Medical emergency travel insurance F*****G Nationwide!!!

[berni109]

I am writing this as a warning to all of you that think you have good world wide travel insurance medical cover through your nationwide current account.
If you have made the slightest error when you go through their screening process they will void your policy even where your error has no bearing on the emergency codition you are claiming for.
It's in the small print of the policy and since it is clearly stated the insurance ombudsman will side with the insurers.

In my case I simply forgot to mention that I had been given some prescription pain killers for lower back pain which incidentally I had never taken because the potential side effects frightened me.

My advice to all of you is before taking out this type of insurance is to obtain your medical records from your gp and submit these to the insurance screening process. That way you cant forget what might later be used against you.

 

[chaser]

I am writing this as a warning to all of you that think you have good world wide travel insurance medical cover through your nationwide current account.
If you have made the slightest error when you go through their screening process they will void your policy even where your error has no bearing on the emergency codition you are claiming for.
It's in the small print of the policy and since it is clearly stated the insurance ombudsman will side with the insurers.

In my case I simply forgot to mention that I had been given some prescription pain killers for lower back pain which incidentally I had never taken because the potential side effects frightened me.

My advice to all of you is before taking out this type of insurance is to obtain your medical records from your gp and submit these to the insurance screening process. That way you cant forget what might later be used against you.

So what did you claim for and what happened?

 

[berni109]

Long story, short version.
2nd day of holiday classic heart attack symptoms.
Hospital inpatient - tests then MRI scan.
Was actually trapped nerves in my neck.
Much lighter wallet.

 

[chaser]

Long story, short version.
2nd day of holiday classic heart attack symptoms.
Hospital inpatient - tests then MRI scan.
Was actually trapped nerves in my neck.
Much lighter wallet.

suppose they could class that as similer but how did the insurance people know, you could probably bought the same from a pharmisist.

 

[Chris]

Unfortunately that’s what insurers do.

Happily take the premium, but wriggle like hell to get out of claims.

I think that’s good advice to send them your medical records.

It cuts down on wriggle room for the sods.

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[berni109]

Accessed my nhs medical records.
U'r missing the point, simply because I had a prescription - any prescription - could have been ointment for an ingrowing toenail.
Forget to tell them - they void the insurance.

 

[Chris]

Accessed my nhs medical records.
U'r missing the point, simply because I had a prescription - any prescription - could have been ointment for an ingrowing toenail.
Forget to tell them - they void the insurance.

Really?

Any prescription ever that you didn’t disclose to them?

That can’t be reasonable surely.

 

[Geo]

You cant even trust your medical records
20 years ago in the early days of my colestrol checks i was offered statins.
do i need them i asked?
You are borderline was the reply.
So i decline prefering to wait till they were needed. given the controversial info around at that time
4 years later. I had a Motgage life policy cancelled mid term on the grounds of the Docs writen statement " High colestrol treatment refused"
I did get an apology eventualy had i not been around to challenge those comments
im sure a payout would not have been forthcomming if necesary

 

[berni109]

Any prescription for anything in the last 12 months.

 

[gus-lopez]

Accessed my nhs medical records.
U'r missing the point, simply because I had a prescription - any prescription - could have been ointment for an ingrowing toenail.
Forget to tell them - they void the insurance.

that's nonsense. I'd take it to the insurance ombudsman.
All the more reason for having no nhs doctor.

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[Zains Pops]

All insurance companies are sh1ts. If you keep that to the forefront of your mind when dealing with them it helps.

Maybe if you buy insurance rather than rely on the ‘free’ bank offering.
The combination of banks and insurance guaranteed to screw you over.

I used to rely on Santander travel insurance included in the account package....happy 65th birthday they said, ........now you can p1ss right off you old bugger, too high a risk.

 

[berni109]

@gus-lopez - I'd take it to the insurance ombudsman.
Been there done that. "Its in the contract" so f*** off (perhaps not quite in those terms. but that was the message)
@Zains Pops I paid for existing conditions and a time extension.

 

[138go]

We booked a sailing holiday in Turkey and arranged medical insurance through the C & MH Club They don’t ask you loads of questions but it’s essential to tell them what they want to know.

Shortly before we were due to travel I was diagnosed with gall stones and my GP said I wasn’t fit to go away. The C & MH club paid in full the entire cost of the holiday and it was a lot. I can’t speak too highly of their insurance cover.

Mrs QFour

 

[Chris]

@gus-lopez - I'd take it to the insurance ombudsman.
Been there done that. "Its in the contract" so f*** off (perhaps not quite in those terms. but that was the message)
@Zains Pops I paid for existing conditions and a time extension.

