Help with travel insurance

[garethedmondson]

My wife and I booked a cruise a few months back and now a family member is very ill meaning we may have to cancel. Now I know insurance is a minefield but there is a sentence here regarding non paying of insurance:

'circumstances known to you prior to the date the insurance is effected or the time of booking any trip (whichever is earlier) which could reasonably be expected to give rise to cancellation or curtailment of the trip'

Now when we booked the cruise there was no way of knowing that this relative was goimg to be very very ill so that tells me they would have to pay based on the above sentence.... But what does 'date the insurance is effected' mean? That word 'effective'?

Any help appreciated,

Gareth

[Andrew_C]

IANAL, but- Effected = when the contract is entered into. ie You ask for it, they agree to cover you, and you pay. This equates to entering into a contract.

I think you will be covered. I've seen similar clauses in the past when I've been buying insurance. Phone/write and ask. If they kick off, try the CAB.

[garethedmondson]

Well I hope so - at the moment it looks as though we may have to cancel and claim the money back. The insurance document says we must tell them if there is a risk of having to return from holiday - just seems a lot easier to cancel the whole cruise and make the claim - I'm sure that would work out cheaper for the insurance company in the end.

I don't know why they make these documents so damned complicated.

Gareth

[Andrew_C]

I wonder if it is to make it difficult to claim? Cynical? Moi?