Blue Cross Travel Insurance Reviews

I now owe SG$62,500 (US$49,000) to a Singapore hospital that saved my life because Blue Cross Asia Pacific refuse to pay. I was insured with them when I had a heart attack on a long haul flight.

I have a history of asthma, which I accept as a pre-existing condition and would not expect to claim for. But in January 2023 my breathing difficulties got worse (though it was not unmanageable, I could do things as normal) and I consulted at least 4 different doctors during the next 8 months. All either diagnosed worsening asthma or something else, but none suspected heart trouble. I booked a flight in June 2023 for a flight that October and took out Blue Cross insurance soon after. By September (after I had taken out the policy) I was finally diagnosed with a very weak heart. I was given medication and told I would be okay and cleared by 2 doctors to fly as planned. I felt reassured and thought all would be well.

But I had a heart attack on my flight to Hong Kong, transit through Singapore. I was taken to hospital in Singapore, and they saved my life. While I recovered, my family helped me claim the hospital bill from Blue Cross. But they denied my claim, saying “unknown pre-existing conditions”. I have taken it further through a second claim, a lawyer's letter and a complaints' bureau but still cannot get this payment.

Apparently I should have known my breathing problem was heart and not asthma even though 4 doctors failed to diagnose it. I did everything that could reasonably be expected of me by seeing different doctors and when the heart was finally diagnosed (after the policy was taken out) I only flew because I was ok’d by doctors to do so, my problem was thought to be under control and no-one expected I would have a heart attack. But it seems Blue Cross can use pre-exiting conditions to get out of paying, and there is no discretion that I am not at fault. I don’t see what I could have done differently, other than I should not have bought my travel insurance from the company that sold the cheapest premium. This is my experience with Blue Cross!

I made a claim and blue cross wouldn’t pay. They said there was an advisory when I bought the insurance. How would I know that? They should have told me. They sold me something I could not use. Other insurances paid other people in my group. Go with a real travel insurance company, not a health insurance company for travel insurance. Shame!!!

Avoid if you don’t want your family be left in distress. I purchased travel insurance for a newborn 15 days past our travel day because we had some coverage that comes with a regular travel Visa card that every Canadian has. This somehow rendered our policy with blue cross void (!) since they treated it as “extension” of existing “policy”. Does it make sense? Please avoid this organization. Just go with reputable company or you may find yourself in a dire situation.