Terrible Experience with Access America
Oct 1st, 2003, 10:19 AM
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Terrible Experience with Access America
We had a terrible experience with Access America. They gave us such a run around. We cancelled our trip in February and finally now just received our $2,000.00
We were supposed to go to Grand Cayman Island, but cancelled when I found out I was pregnant and had lab work stating that I would be a candidate for deep vein thrombosis if traveled any distance on a plain. So for obvious reasons, we cancelled our trip.
They did not want to pay us. It was a hassle. I would not recommend this insurance company ever!
But I am extremely thankful that we finally did get it!
We were supposed to go to Grand Cayman Island, but cancelled when I found out I was pregnant and had lab work stating that I would be a candidate for deep vein thrombosis if traveled any distance on a plain. So for obvious reasons, we cancelled our trip.
They did not want to pay us. It was a hassle. I would not recommend this insurance company ever!
But I am extremely thankful that we finally did get it!
Oct 1st, 2003, 10:28 AM
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"Thank You" Susan. This is the kind of stuff we all need to know when planning a trip. Sorry you had the problem in the first place but thank goodness you got your money back. Also and foremost, "Congratulations!"
Oct 1st, 2003, 10:34 AM
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Can you give us more details about why your claim took so long to collect? If it's a matter of Access America being difficult, that's worth knowing; if there are things others can learn from your experience, or do better, it would be very valuable to know.
Travel misadventures seem to follow me, so I'd like to know whether there is anything I can do to maximize my chances of collecting should I need to.
Travel misadventures seem to follow me, so I'd like to know whether there is anything I can do to maximize my chances of collecting should I need to.
Oct 1st, 2003, 10:41 AM
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Hi everyone!
It took them a very long time to respond to our claim because of lack of communication on their part. We called, we mailed them, we faxed them. We left messages and they said they would call us back within 24 hours. Never did they respond.
It was extremely frustrating. It was the luck of the draw really if we got through to the person we needed to.
At first when they rejected our claim, they said we had to go to Arbitration, which costs $250.00 just for them to review it. We then contacted a lawyer, and the lawyer said that they have a clause in their stating you have to go with them.
We did NOT go through Arbitration, but rather were persistant on why we got rejected.
One very important thing is that when you sign up with them, they don't tell you what is and what is not covered. We went with the Premium Package through them, believing that a Drs note would be sufficient.
I think the biggest and most frustrating part of it all was the lack of control because it was as though we were having a conversation with a wall.
I am sure other people have had better experiences, otherwise they would not still be in business.
If you do go with them, my suggestion is to get the form that stipulates what is and what is not covered. We were never given that information, and when you asked them what is and what is not medically covered, they didn't seem to know.
Our airfare portion was through Funjet vacation, and we promptly received our money from that company. I would highly recommend them!
I just wanted to share my experience. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
It took them a very long time to respond to our claim because of lack of communication on their part. We called, we mailed them, we faxed them. We left messages and they said they would call us back within 24 hours. Never did they respond.
It was extremely frustrating. It was the luck of the draw really if we got through to the person we needed to.
At first when they rejected our claim, they said we had to go to Arbitration, which costs $250.00 just for them to review it. We then contacted a lawyer, and the lawyer said that they have a clause in their stating you have to go with them.
We did NOT go through Arbitration, but rather were persistant on why we got rejected.
One very important thing is that when you sign up with them, they don't tell you what is and what is not covered. We went with the Premium Package through them, believing that a Drs note would be sufficient.
I think the biggest and most frustrating part of it all was the lack of control because it was as though we were having a conversation with a wall.
I am sure other people have had better experiences, otherwise they would not still be in business.
If you do go with them, my suggestion is to get the form that stipulates what is and what is not covered. We were never given that information, and when you asked them what is and what is not medically covered, they didn't seem to know.
Our airfare portion was through Funjet vacation, and we promptly received our money from that company. I would highly recommend them!
I just wanted to share my experience. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Oct 1st, 2003, 10:58 AM
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Could you please elaborate on what you mean when you say that they don't tell you what is and isn't covered? As far as I know, insurers are required by law to notify you of your coverages and to have this information available before you sign. And when I went to their website, they have the certificates of insurance posted for for each type of policy, specifying coverages and exclusions. Are you saying that those are inaccurate or that they didn't abide by those conditions? Or is it something else?
Oct 1st, 2003, 11:13 AM
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There was a very small print saying that you should expect a listing of benefits covered within 10-15 days. We never did receive the listing.
In any case, DVT is a covered medical condition.
Like I said, I am sure many have had a great experience, I just wanted to share mine!
In any case, DVT is a covered medical condition.
Like I said, I am sure many have had a great experience, I just wanted to share mine!
Oct 1st, 2003, 07:26 PM
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Not to be confrontational, but come on now, you're buying insurance and the insurer won't tell you up front what's covered and what's not covered?
That makes no sense at all.
Who would buy insurance for anything and not have a clear idea what the money is buying/covering?
Something doesn't add up.
That makes no sense at all.
Who would buy insurance for anything and not have a clear idea what the money is buying/covering?
Something doesn't add up.
Oct 2nd, 2003, 05:35 AM
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TedTurner -
Do with my comments as you may. I am giving MY experience of what happened. Believe what you want to believe!
For people who want to hear about my experience can listen and decide for themselves.
You sound like an opinionated person and will do what you want to do.
If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all Ted!!!!!
Do with my comments as you may. I am giving MY experience of what happened. Believe what you want to believe!
For people who want to hear about my experience can listen and decide for themselves.
You sound like an opinionated person and will do what you want to do.
