To think travel insurance is an utter scam?

Menopause is not an illness but it could lead to someone taking medication. Is that what has to be declared? I don't see how you can declare 'menopause' and get any possible side effects excluded from your cover. Women over 50 might as well not bother with insurance since it often goes with being forgetful and irritable, either of which could arguable lead to accidents.

OMG all those get out clauses for the insurers is scary.

I'm in EU and have PMI. My travel insurance is tied to my PMI policy. No questions asked once I have a certain level of cover with my PMI policy for treatment abroad, that's it.

I only travel within GHIC/EHIC countries where emergency treatment is free anyway, but my travel insurance is there for repatriation/medical evacuation and cancellation/other losses etc.

It does cost me €165 pa and I'm >65. When (if) I reach 80, then prior illnesses will be taken into account for the travel insurance premium. I guess I'll hang up my boots then!

But it is made very clear in the T&C that you must declare everything in your medical records that is in the last 3 years or a current condition. If you don't, it invalidates your policy. Just tell them.

Insurance companies will try to get out of paying out for medical issues if they can . I would declare everything to them then there is no come back . It might sound ridiculous to some but best be safe than sorry isn't it

Come back to add to this after taking insurance out for Dd as I’m not sure I’ve been 100% truthful and she may not be covered. But if I had been truthful she would have no insurance at all.

so she has a few health conditions which I declared. Then the “are you currently waiting for treatment or investigation or diagnosis “. I ticked yes.

it then asked me if waiting for a diagnosis and if so then no insurance will be provided at all for anything. So I said not waiting for diagnosis, just treatment.

which isn’t strictly true.

dd has highly suspected endometriosis. But no sign on scan. So next step is a laparoscopy which is what she’s waiting for. So I suppose she hasn’t 100% been diagnosed as they haven’t seen it yet. But it’s either endometriosis or nothing. It’s not fibroids, it’s not cancer, it’s not a cyst.

i doubt she will collapse due to endometriosis while away for a weekend in Croatia. But she could potentially fall over and break her leg…….so I’ve fudged the insurance and hoping if she has an unrelated accident they don’t check medical records too closely. And if they do I will appeal if it was for something unrelated. Still had to pay £45 for a long weekend to Europe!

If an insurer declines a valid claim - such as Catgirl1976's dad's one based on an unrelated pre-existing condition, appeal the claim and refer it to the Insurance Ombudsman /Regulator if you don't get anywhere with the claims centre.

As well as calculating your risk to their pile of cash, many insurance claims will be declined the moment you put in a claim because many valid claimants who will just go away at that point and not appeal. That saves them a fortune. And even if the policy small print might say that say, eczema is grounds for exclusion, the Ombudsman or Regulator may see it for the swizz it is and overrule them.

Keep your receipts, keep any documentation you got while ill, and get a notebook to write a summary each time of who you spoke to, date, time and the gist of the conversation every time you deal with anyone in relation to the claim.

That way when you do escalate, you have a comprehensive timeline to refer back to. They do, so why shouldn't you?

It is very hard to get decent price insurance while waiting for a referral and results. Some will let you exclude it and be more reasonably priced, but obviously that's a risk you would have to take.

Just found out that my osteoporosis has got worst, so referral to rheumatology. Really can’t be bothered to ring around now, answering the same flippin’ questions, and being rejected for insurance, or getting sky high quotes. Holiday in the UK it is, then.

I've just read the fine print on my policy and it's any consultation in last 12 months (except for heart and cancer). So I needn't have declared my slipped disc but forgot a nurse appointment for eczema. Also covid as I had to contact the NHS for anti virals.
I'll have to ring them before I book a trip but I'm waiting for some test results first.

Well thanks for this thread everyone - I went and read the fine print again if my own travel insurance and it says you have to declare everything from a medical professional from the past 2 years, so I just had to go and add the running injury I went to see the physio about last year. Ouch! Better than having an accident and my travel insurance being voided though...

You know now I’m thinking about it I’ve just realised it was staysure that were the nightmare with my dad. One to avoid I think

It does seem to be a bit of a racket nowadays, I used to get eczema about 30 or 40 years ago and had to get hydrocortisone cream from the GP as you couldn't buy it over the counter years ago, I didn't realise I had to declare that on some of these insurances, I haven't had it for years.

