CoVid and Travel Insurance
We have an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy through Qantas. It is due to expire shortly and we are in the process of arranging new cover. Back in January, before the WHO declaration of CoVid 19 as a world issue, we had booked and paid for a flight to Bali in May.
QBE are the underwriters of our current policy. My wife rang QBE and asked are we covered if we have to cancel because of the Corona virus. QBE told her that, if we travelled to Bali and contracted Corona virus, we would be covered for all medical expenses, medical evacuations etc, but we WOULD NOT be covered for the cost of the fares if we cancelled! This seems extraordinary, but we'll leave that for a moment - we are planning on making a call in Mid April as to whether to travel or not.
In arranging new cover, we contacted Qantas who say that as the existing policy expires shortly, all coverage ceases. Because the new policy would be entered into after January 30, there will be NO COVER for CoVid affecting our travel (or ourselves). And Qantas has changed underwriter, so we are out of luck!
My view is that, while a valid policy was in place, we paid for a ticket. If, during the validity of that policy, an event occurs that gives rise to a potential liability under the contract, that liability survives the expiry of the contract. To put it mildly, Qantas are not accepting that argument.
The current situation is that we will be very unlikely to enter into a new policy through Qantas, and I have asked them to confirm in writing what they will and will not cover, as I will take the matter further. First port of call will be the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Has anyone else experienced similar perfidy (yet)?