Just because it is in the contract doesn’t make it reasonable.

I had a ruck with AA insurance 10 plus years ago about one of their terms and conditions buried deep in the small print of their policy conditions.

I hadn’t made a claim but I could see a way out for them on hundreds of claims from them being sly. Eventually the buggers backed down and agreed with me and confirmed in writing that they were reversing their denial of claims for other customers who had been caught out by the clause I objected to.

With my professional hat on I won another significant claim against a life insurer on the basis that one of their terms was unreasonable. This led to a poor widow recovering a very significant sum of money on her husbands death that had previously been refused.

I have absolutely no time for insurance companies, their t’s and c’s or the Ombudsman

 

[Cavs]

Do the ‘unfair contract terms’ regulations not cover insurance contracts? They are designed to nullify terms that disadvantage the ordinary consumer in favour of powerful organisations.

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[BobtheBass]

The wording is, I believe "failure to disclose a matrerial fact which would influence the decision to underwrite the risk or affect the premium charged" or words to that effect. If the non disclosure could be proven to have no relevance to the repudiated claim then the insurer wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. Ombudsman next step.

 

[Raybreck]

I am writing this as a warning to all of you that think you have good world wide travel insurance medical cover through your nationwide current account.
If you have made the slightest error when you go through their screening process they will void your policy even where your error has no bearing on the emergency codition you are claiming for.
It's in the small print of the policy and since it is clearly stated the insurance ombudsman will side with the insurers.

In my case I simply forgot to mention that I had been given some prescription pain killers for lower back pain which incidentally I had never taken because the potential side effects frightened me.

My advice to all of you is before taking out this type of insurance is to obtain your medical records from your gp and submit these to the insurance screening process. That way you cant forget what might later be used against you.

Can I please ask if this is a free option with your account or have paid for the service.
Ray

 

[Minxy]

In my case I simply forgot to mention that I had been given some prescription pain killers for lower back pain which incidentally I had never taken because the potential side effects frightened me.

I wonder if that's the reason why they've refused your claim ... if you HAD taken them maybe some of the potential side effects could have been the cause of the symptoms you experienced, even some time later? I'm not saying this is the case at all but maybe where they are 'coming from', I would certainly agree with others though that this needs to be taken up with the Ombudsman or at least inform NW that you will if they don't pay up.

 

[DBK]

We booked a sailing holiday in Turkey and arranged medical insurance through the C & MH Club They don’t ask you loads of questions but it’s essential to tell them what they want to know.

Shortly before we were due to travel I was diagnosed with gall stones and my GP said I wasn’t fit to go away. The C & MH club paid in full the entire cost of the holiday and it was a lot. I can’t speak too highly of their insurance cover.

Mrs QFour

We switched to the C&MC medical insurance last year and I too found they were very easy to deal with. I did it over the phone and there were only a few medical questions and then only about major things like had I had heart problems or cancer diagnosed. They weren't interested in prescription medicines at all. When I queried this the lady said words to the effect "they expect someone your age to be on some sort of tablets"! She didn't actually say that, she was much more tactful of course.

A separate medical policy like this isn't a heap option but I guess you don't find out how good the cover is until you claim.

As an aside I looked at several companies recommended by folk on here before choosing C&MC. All without exception had very tight restrictions on how long you could be out of the country. It was often not much more than 30 days. These restrictions were not always obvious and it needed a phone call to determine what the terms were.

 

[ShiftZZ]

I have had no issues with Admiral Insurance, had a couple of claims, lost wallet, broken TV, all done on the phone, no quibble, cash in bank account within a few days,,

I did have an issue with my dads insurance, Stonebridge, long story, took the insurance company on, lost, appealed, lost, Financial Ombudsman, lost, appeal, lost, Nuclear option. Shifty wins again.

I have beaten the Financial Ombudsman 3 times, and a few local authorities..Plus, utility companies, Banks, Credit card companies, Sofa Companies, Airlines, Internet providers, the list goes on...

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[grumps147]

I have had no issues with Admiral Insurance, had a couple of claims, lost wallet, broken TV, all done on the phone, no quibble, cash in bank account within a few days,,

I did have an issue with my dads insurance, Stonebridge, long story, took the insurance company on, lost, appealed, lost, Financial Ombudsman, lost, appeal, lost, Nuclear option. Shifty wins again.

I have beaten the Financial Ombudsman 3 times, and a few local authorities..Plus, utility companies, Banks, Credit card companies, Sofa Companies, Airlines, Internet providers, the list goes on...

Sounds a bit like parking tickets, appeal and you have a good chance of winning.

