Travel Insurance advice. Medical portion in particular. Warning! Do not use AIG

I have an expat policy with Allianz. They have paid no less than 12 claims in the last year. Better yet, they have paid direct to thr clinic.

My medical policy costs 2x the payout. Mostly because medical costs here are so low. And if I ever did need more coverage I have an evacuation policy to the US for my Medicare Coverage. But the coverage is required for my residency or I would be self covered and just rely on the evacuation policy. At least Alianz pays with no fuss.

We purchased an Allianz policy for our upcoming trip to Japan. We’ve purchased policies through them before but luckily haven’t had to use them. We did a lotta research before buying our policy and are satisfied with Allianz.

Can you give us the reason(s) for AIG's denial? If you want to try another carrier take a look at Allianz. We have an annual policy with them.

Stokerds,
I sent you a PM.
Kathy

We have used Travel Guard for many years. Claims have been paid in full quickly. Highly recommend this company.

don't insurance companies share claim information with each other? They sure so here in the UK. After your previous experience - for whatever reason - are you sure that other companies will write insurance for you, at a reasonable price?

Updated:
AIG denied coverage of Paxlovid, in the UK, since it can be obtained as OTC there. Denied Urgent Care exam and Physician since "treatable otc". Yet won't cover OTC med.
So, without actually seeing patient, nor any underlying, serious medical conditions, just "Deny".
Covid healthcare coverage is essentially non existent in AIG coverage now, although does not state specific illness, nor exclusions,anywhere in small print.

stokerds, file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner. See if that gets them to move off of high center.

We have purchased travel insurance through TravelGuard, which is AIG I believe. We've only had to make a claim once, in Sicily in 2023, and they were very helpful over the phone and reimbursements were fairly prompt. We did need to submit quite a bit of documentation, but we had an interrupted tour and other out of pocket expenses. So, the medical bit was the least of our concern (thankfully).

Paxlovid is NOT over the counter here. It can only be prescribed, and then only if there are serious underlying conditions.

There will be an excess under your policy. Whatever over the counter meds you got are very unlikely to have exceeded that sum.

You would probably only be covered for Covid if it had been serious enough (and it would have to be serious) for you to be hospitalised. Even then you might not have got Paxlovid.

The UK is very different to the USA in that regard.

We were able to get Paxlovid over counter at Pharmacy in London, October 2024, with NO prescription from Dr seen in Urgent Care. They were ones pointing us in that direction!.
No rx needed.
That is really what happened!
Sorry you think you need rx but not now apparently.

OP, so you don't like AIG cause they don't cover self prescribed OTC meds?

Paxlovid is only available on prescription. However, you will only be eligible to have the medicine if you're in the highest risk group.
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paxlovid/about-paxlovid/

After reading the above I can see why isn31c, is of the belief an Rx is needed.

Leaves me wondering: a) was what the pharmacy gave you really Paxlovid or b) did it dispense Paxlovid without the necessary Rx, either by accident or intentionally

I failed a claim with AIG on 12/4 for a missed prepaid hotel night and yesterday received an email that my claim was approved and a check would be in the mail in about a week. I have never had a problem getting reimbursement from AIG for a legitimate claim.

I'm sorry you or someone in your travel group had Covid while traveling. That is no fun!

We've used Patriot as add-on medical insurance for a couple of trips but haven't had to file a claim. I was pleased with their policy documentation and claim instructions provided before our trips. As with any insurance policy, "the devil is in the details" in terms of what and how they will cover something.

Your AIG policy should lay out very specifically what is covered. if they are not honoring the policy language, then I would continue negotiating with them and providing documentation. If needed, you can contact your state insurance commissioner as Ed suggested.

OP, what is the amount were you expecting to get from insurance? An ambulance assessment with no actual ride? How much was that for you? Or is it the cost of the paxlovid? Since that is for covid, did you get a covid test to confirm?

Did not expect to be BLASTED for telling what exactly happened
AIG did not cover Covid related UC visit, Doctor, test and medicine Paxlovid, available OTC in Mayfair area, London pharmacy as directed by doctor.
Receipts published for ALL listed above.
Article quoted earlier by "joe32"stating" Paxlovid only available by rx"? Article dated 2022. Helps to know source dates.. .Current status of Paxlovid in. UK pharmacy "The medication's EUA allows pharmacists to prescribe the medication directly to people".
Do better, people. Be kind

The article is official NHS Policy, and is in current date. All the way throughout that has been UK policy. Nothing has changed since it was first approved for specific uses here.

Visitors should not be left with the incorrect impression that they can obtain Paxlovid on demand.

EUA- Emergency Use Authorisation- relates to the USA only, not the rest of the world.

The matter of excesses on your policy also still applies. That is when you have to meet a certain minimum of costs and can only claim for amounts expended beyond that sum. It is also normal, at least with UK health insurance policies, that you contact your insurer before incurring costs. They may have their own doctors who they prefer you to see. Not doing so can invalidate a claim, whatever other merits it may have.

My impression is that the OP had an expensive quack who was willing to prescribe Paxlovid if the price is right. You'd normally need to be on a ventilator at death's door before it would be prescribed here. I just don't see how a pharmacist could issue it over the counter.