By Christopher Elliott | Journey Troubleshooter
Q: I purchased journey insurance coverage from Tin Leg for a scheduled REI tour to Utah. When a household tragedy struck and my husband’s father handed away, I canceled our complete journey and all associated reservations. I acted rapidly to tell each REI and Tin Leg.
Regardless of my immediate cancellation, Tin Leg denied my declare. Their rationalization was that as a result of I reused my airline ticket for a distinct journey, my cancellation was deemed invalid.
I have to know if my cancellation ought to have triggered a full reimbursement for the canceled REI journey. Did my actions not meet the supposed spirit of the coverage? I additionally marvel if there was something extra I might have executed to safe my refund. — Amy Sparks, Minneapolis
A: I’m sorry to listen to about your father-in-law. At a time like this, you’ll anticipate your journey insurance coverage firm to be compassionate and to rapidly honor your declare — in any case, that’s why you got journey insurance coverage.
“Unfortunately, as your trip was rescheduled rather than canceled in its entirety,” a consultant informed you, “the REI portion is not eligible for reimbursement. The Trip Cancellation benefit under your policy requires the entire trip to be canceled to qualify for coverage, not just a portion of it.”
In different phrases, since you accepted a credit score on your flight as an alternative of canceling it, Tin Leg denied your complete declare.
I assumed a rigorously worded attraction to Tin Leg may need allowed the insurance coverage firm to see that this interpretation of the coverage, whereas technically appropriate, was mistaken. Nevertheless it additionally rejected your attraction.
However journey insurance coverage is difficult. The choice about whether or not to honor your declare truly wanted to be made by Tin Leg’s underwriter, Starr Indemnity Insurance coverage Firm. I contacted Starr in your behalf to see if possibly one thing had been neglected together with your declare. Individually, you reached out to the Minnesota Division of Commerce, which regulates journey insurance coverage in your state, and filed a grievance.
Tin Leg’s underwriter reversed its place and honored your declare.
If there’s one takeaway out of your case, it’s this: Be sure to observe all of the directions rigorously when you must cancel a visit and file a declare. Particularly, make certain you cancel all pay as you go, nonrefundable parts of your journey lined by journey insurance coverage. In any other case, your journey insurance coverage firm might deny your complete declare.
