Travel insurance

Case study 4The complainant booked a holiday in early 2004 and purchased a travel insurance policy two months later. Ten days later, she was informed by her doctor that she was pregnant and expecting twins. On medical advice, she cancelled her holiday six weeks later.

She had been due to travel in mid-2004 and her expected date of delivery was late 2004.

She submitted a cancellation claim to the travel insurance provider to cover the cost of the cancelled holiday, but her claim was declined on the grounds that cancellation due to pregnancy was not covered under the terms of her insurance policy unless it was medically necessary and the due date is less than eight weeks after the trip ends, or 16 weeks in the case of known multiple pregnancy.

The ombudsman examined the dates of the events and found it was evident that the holiday was booked and the cover put in place before the pregnancy had been confirmed.

The complainant's doctor confirmed that she advised the complainant of the need to cancel 10 days after the purchase of the policy.

The ombudsman therefore upheld her complaint.