If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all Ted!!!!!
Oct 2nd, 2003, 09:09 AM
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Ted wrote:
Who would buy insurance for anything and not have a clear idea what the money is buying/covering?
In Susan's defense, Ted, the answer is: almost everyone! You would have to spend days reading the fineprint on any insurance policy to really understand what it does and doesn't cover. Then you'd probably still have to call the company to clear up all the "wherefore's" anyway. I have so many insurance policies, and consider myself somewhat insurance savvy, but boy who really knows exactly what's covered until the unthinkable happens. How would Susan have known which specific illness to look for in the fineprint beforehand? Get real!
Who would buy insurance for anything and not have a clear idea what the money is buying/covering?
In Susan's defense, Ted, the answer is: almost everyone! You would have to spend days reading the fineprint on any insurance policy to really understand what it does and doesn't cover. Then you'd probably still have to call the company to clear up all the "wherefore's" anyway. I have so many insurance policies, and consider myself somewhat insurance savvy, but boy who really knows exactly what's covered until the unthinkable happens. How would Susan have known which specific illness to look for in the fineprint beforehand? Get real!
Oct 2nd, 2003, 09:11 AM
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Susan, in your post on the US board there's a little more info.
It sounds like the representative for the insurance provider was either misinformed or was uninformed about the product they were selling you.
Nothing you can do about that.
But my point is that as a consumer you have the responsibility to assess whether the products/services you're buying are worth the money you pay. If someone could not detail for me the coverages, I'd have to refuse to buy.
If they were claiming "everything under the sun is covered" why couldn't they produce a document saying as much?
You would never let a contractor of any type do work on your house without a written estimate. If it was verbal only, then it's your word against theirs.
All contracts should be written. You entered into a contract with Access America, and in this case they had a legal obligation to provide a written summary of what they were insuring you against. If the travel rep lied to you and you trusted that person, (but the written contract exempts Access America from certain obligations), then it would be the rep's word against yours as to what was said, and legally you would be bound to the written contract which you agreed to---and the defense "but I didn't get to see the contract before I agreed to it" doesn't hold any water.
It sounds like the representative for the insurance provider was either misinformed or was uninformed about the product they were selling you.
Nothing you can do about that.
But my point is that as a consumer you have the responsibility to assess whether the products/services you're buying are worth the money you pay. If someone could not detail for me the coverages, I'd have to refuse to buy.
If they were claiming "everything under the sun is covered" why couldn't they produce a document saying as much?
You would never let a contractor of any type do work on your house without a written estimate. If it was verbal only, then it's your word against theirs.
All contracts should be written. You entered into a contract with Access America, and in this case they had a legal obligation to provide a written summary of what they were insuring you against. If the travel rep lied to you and you trusted that person, (but the written contract exempts Access America from certain obligations), then it would be the rep's word against yours as to what was said, and legally you would be bound to the written contract which you agreed to---and the defense "but I didn't get to see the contract before I agreed to it" doesn't hold any water.
Oct 2nd, 2003, 10:22 AM
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Joan -
Thanks for coming to my defense! I used to frequent this board often before becoming pregnant. And after becoming pregnant, I didn't have the need to come on here.
I forgot how rude and obnoxious a lot of faceless people are.
People come here to get informative advice from one another and to hear their experiences. I do appreciate you and a lot of others who have been gracious enough to respond in a polite and helpful manner!
Thanks!
Thanks for coming to my defense! I used to frequent this board often before becoming pregnant. And after becoming pregnant, I didn't have the need to come on here.
I forgot how rude and obnoxious a lot of faceless people are.
People come here to get informative advice from one another and to hear their experiences. I do appreciate you and a lot of others who have been gracious enough to respond in a polite and helpful manner!
Thanks!
Oct 2nd, 2003, 11:09 AM
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Yes Susan, we all remember when you used to use this site all the time. Planning your vacation, starting 15 different threads about all different islands each telling a different story about where you were going and when you were going. And you wonder why few take you seriously.
And keep in mind, your so called "terrible" experience with Access America includes collecting $2000 from them. They did pay eventually didn't they? Isn't that what you said? Sorry, you don't get any sympathy from me, you didn't have written confirmation of what the policy covered and you bought it anyway. You got lucky in my opinion.
And keep in mind, your so called "terrible" experience with Access America includes collecting $2000 from them. They did pay eventually didn't they? Isn't that what you said? Sorry, you don't get any sympathy from me, you didn't have written confirmation of what the policy covered and you bought it anyway. You got lucky in my opinion.
Oct 2nd, 2003, 01:26 PM
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Susan, for what it is worth I appreciate you sharing your experience. Basically you were trying to warn people "hey this is what happened to me." There will be at least one unsuspecting person who will glance twice at the legalese of travel insurance because of you. Ignore the rude people, that's what I do, there are too many generous Foderites like yourself that share great info. The others need a life.
Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:34 AM
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ParrotMom-
Whether I had a DVT and the time or not. My Physician specifically said "May NOT travel at this time due to a possibility of DVT" My blood work puts me at a high risk category. I did not know I had that until I became pregnant.
So perhaps you would have still traveled on a plane, but there was no way in heck that I was going to risk MY life or my BABYs life just for a silly trip that can come and go!
Whether I had a DVT and the time or not. My Physician specifically said "May NOT travel at this time due to a possibility of DVT" My blood work puts me at a high risk category. I did not know I had that until I became pregnant.
So perhaps you would have still traveled on a plane, but there was no way in heck that I was going to risk MY life or my BABYs life just for a silly trip that can come and go!
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