I'm really not sure the best way to go about this. I did purchase flight insurance for my family's upcoming trip to Maui because my mother is elderly and we never know what will happen. She was hospitalized and had emergency surgery and is expected to still be in the hospital when we are due to leave, June 24th.

This is what the situation:

I contacted Access America and they said I could file the claim if it was not a pre-existing condition. It was a bowel obstruction that ruptured - her doctor and no one else had any indication that she had this obstruction, so it was not pre-existing. How hard will they fight us on this? (it seems ridiculous to have to ask this question, but I realize I'm dealing with an INSURANCE company).

I contacted the carrier AA. Since I purchased my tickets last August, if I wanted to go with the $150 change fee per ticket, I would need to begin travel by 8/15/10, which I'm not sure I can do.

I appreciate any advice from anyone who has experience with this. Will it be best to try to go for the entire refund from the insurance co? If I try to reschedule the trip for later in summer, would they cover the change fee? I'm really not sure what to do at the moment...it's such a bad week!