire to again travel on their airline to that destination. Threats or rants will immediately get your request deep sixed. Do a little web research and try to find email contacts for upper management to address your request to.
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Does travel insurance cover cancellation due to pregnancy?
Yes. Because pregnancy isn't considered a pre-existing medical condition, most annual multi-trip policies will cover you while pregnant, but we'd recommend checking your policy wording or speaking to your travel insurance provider to be sure that it offers the cover you want.Is pregnancy considered a pre-existing condition travel insurance?
Does being pregnant affect my insurance? Pregnancy isn't considered a pre-existing medical condition, so there's no need to tell us before you travel. However, make sure you tell us about any medical conditions you have because of your pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.Does international insurance cover pregnancy?
Pregnancy and Visitors Medical Insurance Typically, international health insurance plans are designed to provide coverage for unforeseen illness, injuries and accidents while traveling. Most travel medical insurance plans do not cover maternity, pregnancy, or childbirth.Why would a travel insurance claim be denied?
Timely filing limit expired Some of our travel insurance plans (and most insurance companies in general) have a timely filing limit that you have to follow. If you don't provide the required documents within the stated time frame, your claim could be denied, when it could have been covered.Travel Insurance Tips: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy
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Answer 2
You mentioned you booked holiday a year in advance, but when did you purchase your travel insurance? You cannot purchase travel insurance a year before you travel, so I guess it depends on whether you were pregnant before or after purchasing your travel insurance. This site http://www.comparetravelinsurance.com.au/tips-and-guides/pregnancy-travel-insurance-guide has a good guide on pregnancy and travel insurance
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