Nationwide Travel Insurance

[Brindleyboy]

I have a joint bank account at Nationwide with my wife and it costs £18 a month and provides, as a benefit, travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and car recovery insurance.

My wife has taken out a separate annual travel insurance policy with a well known UK company. She has some health issues and rather than pay for an upgrade with Nationwide, it made sense to purchase a stand alone annual policy with a separate company.

My wife's health has taken a turn for the worse and we have to cancel an imminent trip. Nationwide and their insurers are threatening to refute my claim for reimbursement of half the costs (of the cruise) on the grounds that we did not declare my wife's pre-existing conditions. This is despite the fact that we are not claiming for her as she has her own travel insurance policy.

Are they within their rights to decline my claim? They are asking for all the details of my wife's pre-existing conditions. Are we required to give them?

[echat11]

I can see what you are saying and understand what the insurance company are say.

You only want to make a claim that applies to you.

The insurance company is saying that when you took out the travel insurance with them, there
would have been a premium that would have been worked out based on the health questionnaire.

What you need to do is see what information was sought at the time the Nationwide Insurance was
set up. What details did they ask for? Go through the Terms and Conditions.

Check if things were made clear i.e. was the form easy to understand etc.

How did you pay for the 'cruise'?

If by Credit Card, can they do anything to help you?

[Brindleyboy]

I didn't apply for insurance through Nationwide - I only opened a bank account with them - and the insurance was a benefit which cost nothing. I didn't have to fill in any medical forms. The account was opened a few years ago. I have subsequently paid for an upgrade for myself - declaring medical conditions for which I have since been treated.

My wife though - had some serious health conditions and so she sought out an independent insurer.

Your advice to approach the credit card company is a great idea - in the event that the insurance company does not pay out.

[echat11]

I didn't apply for insurance through Nationwide - I only opened a bank account with them - and the insurance was a benefit which cost nothing. I didn't have to fill in any medical forms. The account was opened a few years ago. I have subsequently paid for an upgrade for myself - declaring medical conditions for which I have since been treated.

My wife though - had some serious health conditions and so she sought out an independent insurer.

Your advice to approach the credit card company is a great idea - in the event that the insurance company does not pay out.

If they didn't specifically ask for pre-existing conditions, then the 'Terms and Conditions' they are using to decline your claim maybe 'unfair'.

Send them a Subject Access Request, they have 30 days to provide all the information on the account, make it a General Request, so everything.
This can be done online via your online account. Even if they asked, how did they ask etc. If they didn't as, then they can't say 'you didn't tell us'.

Only communicate in writing.