24 July 2009 / by Rachael Stiles
Those people who use the new National Pandemic Flu service to receive a diagnosis will be able to use their unique ID number and the label from their anti-flu prescription as proof of swine flu so they can claim on their travel insurance.
Following discussions between the Association of British Insurers and the Department of Health, the ABI has announced that its members will accept these as proof of the customer suffering from swine flu and they will be sufficient to validate a travel insurance claim in the absence of confirmation from their GP.
The National Pandemic Flu Service went live yesterday, and the online and telephone services were immediately swamped by users seeking confirmation that they were suffering symptoms of the virus, and those who were merely seeking information.
The ABI confirmed this week that travel insurance providers who are members of the ABI will provide cover for swine flu under their policies, to protect people who are too ill to travel and have to cancel their holiday, or who become ill whilst abroad and require medical treatment.
The unique ID number and the label will suffice, the ABI said, which includes the patient’s name and the date of issue, as there is an unsurprising delay in patients acquiring written confirmation from their doctors that they are unfit to travel.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health, said: “Travel insurance is there to help people who are too ill to travel or who become ill on holiday.
“We understand that the National Pandemic Flu Service will only authorise an anti-flu prescription to people who are genuinely displaying symptoms of swine flu.”
The ABI said that those who use the National Pandemic Flu Service to obtain anti-flu medication, and need to make a claim on their travel insurance because of cancelled holidays and flights, should retain all the original documentation so that it can be used to validate their claim.
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