Travel Insurance warning

Given my recent exploits and the subsequent implications from a financial as well as a physical / mental point of view, I just thought I'd tell you all a little about my experience in dealing with the travel insurance company because I've certainly learnt a thing or two....

Basically before I headed overseas I bought travel insurance from the Flight Centre preferred company - Covermore. I explained what I was doing, where it was occurring and details of my previous medical conditions (no problems there).

Now in addition to the basic (personal) insurance I also took out additional cover for my bicycle and camera. I was just a tad worried that my bike wouldn’t make it to or from Italy in one piece having heard all sorts of horror stories about the manner in which they were “handled” by airport baggage handlers….

OK – So what’s been the outcome, since my fateful descent of Passo del Stelvio?!

Well let’s just put it this way, during my stay in the Italian hospital, I didn’t have any contact from the insurance company (that I know of or recall) though I do believe they were in regular contact with the hospital staff…..

I did however receive an email from Covermore, post discharge requesting that I obtain confirmation that I was fit to fly.

As a result I headed to a Swiss hospital (It was expensive but absolutely fantasic service, if for no other reason they told me what they were doing and why).

I received said confirmation that I was OK to fly so long as someone put sufficient holes in the box to allow me to breath.

Upon returning home, I submitted a claim, firstly for:

* The cost of my visit to the Swiss hospital; and

* The cost of altering my return flight so as to get home to Australia earlier than was originally scheduled

Some two months later I am yet to receive confirmation as to whether they will reimburse me these costs or otherwise.... Seems they want a copy of my credit card statement which shows the cost of my airline tickets having been purchased using a credit card because there is thing called co-insurance.

In other words they want to chase fifty per cent of their costs / payments to myself from the credit card company's insurance policy....

Does raise the question as to why you’d bother taking out travel insurance with a private provider, if you’ve got a credit card??? At any rate, whilst I waited for this issue to be resolved I submitted an additional claim being for:

* The cost seeing an orthopedic surgeon here in Australia. I went to see him, ostensibly for an assessment of the work undertaken in the Italian hospital and to find out what I needed to do get movement back in the joint, it having been in a plaster cast for a month here on in;

* The cost of seeing a physiotherapist;

* The cost of replacing my helmet camera;

* The cost of repairing the mechanical parts of the bike that had been damaged;

* The cost of replacing some of the cycling clothing I was wearing at the time of the accident;

 Now all of these expenses could and were backed up with receipts I wasn't however claiming for things the price of which I could not support - like the arm warmers, broken helmet, rain jacket or what have you that I was also wearing at the time of the accident.

Their response as far as the second claim was concerned; was here is some money for replacing your cycle clothing and the helmet camera, but as far as the medical expenses here in Australia - we are not a medical insurance provider and therefore are prohibited / unable to reimburse these costs.

In other words if I had stayed in Europe and sought out a physio and orthopaedic surgeon who spoke English then the cost of their services could be billed / repaid by the travel insurer.

Once you return to Aussie soil however we can wash our hands of you and the costs will either have to come out your pocket or against any medical insurance policy you might have. We don't care.....

Not what I thought would be the case, what about you???