Travel insurance unlikely to cover extreme heat, says Poland's Financial Ombudsman

Travel insurance policies for trip cancellation or interruption are unlikely to cover extreme heat, the Polish Financial Ombudsman has stated. These policies are activated only for sudden, unforeseen events that are clearly defined in the contract and independent of the traveler.

“

Insurance is activated only in the event of sudden random events, independent of the traveler, precisely described in the agreement with the insurer.

Commonly covered events include sudden illness, accidents, the death of a close relative, job loss, significant damage to a home, or the theft of essential travel documents. The insurance can apply to package tours, independently organized trips, or even children's camps, covering the entire trip or specific elements like flights, tickets, or excursions.

The cost of such policies usually ranges from 2% to 6% of the trip's value. While this may seem like an additional expense, it can prevent a much larger financial loss on a vacation. However, the Financial Ombudsman's office notes that some clients purchase insurance without fully understanding its coverage. The scope of protection, meaning the circumstances under which an insurer will pay a claim, depends on the specific contract and can differ greatly among companies.

“

The scope of protection, i.e. in which cases the company will pay benefits, depends on the provisions of the specific contract and can vary significantly between companies. It is also worth paying attention to the definitions used by the insurer in the contract, such as 'sudden illness,' 'close or closest person,' or 'loss of job.' It is these contractual provisions that often determine the approval or rejection of a claim.

It is crucial to pay attention to the definitions used by the insurer, such as "sudden illness" or "loss of job," as these terms often determine whether a claim is approved or rejected. The Ombudsman emphasizes that predictable situations or those dependent on the traveler's decisions are excluded. Subjective reasons like "changing travel plans," "failure to obtain leave," or "changing the destination" are not sufficient grounds for a refund.

“

Protection is excluded for those that were predictable or depended on the decision of the person planning the trip. To receive benefits from the policy, it is absolutely not enough to justify the resignation from the trip with such subjective reasons as, for example, 'change of travel plans,' 'failure to obtain leave for the planned travel date,' or 'change of destination to which one wants to go instead.'