I write in response to Mr David Curmi (MaltaToday, 17 May 2009) and his highly selective, discriminating and rather opaque advice that travel insurance is available to long-term travellers and that an annual travel insurance policy is available in Malta.
However, as consumers have become accustomed with insurers, the level of comprehensive prior factual addressing of issues relative to consumers’ concerns are palpably absent in relation to such advice. For the pivotal issue had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not long-term or annual travel insurance was available, which was never intimated or contested, but rather the restrictions and limitations associated with obtaining such insurance coverage, as was clearly and unequivocally stated.
For there are strings attached to procuring an Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance policy and also to the maximum timeline that a prospective traveller may be insured for, which he conveniently fails to direct our attention to. Conditions such as this is only available when one belongs to a travel club or as an accompaniment to a Home Insurance Policy and is not available strictly on a standalone basis, a fact which undoubtedly he is aware of yet omits to recognise or advise accordingly.
Furthermore, that the absolute maximum timeframe for a travel insurance is six months and that, even if this is eventually obtained (at an exorbitant premium) one’s home insurance is then nullified through being absent from one’s residence for this period (it actually becomes annulled after three months). Pertinent points studiously eschewed by Mr Curmi, who in his capacity as a Chartered Insurer, I venture to suggest, should provide such crucial references for consumers!
He does make reference to travel insurance being available “covering long periods of travel” but that this key element is untrammelled by a definitive timeline to define such “long periods”. Moreover, he fails to declare the exclusions whereby an insurer would not be prepared to accept such risks as in “certain parts of the world”, without troubling to disclose these no-go parts of the world.
In conclusion, rather similar to the ubiquitous and oft quoted get-out clause regularly utilised with indecent haste by insurers as in the “Act of God” designation on all insurance policies, which roughly translates as you cannot be insured for all potential accidents that are most likely to happen to you! Insurers, rather like British MPs’ expenses, are prone to be inventive and imaginative when assessing claims or forwarding offers of indemnification and utilise selective loopholes, as opposed to jumping through loops to assist a consumer, as anyone who has had to make a claim will readily testify!
There does not exist a company or agency in Malta who can provide a consumer with an Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance policy on its own, i.e. without any stringent restrictions or conditions attached, and I challenge Mr Curmi to disavow this particular consumer of this claim and provide evidence to the contrary. Nor is there the facility or option available to obtain a travel insurance policy for more than six months maximum.
Also in his area of expertise perhaps he is at liberty to divulge when last, and how many times in the last 20 years, has the indemnity cover values in travel insurance polices been increased? Especially pertinent when consideration is given to the premium payments for such static and rigid indemnity values which have increased massively disproportionately against such coverage. Insurers appear not to allow facts or full disclosure to interfere with PR waffle.
May I also direct the Malta Insurance Association’s attention to Mr Curmi’s letter, in which he asserts that an annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Policy is readily available here in Malta. Could the MIA therefore possibly advise as to why the four insurance companies I contacted, including the company Mr Curmi used to work for – Citadel Insurance – all advised that they did not offer such a policy?
If Mr Curmi is a member of the MIA perhaps you may direct my comments to him in order that he may answer himself or failing that the MIA may wish to clarify his comments regarding Annual Travel Insurance Policies being readily available, or even address the issue themselves as per the committed statements towards consumer welfare and social responsibility on its website.
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