All I can say is well done for persevering Dave.

 

[joka250]

@DBK writes exactly what I would write. Have never had to claim, touch wood, but very easy and confidence inspiring. For me the cost has always been fairly competitive.

 

[carolyn]

Must admit I'm glad we've stayed with our Lloyds bank insurance. I know it's not cheap at £27 per month but it also covers phones and breakdown plus our youngest until he finishes Uni. There are so few exclusions, you don't even have to declare hypertension, high cholesterol, food allergies requiring epipens. Nationwide can be very good value indeed but I can see how easy it would be to forget a prescription for an item that you didn't subsequently use. I am surprised the ombudsman found in favour of Nationwide. Sorry it has been such a costly experience.
Planning on visiting daughter when she goes to work in Bangladesh for 2 years so probably not the right time to change now anyway!

 

[mfw]

I used to have worldwide travel insurance only about £80 a year wife on it as well - and i claimed 3.5k hospital fees on it no problem - but it was restrictive on how long you was out of country certainly under 2 months - although backpacker insurance would probably be better option for what i want - but in all honesty i haven't had travel insurance for probably a year now - not advisable but just not sorted it yet

 

[nicholsong]

I have absolutely no time for insurance companies, their t’s and c’s or the Ombudsman

Chris

You may be interested in this story.

My grandmother was in a nursing home when she died and I was miles away. On collecting her personal effects a diamond ring, insured for £3,000, was missing.

She had been previously taken to/from hospital in various ambulances.

Being out of her normal residence the policy excluded theft but not loss.

A loss adjuster was appointed. I arranged a meeting at my office address, not telling them I worked as a lawyer for Norton Rose in the City. I quite truthfully told him that I had not seen my grandmother for weeks and did not know what happened to the ring.

Two days later I called the Insurance Company Claims Manager and asked if he had received the Loss Adjuster's report.

[Chris, you and I know that insurers have the onus to prove an exclusion, but I put this in for the uninitiated]

The conversation went something like

He -'Well it could be excluded under clause[X]'

Me - 'Neither you nor I know whether it was Theft or Loss, so you will not be relying on that will you?'

He - 'The cheque will be in the post tonight' And it was.

It irks me that insurance companies rely on ignorance of the principles of insurance law and can disadvantage the public, but then in bigger claims the insured should engage an Insurance Assessor or Solicitor.

There is no fee for plugging Solicitors - on this subject

Geoff (Not a Solicitor, just an ever-so-'umble Barrister)

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[138go]

We switched to the C&MC medical insurance last year and I too found they were very easy to deal with. I did it over the phone and there were only a few medical questions and then only about major things like had I had heart problems or cancer diagnosed. They weren't interested in prescription medicines at all. When I queried this the lady said words to the effect "they expect someone your age to be on some sort of tablets"! She didn't actually say that, she was much more tactful of course.

A separate medical policy like this isn't a heap option but I guess you don't find out how good the cover is until you claim.

As an aside I looked at several companies recommended by folk on here before choosing C&MC. All without exception had very tight restrictions on how long you could be out of the country. It was often not much more than 30 days. These restrictions were not always obvious and it needed a phone call to determine what the terms were.

Yes, every time we go abroad with the MH we take out their insurance. I’ve had cancer yet they will still cover us at a reasonable price. Some insurers refuse if you’ve had cancer. Last year Ian was poorly in Spain. We contacted them and they were extremely helpful. They will locate a doctor or hospital for you. In the end we didn’t make a claim as everything was covered by EHIC. However, they called us again to ensure everything was okay.

 

[ShiftZZ]

It's in the small print of the policy and since it is clearly stated the insurance ombudsman will side with the insurers.

I thought that insurance complaints were covered by the Financial Ombudsman.

