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Should travel insurers pay out to drunken holidaymakers?

Ed Bowsher
by Lovemoney Staff Ed Bowsher on 18 June 2012  |  Comments 16 comments

Some insurance companies are clamping down on holidaymakers who claim for accidents suffered when they're drunk or under the influence of drugs. What do you think? Is this is the right approach?

Should travel insurers pay out to drunken holidaymakers?

Most travel insurance policies have always had an exclusion that says that claims may not be valid if medical treatment was required as a result of drunkenness or use of recreational drugs. However, insurers are now getting tougher in this area, according to a survey by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA).

The BIBA looked at 20 of the most popular travel insurance policies on the market and found that they all included exclusions for alcohol abuse.

The exclusions range from ‘excessive alcohol intake’ to ‘drinking so much alcohol that your judgement is seriously affected’ and ‘any claims that result from using alcohol’. The overall trend is that exclusions are becoming stricter.

Given these exclusions, it’s prudent not to get seriously drunk while on holiday. Or use recreational drugs.  If you have an accident as a result, insurers may refuse to pay for your medical care.

If you’re determined to drink a lot while you’re on your holiday, it makes sense to read the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy before you  buy. That way you can look for a policy that is more tolerant of drinking and gives you more leeway.

What do you think?

Personally, I’ve got no problem with the insurers getting tough on this issue. We all know that many young people go to places such as Ibiza with the intention of being drunk for a large portion of their holiday.

As a result, these kids are more likely to have an accident and I don’t see why I should pay higher premiums on my travel insurance policies thanks to their stupidity.

But what's your view? Take part in our poll and we'll see what the lovemoney.com community thinks about this issue.

More:  How to get travel insurance if you have a pre-existing condition  |  Top travel insurance for your holidays

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Comments (16)

  • electricblue
    Love rating 643
    electricblue said

    Businesses have a legal duty to their shareholders but they have to have a business model which keeps customers happy. I've had more good interactions with insurance companies than bad and in one case of a very obnoxious loss adjuster, a few words in his ear had my cheque in the post the next day. If you have a valid claim, companies will not throw money at the situation just to get out of paying; they hate legal action and bad publicity.

    Report on 19 June 2012  |  Love thisLove  2 loves
  • MK22
    Love rating 142
    MK22 said

    I would love to believe you, electricblue, but if like me you have had an insurance company trying to fob you off with a pathetically low valuation based on a valuation method that was completely different to that which was clearly stated in the policy document, you will understand that I have a rather more juandiced view than you.

    Report on 20 June 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves

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