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!

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.

My husband and I bought a year policy and had pre-existing added. I got sick in Costa Rica... can not call collect from within Costa Rica and my phone was running out of time. I emailed them to get permission to see a doctor. We have filled out papers 3 times now and they always give a different reason to deny the claim. The last one was because it must be in English. So we had to translate. and they denied it again. They sent me a cheque. I was surprised and cashed it. Then I got a letter asking for the money back as it was to go to can-assist, not me. I asked them why can-assist is getting paid for doing nothing yet we pay $3500 and my claim was denied. I asked to speak to someone and was told there was no one to speak to. No to a manager and no to whoever denied my claim. This company Blue Cross will take your money and do absolutely nothing for you. How do they get away with this? Scammers

I purchased this travel insurance for peace of mind. It's the first time I got Blue Cross and the first time I needed the insurance.
I've spent money on long waiting phone calls, been told to call the next day and so on. I've never got the help I needed and had to pay from my own pocket.
This insurance just takes your money. Don't expect any help.

We bought travel insurance to go to Florida for 6 months.
Broke my collar bone the second month in Florida.
Went to emergency and submitted our insurance info.
7 months later and it has not been paid.
Called the contact number and waited on hold for 3 hours 4 days in a row.
Now I am getting collection letters that will affect my credit rating!
Talked to one associate and he said it would be taken care of in a week or 2.
That was 2 months ago!
He said you can make an appointment and they will call you back.
There is no option for that when you call them.
Liars and thieves!
We leave messages and NO one ever calls us!
Scum of the earth!!!

Got permission to take a taxi to the hospital and open a new file. I had a ski injury and could have taken an air ambulance or ambulance but opted to take a bus back to the hotel. (Husband carried me.) I wasn't bleeding or in a coma. It was impossible to walk blocks from the hotel to the hospital in snow and ice. I ended up returning to the hotel with crutches and a brace. Same ice and snow on the sidewalks. The two taxis $15 x 2 were denied. Should have taken the air ambulance! As a result of the $30, I will change providers at the expiry of coverage with Blue Cross. Also, if you call and wait in the line, it is never answered. I waited for over an hour three times. Nasty piece of work.

Absolutely dishonest, shameful company. Thieves! If you have a claim the first thing that happens is you get their "claims denial department" that thinks up every phoney excuse and reason to deny your claim! Impossible to deal with... They just want to frustrate you into dropping your claim and I'm sure it works!!! To treat people this way they do when you are going through a medical event is totally reprehensible!

Had coverage with another provider, but was unable to get through to extend coverage when the California trip was extended (90 minutes on hold). Out of frustration, purchased Blue Cross online, indicating the start date as the same date as the old policy expired. Days into the time of coverage my son had an accident and needed an x-ray. After an hour on the line with the call center to try to figure out where he should go (they need to authorize prior to treatment), and learning some clinics won't accept Blue Cross, we just paid out of pocket. I then learned there would be no reimbursement as my son was not in his home province when the policy was taken out, and I had somehow missed stating that on the application. Accepting that I was out the $350US for the x-ray, I still needed coverage for the remainder of the trip, but they refused to start a new policy. Avoid Blue Cross! (Why would clinics refuse Blue Cross? That's a strong indicator of a systemic problem that goes beyond my unfortunate experience.)