<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum

Why should the airlines pick up the tab because the insurance company are cherry picking their customers?
[/quote]

I think you have misunderstood my post. I can't answer why they should but I am aware that some do give refunds on 'non-refundable' tickets where the reasons are based on medical grounds.

It really isn't a case of the "word getting out" as you suggest. It's explicit within the airlines' policies.

Take, for example, American Airlines' policy on non refundable tickets (which I have condensed):

CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE/ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - WAIVER ALSO APPLIES FOR TRAVELING COMPANION. TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME CHANGES BEFORE DEPARTURE CHARGE USD 100.00. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE/ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - WAIVER ALSO APPLIES TO TRAVELING COMPANION. THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE. ------ CHANGES ARE PERMITTED PRIOR TO THE TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME OF EACH FLIGHT PROVIDED THE NEW ITINERARY MEETS ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW FARE PURCHASED I.E. ADVANCE RESERVATION/TICKET PURCHASE MINIMUM /MAXIMUM STAY REQUIREMENTS. ITINERARIES MAY BE REBOOKED UP TO ONE YEAR FROM ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE PROVIDED TICKETED FLIGHT IS CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME. IF TICKETED FLIGHT IS NOT CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME TICKET HAS NO VALUE. ------

AFTER DEPARTURE CHARGE USD 100.00. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE/ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - WAIVER ALSO APPLIES FOR TRAVELING COMPANION.

American are by no means the only airline who take this approach.

I have taken advantage of these rules for health reasons both on my own account and where a travelling companion couldn't travel on the actual day of the flight after the ticket was purchased many weeks before. I am also aware of others outside my family circle who have done the same - 1 of them only a couple of days ago.

Finally, I can assure you that insurance companies are well aware of which airlines take this line and won't pay out where they know they will give a refund.