A Toronto woman is paying the ultimate price for failing to correctly fill out an insurance application reminding insurance advisors why you come in handy
Allison Singer’s recent two-week Baltic cruise to celebrate her 80 th birthday quickly turned into a financial nightmare when she came down with pneumonia while on the ship and was forced to spend six days in a St. Petersburg hospital as a result.
As if the ruined celebration and hospital stay weren’t bad enough, the Toronto resident had to pay almost $16,000 out-of-pocket for the hospital bill and flight home from Russia.
Singer had travel insurance but unfortunately she said she mistakenly overlooked one question on the application. TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators denied the claim as a result, although it had accepted the coverage request.
“Upon reviewing Ms. Singer’s file, we can confirm her claim was denied due to non-disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions the initial application process,” Dan Keon, director of marketing for SelectCare Worldwide said in a statement. “[Prospective customers should] speak to their insurance provider or physician for assistance.”
Singer’s failure in this situation was neglecting to answer one question on the application form that dealt with atrial fibrillation, more commonly known as an irregular heartbeat, for which she takes blood pressure medication.
“They denied the claim because of atrial fibrillation even though it had nothing to do with pneumonia,” Singer told Global News. “I know I made a mistake and I’m willing to admit that.”
The claim denial by TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators is just the latest example of the new norm around claim adjudication. Earlier this year LHP covered a lawsuit by an American steel company against Sun Life’s U.S. and Canadian divisions for wrongfully denying a claim involving stop-loss insurance.
SelectCare did refund Singer’s $187 premium.
As if the ruined celebration and hospital stay weren’t bad enough, the Toronto resident had to pay almost $16,000 out-of-pocket for the hospital bill and flight home from Russia.
Singer had travel insurance but unfortunately she said she mistakenly overlooked one question on the application. TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators denied the claim as a result, although it had accepted the coverage request.
“Upon reviewing Ms. Singer’s file, we can confirm her claim was denied due to non-disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions the initial application process,” Dan Keon, director of marketing for SelectCare Worldwide said in a statement. “[Prospective customers should] speak to their insurance provider or physician for assistance.”
Singer’s failure in this situation was neglecting to answer one question on the application form that dealt with atrial fibrillation, more commonly known as an irregular heartbeat, for which she takes blood pressure medication.
“They denied the claim because of atrial fibrillation even though it had nothing to do with pneumonia,” Singer told Global News. “I know I made a mistake and I’m willing to admit that.”
The claim denial by TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators is just the latest example of the new norm around claim adjudication. Earlier this year LHP covered a lawsuit by an American steel company against Sun Life’s U.S. and Canadian divisions for wrongfully denying a claim involving stop-loss insurance.
SelectCare did refund Singer’s $187 premium.
