Insurance Committee Approves Sen. Slap's Bill RE: Travel Insurance Covering Suicide

HARTFORD – The legislature's Insurance Committee has unanimously approved a bill by state Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) that would prohibit insurance companies in Connecticut that offer travel insurance from denying an insurance claim because an insured's family member or friend died by suicide, thereby cancelling the vacation and losing any deposits the family may have already made.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Sen. Slap introduced the bill after hearing from a constituent whose family vacation was cancelled after a family member died by suicide before the trip; they had travel insurance, but their claim was denied by the insurance company because the insurance company did not consider that family death a coverable event.

"These circumstances may be few and far between, but when they occur, they are emotionally devastating to individuals. The economic impact is a distant second concern, but it should still be addressed," Sen. Slap said.

"After suffering the devastating loss of our son to suicide and then being denied travel insurance coverage because of it, I’m so grateful to our legislators for recognizing the importance of removing the stigma associated with mental illness and the need to make changes to policies that don’t support those that are suffering and their families," said Robin Brennan, who asked Sen. Slap to raise the bill.

Sen. Slap's bill, Senate Bill 89, "AN ACT CONCERNING TRAVEL INSURANCE AND SUICIDE," seeks to amend Title 38a of the Connecticut General Statutes, which pertains to insurance policies offered and sold in Connecticut.