Changing health insurers. Must I notify in writing?

B

BOXtheFOX

Registered User
Messages
856
If I decide not to renew my health insurance with let's say Quinn Healthcare and renew with another healthcare insurer let's say VHI am I obliged to notify Quinn that I am not renewing with them. I recently did this and I notified Quinn on the phone but they are insisting that I put it in writing. I thought that a phone call would be sufficient.
 
BOXtheFOX said:
If I decide not to renew my health insurance with let's say Quinn Healthcare and renew with another healthcare insurer let's say VHI am I obliged to notify Quinn that I am not renewing with them. I recently did this and I notified Quinn on the phone but they are insisting that I put it in writing. I thought that a phone call would be sufficient.
Click to expand...

I recently changed insurer and did not notify the previous insurer in writing but rang them to inquire about submitting a claim after the poicy wa sterminated. The guy in Aviva just noted this on his computer. Ask Quinn if they are going to extend your PHI even when you are not paying. Although, there may be a catch in your T&Cs as Clubman said best check.
 
I would have thought that you signed up for cover to start on one date and to end on another date. After the end date your cover ends, unless renewed?
 
Is the cover on direct debit/standing order and that's why they think that you need to put the cancellation in writing? Even though this should not be necessary to cancel a DD/SO as far as I recall:

[broken link removed]
[broken link removed]
 
This is from their Terms and Conditions.

Ending your Membership.

"You can end your membership of the scheme at anytime by writing to us. Your contract is for a period of one year unless we agree a different period. At the renewal date, you can renew your contract by paying the premium we request".

This suggests to me that you can cancel your contract during the year in writing but that it will end at the end of the year unless you renew it by paying the premium. So if your year has ended and you are not renewing it by paying your premium then your contract has ended. So I don't understand why they want to receive the written word?
 
They were probably annoyed that you were switching to the VHI and decided to punish you by insisting that you cancel (your already ended contract) in writing. Maybe the person you were dealing with was some sort of Tin God.
 
[broken link removed] just under the callback sign it brings up a switching letter just change the address and email it into them
 
Why don't they accept a verbal communication? Aren't all their calls monitored/recorded for training purposes? They accept payment by credit card over the phone.
 
I can't speak for the otherhealth insurers but you absolutely must contact Vhi tocancel your policy and this must be done up to 14 days after the renewal date. If there is a direct debit on your policy and the first payment has been taken and you contact Vhi after the 14 days has expired, your contract is set for 12 months and to cancel it then may incur financial penalties....

If you pay directly as opposed to direct debit and contact Vhi after the 14 days expires you will not have financial penalties, as no payment means no contract accepted

Always contact your insurer at renewal if you are considering cancelling/changing cover as cut off dates do apply.
 
Meant to add, as long as the policyholder phones instruction can be taken over the phone...
 
reply

There’s lots details about it ~mark your topic.
 
kitty81 said:
Meant to add, as long as the policyholder phones instruction can be taken over the phone...
Click to expand...

The OP said that Quinn is refusing to do this.

In my case I received a phone call from Quinn to my landline at home. They spoke to me and then asked me for my date of birth. I reminded them that they were the ones who had phoned me. They said that they wouldn't talk to me if I didn't give them my date of birth. As I had not been expecting a phone call from them I said that that was fine as I didn't need to talk to them. I then asked them for their identification which they couldn't give.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top