Advice needed PLEASE!!!!!

[Albert the Frog]

I have only ever cancelled once- due to a bereavement- and found everybody i dealt with to be sensitive and understanding.One thing they did insist on of course was documentary evidence so grab that consultant! It should be a relatively straightforward process after that-I am sure as well that your Mum would want you to go and have a marvellous time on holiday-take a shed load of pictures and then she can share it with you when you return.

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Albert the Frog
I have only ever cancelled once- due to a bereavement- and found everybody i dealt with to be sensitive and understanding.One thing they did insist on of course was documentary evidence so grab that consultant! It should be a relatively straightforward process after that-I am sure as well that your Mum would want you to go and have a marvellous time on holiday-take a shed load of pictures and then she can share it with you when you return.
[/quote]

Out of interest, if you're travelling in a party sharing 1 hire car and 1 vacation property, how does the insurance company calculate the appropriate compensation when just 1 person out of the group doesn't travel?

I ask because I found that the airline were happy to refund my ticket on production of medical evidence so I didn't have to make a claim and incur the £50 excess on my travel insurance. My accommodation was cancellable anyway.

It might be that it's easier to do that.

[bjpointon]

We have recently had the same scenario with guests and the Insurance Co dealt with it pro rata.

[Mo Green]

Phil I was taken ill in Florida last year and like yourself found the airline company were only to happy to change the dates to a later flight without any proof but with just a small admin fee. Thanks to Roger, we extended the car hire for another two weeks without any problem but the insurance company would only pay for 1 extra day to enable me to get to the airport. Their reason being the car was not for my personal use - if I was too ill to travel home I did not need a car. It would have been a long walk for Cliff to collect medication, food if we did not have one!

Maureen

[mfairhurst]

You seemed to have come to a good decision and best for all , May be your Mum can look forward to the next time .
Have a lovely vacation and bring her plenty of photos back .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Lyn]

My sister had to cancel her holiday recently, as she had to be rushed into hospital and have major surgery. The consultant told her she would have to see her GP for a letter for the insurance company. When she made the claim the Insurance Company sent her form for the Doctor to fill out, which he did (he charged £25) as well as her claim form. Once the form was submitted the claim was paid minus a £40 per person excess.

[steelo]

Ive just managed to get insurance with pre existing medical condition, I asked them that if mum was hospitalised out there would they pay immedietely, they said we would need to phone the 24hr help line and they would decide if they thought we could afford it of if it was to large that they needed to pay it, when i asked what they considered to be small enough for us to pay she said they can not answer that, so now i really am stuck on what to do[msnsad]

[lafifille]

Well, I wouldn't take the chance with an insurance that can't answer such a simple question. Plus insurance companies won't pay if they can avoid it, so I would sign only with crystal clear conditions... you probably don't want that stress while on vacation.

I have lived in the US many years ago, but from what I hear from my friends there it hasn't changed much: just stepping in the E.R costs thousands, as explained above by Maureen. Being hospitalized you easily reach the tens of thousands.

Honestly, I think your Mom took the right decision when she said she'd stay. You say you feel guilty leaving her behind, but won't you feel more guilty if:
1- she suffers while travelling (planes aren't that comfortable for someone who's in pain)
2- she is hospitalized in Florida (plus she'll feel guilty because you spend time with her and take care of the papers and all that...that's a lot of guilt in this family[msnwink])
3- she has to sell everything she's got to pay the hospital bill because the insurance decides "she can afford it" to the extent of what she can pay...
4- the "guys in London" the Doc talked about (liver specialists I gather) see her X-Rays while she's in Florida and say something like: "we need to see her right now, what is she doing in Florida"

Whatever you decide, do NOT go without a good insurance with all the facts and figures written down, no vague promises.

[steelo]

Hi all well mums out of hospital now and feeling much better, she still feels slightly bruised but thats from all the prodding around, Diagnosis is HEPATIC CYSTS ON LIVER she has 2, the docs said she really should not have had pain with these and could not understand why she did but after speaking to kings hospital in london they said to my mum usually hepatic cysts dont get any larger than a plum but hers is now the size of a honeydew melon, they say theres no point draining it as it will fill up again within a matter of days, they dont want to operate as its not malignant life threatening, they have said it will burst on its own which will relieve some of the discomfort, she has been told she wont get her appointment for london for a good few weeks, but like i say shes home and a lot brighter, ive managed to find insurance which is £213.47 they say they will pay anything over £500 there and then so another worry gone, but health wise at the moment id say mums just not up to it no way could she walk round seaworld for the day, so we are going to see how she goes over the week and make a decision late next week, Just to say thankyou all for your advice it has helped[msnsmile2]

[steph_goodrum]

I'm glad your Mum is feeling better. It sounds as though it is one of those things that is going to be a 50/50 judgement call. It's good the insurance clarified what they thought was a reasonable amount for you to pay and wait till you were reimbursed. (I think that's what you meant , not that if you could afford to pay it they wouldnt pay you back but how much they would expect you to pay upfront and have them reimburse you when you got home so it wouldnt involve selliing your mums home or anything like that.

It's good also that you have managed to get a fairly speedy diagnosis, although as you say it doesnt help with the decision as if she is really uncomfortable, (and from what Kings have said even if it bursts and then refills quickly, there is still the possibility that she will still be in discomfort.

Personally I would think she's going to be better of in her own home as even if you take her over and she says leave me at the villa whilst you go out, it is going to stop you enjoying the days and she sounds like she will feel guilty about it. I'm sure she will understand if she has already said you should go without her. The other alternative would be to claim on your own insurance and have the trip deferred till she is hopefully well enough again, perhaps Oct half term or something? If one of the party is unable to travel then your iinsurance should refund any money that you can't get reimbursed from providers.