Mr G complains that he was mis-sold his travel insurance policy by Nationwide Building Society.backgroundMr G was on holiday overseas with two other members of his family who were also covered under his travel insurance policy.The hire van they were travelling in was broken into and their luggage was taken, includingthe passports belonging to the two other members of Mr G’s family. As a result, Mr G incurred significant additional travel costs.The insurance company declined Mr G’s claim because it said the theft of passports was excluded, in these circumstances.Mr G complained to Nationwide that it hadn’t made him aware of the relevant exclusion when it sold the policy to him. And, being unhappy with its response, he complained to thisservice.Our adjudicator thought Mr G’s complaint shouldn’t be upheld.Mr G disagreed with the adjudicator’s conclusions, so the matter’s been referred to me to make a final decision.my findingsI’ve considered all the available evidence and arguments to decide what’s fair and reasonable in the circumstances of this complaint.I’ve decided not to uphold Mr G’s complaint and I’ll explain why.Mr G says the agent should’ve told him about the relevant exclusion when the policy wassold to him. And he says he’s not suggesting it’s deliberate mis-selling, but that either Nationwide isn’t training staff well enough to reinforce how important these exclusions are.Or it isn’t monitoring their sales techniques to ensure staff are running through theexclusions with customers.Mr G also says if he’d been aware of the exclusions he wouldn’t have taken an account with Nationwide costing £10 per month. And he would’ve found a policy elsewhere that did cover him in these circumstances.So, Mr G says he wants Nationwide to cover the additional costs he incurred as a result of the theft, including additional hotel accommodation, replacement flights and other necessary expenses. And he says he wants it to refund the monthly fees he’s paid for benefits he’s been unable to claim. Ref: DRN68312092Nationwide says Mr G opened his Flex Account in 2012. And it says in 2014 he upgraded it to a Flex Plus account and an application to do this was carried out by phone. Nationwide also says after opening the account, Mr G would’ve been sent a welcome pack containing the terms and conditions, costs, benefits, features, exclusions and limitations of the accountand all associated insurances. And it says he had the opportunity to change his mind withinthe 28 day cancellation period.In addition, Nationwide says it isn’t standard practice to mention every exclusion in an insurance policy when arranging cover, because this is what policy documents are for. So, Nationwide says in light of the information provided to Mr G at the time of the upgrade of his account, he was aware of the exclusions under the travel insurance. I see Nationwide sold the policy to Mr G on what’s known as a ‘non-advised’ basis, whichmeans Nationwide didn’t have a duty to make sure it was suitable for his needs. But it did have to give Mr G clear information about the policy terms.Mr G hasn’t argued that the exclusion Nationwide’s relied on in declining his claim doesn’t apply in these circumstances. But he says the agent who sold him his account, which included travel insurance as a benefit, should’ve specifically drawn this exclusion to his attention.Exclusions from cover for belongings left unattended in transit are significant. So, I agreethat reasonable steps needed to be taken to draw the relevant exclusion to Mr G’s attention.But I don’t think this means the sales agent should’ve specifically referred to it. I note the relevant exclusion’s set out in the policy document Mr G received. And, very importantly, I also see it’s included in the key facts document he was sent.So I’m satisfied Nationwide took reasonable steps to draw the relevant exclusion to Mr G’s attention. And, in these circumstances, I can’t uphold his complaint.my final decisionI don’t uphold Mr G’s complaint against Nationwide Building Society. Under the rules of the Financial Ombudsman Service, I’m required to ask Mr G to accept or reject my decision 22 May 2017.Robert Collins onombudsman"

https://www.ombudsman-decisions.org.uk/viewPDF.aspx?FileID=149201

Nationwide have 51 complaints made to the FO in the last 5 years on Insirance..
https://www.ombudsman-decisions.org.uk/

25% of all complaints the complainant has won.

http://www.ombudsman-complaints-data.org.uk/

Poor old TSB..

Its worth going to the Financial Ombudsman...

SiftZZ

 

[ShiftZZ]

It would appear that the Nationwide Insurance is covered,undewritten by..
UK Insurance Limited

They also underwrite for.

• Peugeot
• Citroen
• RBS
• Natwest
• Ulster Bank
• Coutts
• Confidas
• Mayday
• Yorkshire Bank
• Clydesdale Bank
• Lloyd Latchford
• Devitt
• Royal London
• Prudential
• Nationwide
• Sainsbury’s
• HSBC
• Zurich
• Virgin Money
• Audi
• Volkswagen
• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle
• SEAT
• ŠKODA
• DS

© 1999-2018 U K Insurance Limited

UK insurance is part of Direct Line Group plc.

 

[philann]

We use the annual worldwide insurance that comes with our Barclays Bank account. If we want to extend cover for a trip of more than 30 days we have to ring them and pay a little extra, but they always ask if we have seen a doctor in the past 12 months and if so have to speak to their medical department. We then get a document listing all our declared preexisting conditions that they will cover.
They also say that for any trip, regardless of length, there must be a booked return. If not then you are not covered at all. This is not clear in the documentation and we weren’t aware of it until we spoke to them. It seems that it applies to many of the insurances packaged with bank accounts.

 

[Southdowners]

They also say that for any trip, regardless of length, there must be a booked return. If not then you are not covered at all. This is not clear in the documentation and we weren’t aware of it until we spoke to them. It seems that it applies to many of the insurances packaged with bank accounts.

I found this out after having an accident!

We never book a return but I did wonder if you book a flexible return would that do?

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