Dad’s sick – why won’t Allianz cover Mom’s claim?

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By Christopher Elliott

Chris James’ mother cancels her vacation after his father falls ill. Why won’t Allianz cover her insurance claim?

Question

I’m writing about what I believe was an unfair, unethical decision on the part of Allianz, the travel insurance company from which my uncle purchased coverage for a recent trip to the East Coast for himself and his other elderly siblings, including my mother, to visit family.

My dad’s health significantly declined from the time my uncle bought the coverage until the time their departure drew near. My mom was faced with a difficult decision: visit family — many of whom she hadn’t seen in years and perhaps would not be able to see again — or stay by my father’s side as his health continued to decline. She decided to stay.

When she filed a claim with Allianz, it decided to classify her choice to treat my father’s hospitalization as a “pre-existing condition.” That isn’t accurate or fair. He has been under a physician’s care for some time, but was rushed to the emergency room and subsequently hospitalized only after my uncle had purchased the insurance.

I hope you will agree that the company’s decision to void coverage for my mother because of a situation she had no control over was wrong and defeats the very purpose of travel insurance. My mom and her siblings are in their 80s and on fixed incomes. This outcome has made a hard and sad decision on her part — staying home with my father — even worse. I think Allianz should do the right thing and cover the claim. Any help you’re able to offer is much appreciated. — Chris James, Chicago

Answer

Your mother’s travel insurance policy came with several named exclusions, one of them being that it wouldn’t cover any existing medical conditions. That makes some sense if you’re an insurance underwriter; you don’t want to insure something that’s likely to turn into a claim.

But your mother assumed she’d be covered, as most travelers do, if something were to go wrong. And your father’s condition took a drastic turn for the worse. The question was: Did this have anything to do with a pre-existing medical condition? (Related: Will travel insurance cover my missed tour?)

In the future, you can avoid this situation altogether by taking out the right policy. Some conventional policies cover existing conditions when you buy them closer to the time of your booking. Or you can buy a more expensive “cancel for any reason” policy. This allows you to file a claim for any reason, and receive a percentage of your trip back. (Here is our ultimate guide to finding the best travel insurance.)

TravelInsurance.com makes it fast and easy to compare and buy travel insurance online from top-rated providers. Our unbiased comparison engine allows travelers to read reviews, compare pricing and benefits and buy the right policy with a price guarantee, every time. Compare and buy travel insurance now at TravelInsurance.com.

When you run into a “no,” you can send a brief, written appeal to the insurance company. If that doesn’t work, you can contact your state insurance commission, or me.

You and your mother contended that your father’s medical condition didn’t exist before you bought insurance. Allianz said otherwise. We exchanged paperwork, and my advocacy team and I urged them to take a closer look at your father’s medical records.

Allianz had relied on your physician’s statement that your father’s medical condition was “existing at the time of purchase.”

“However, they then reviewed other documentation which contradicted that report and led them to believe that the claim is covered and payable under Mr. James’ policy,” an Allianz spokesman told me.

Allianz apologized for the inconvenience and processed your mother’s claim.

Should Allianz have honored this claim?

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Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Panamá City.

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