CLAIMANT: Martha Hasso, Access America Claim # 0000483729
I purchased airline tickets on 10/01/07 through www.orbitz.com to fly into San Diego, CA from Chicago O’Hare departing on 10/25/07 and returning on 10/28/07. Orbitz offered an optional travel insurance underwritten by Access Insurance, which I purchased. On 10/23/07 (five days before expected departure) I called Access Insurance because I was notified that the people I was planning to visit were now being evacuated from their homes and my visit would need to be canceled. I immediately contacted Access Insurance and their representative told me all I need to do is to file a claim (on-line) with them, which I did so that very day.
Access Insurance denied my initial claim because they said that my insurance coverage did not cover cancellation for medical reasons. I filed an appeal on 11/19/07 with Access Insurance stating that my cancellation was not for medical reasons, but because of the dangerous natural disaster occurring in the San Diego area. Access Insurance denied my appeal stating that the policy offers no coverage for trips where travel is arranged to receive medical treatment or coverage for the destination being made uninhabitable. Their coverage for bad weather and natural disaster would require a complete cessation of services by either an airline, cruise line, or tour operator.
Upon reviewing the printed document from Access Insurance, this is the actually wording of that clause:
The Company [Access Insurance] will not cover losses resulting from a Financial Default of the person, organization, agency or tour operator, or their affiliate companies, that solicited this coverage, and/or Your insured travel arrangements to You. Financial Default occurring on or before the Policy effective date or less than 7 days after the Policy effective date is not covered. The Company reserves the right to substitute a Trip of similar value in lieu of cash payment.
4. Strikes, natural disasters or bad weather resulting in the complete cessation of services by the airline, the tour operator or the cruise line for at least 24 consecutive hours. The Company will not cover losses resulting from strikes of the person, organization, agency, or tour operator, or their affiliate companies, that solicited this coverage and/or Your insured travel arrangements to you.
To me they tried to apply the Financial Default clause of the person, organization, agency or tour operator, due to natural disasters, to fit my situation. There was no default of any person, organization, agency, or tour operator that solicited this coverage. Therefore, in my opinion this denial does not apply.
I would appreciate any assistance you can give me on this claim. The reason I obtained travel insurance was to protect me, now I feel I have been victimized by paying for insurance which does nothing but take your money.
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