Travel Insurance: Recently distributed fine print...

So, I have been a resident in the UK for 7 months, arriving in May 2009. My DH is an American who arrived as a resident in March 2009. We acquired a basic HSBC UK account in December 2008 (by having a HSBC US account relationship). We then upgraded to having travel insurance through HSBC Plus account/Aviva around August 2009 before a trip within the EU. That was fine. We had our EHIC cards as well. But, no need for the travel insurance came into play.

I am leaving to go to the U.S. tomorrow. I purchased the tickets to the US on 9 Oct 2009.

This past friday, I received in the mail new terms and conditions of our travel insurance. The cover of the terms is the same as what we received in August, but, the interior contents of the terms and conditions are different--the date on the back cover is 10/09 (no day of the month specified).

Lo and behold, in the fineprint, the new terms and conditions it states that:
"All insured persons must have been resident in the UK . . . for at least 6 months at the time of opening the qualifying bank account or booking the trip, whichever is later."

This was not in the original packet of materials we were given. Indeed, I had asked the HSBC representative if we were covered for the August trip--which he indicated we were. However, if the recently distributed fine print holds up, then I bought the tickets to the US before I was here 6 months, needless to say at the question about my  time of residency at the time the actual qualifying account was opened...

Arguably, I did not receive this information until well after the point in which I bought the tickets. But, I am upset nonetheless. This means if something happens there's likely to be a squabble over fine print...

Thoughts? Advice?

Many thanks for even looking at this craziness.


 

eep. I'd be nervous about that too!  I don't know whether you're technically covered or not, but since you're not leaving until tomorrow there's still time to buy another travel insurance policy so that you're 100% certain of coverage!

that would also make me nervous (and angry!).  i suppose you could call and try to get clarification, but my guess is if you needed to claim, you could end up hearing something different from what you're told.  i recently bought a policy through STA (through springhaze's recommendation, actually!) and the residency requirement is 3 months, i believe, so you could sign up to be covered for this trip through them until you get it sorted.  i have to say, i would be tempted to just ask them for a refund on the plus account and go with another company entirely--i would constantly be nervous about the terms and conditions suddenly changing after this!

Thanks. I appreciate the posts because sometimes I wonder if I'm agitated for no reason.

You are right, lilybelle. I called, and they said "it was fine." The rep said that the terms don't come into effect until February. However, I agree with you that they could use the paperwork for a good legal squabble if necessary--which I would likely not have enough money for a solicitor to pursue.

This drives me nuts largely because I feel like I've spent the past few months reading fine print, and I'm tired of the clauses that target foreigners...

If it changes again like this, I don't think we'll keep this type of account. Without decent travel insurance, it is not worth it. Of course, soon enough, I'll be through all of the hoops of fire in regards to months residency, and then it probably won't be a big concern.

Get straight on the phone to Citizen's Advice Bureau...