Maybe it's best to go with an insurer who has a drop down list of conditions like piles and eczema so they can be safely ignored. Thanks for this thread OP, it's an eyeopener, I know to avoid Staysure.

And stuff like this is why travel insurance gets a bad name. Seems like they look for any excuse.

20 years ago I got repatriated (admittedly only from Switzerland and on a standard flight but I needed a private ambulance to the airport and extra seats on the plane. At no point did the insurance company ask for my medical records. They just accepted I’d broken my leg and paid out.

It eczema requires doctors treatment. Different to over the counter meds.

My dad was hospitalised abroad and had to be medically repatriated

His insurance refused to pay out because he hadn’t declared his eczema. What he was hospitalised for had absolutely nothing to with eczema or skin conditions of any kind but he hadn’t declared it so his insurance was null and void. Horrendous.

Pre-existing medical conditions, yes. Lots of companies won’t cover you for them.

I never insure with names like Staysure, Avanti, Insurancewith. They all charge extra if you call up with a newly diagnosed condition. I once had insurancewith tell me that a newly diagnosed condition, once I told them about it, became a pre existing condition the next time I phoned. Which wasn’t covered as I hadn’t declared it when taking the policy out. No shit Sherlock, of course I didn’t declare it when I took the policy out. Because I didn’t have the condition.at that time.

i challenged them, got a manager who said i was correct and more staff training would be given. Funny that.

I go for better quality insurance policies that cover newly diagnosed conditions with no problem, up until renewal when you need to declare. Try Abta or LV.

Thanks, @bruffin .

I went to check the fine print on my HSBC annual travel insurance. It does require me to declare existing medical conditions - who knew?

It does have a list of about 30 Accepted Conditions that do not need to be declared, including piles 😂

we have that as well with natwest but we have to declare pre existing conditions so dont bother using it.

Pre-existing medical conditions

• Pre-existing medical conditions won't be covered. You may have to pay extra for this cover or you may find that your condition cannot be covered.
• If Allianz Assistance are unable to offer you an upgrade to extend the level of cover you need, or your upgrade insurance premium is higher than you expected because you have medical conditions, help could still be available.
• You may be able to obtain alternative travel insurance cover for pre-existing medical conditions by contacting one of the providers featured in the MoneyHelper Directory of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. Telephone: 0800 138 7777 | Relay UK: 18001 0800 138 7777 | Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm | Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, closed.

My annual travel insurance which automatically covers me and my family comes with my premium bank account. I don't recall filling in a form 🤔

@wutheringkites ok, perhaps a dodgy mole was a poor example but I was replying to Bilbonne, w who mentioned basal cell carcinoma, but you get the gist.

Perhaps I should have said, If you have a non-urgent concern, that doesn’t need looking at straight away, then wait until after your med cruise.

Basically, yes. I think the moral of the story is that, if you are worried about a dodgy looking mole, don’t go to the doctor until after your holiday, or it can invalidate your travel insurance (even if it turns out to be totally harmless).

The moral of the story is that a week on the Med is more important than a cancer diagnosis and seeking swift treatment?

Your priorities seem a bit off.

I think refusing the cover for the existing stuff when declaring the new one is a bit unfair. I’ve been T1 diabetic since v early childhood. I’ve always declared it on travel insurance and it’s been a few extra quid to cover it. I don’t currently have any further complications. I broke an arm a couple of years ago, in an impact sporting injury where I was genuinely surprised that that was the only non-superficial injury or injury that warranted treatment (aka absolutely in no way related to being diabetic). I declared this to my insurer when getting that years policy even though I’d recovered and been discharged best part of a year prior and it was fine, there wasn’t a further premium increase. I’d have been fuming if they said, well we won’t cover your T1 on your trip anymore because you’d had an unrelated injury. That’s what makes it feel a bit like the Wild West. There’s no logic in it whatsoever.

It’s interesting that they seem to take a lot of interest in your diagnosed medical conditions (if they are diagnosed and being treated then surely you have more awareness than the person with high blood pressure who has no idea), but not in any of the other reasons why you might cancel a holiday last minute. How many have elderly parents in care homes potentially on their last legs (meant politely!), or young kids in primary school where bugs and chickenpox (that should stop you flying) are rife. I’ve got one adult brother in their mid 30s, no parents or grandparents and no kids, so I’m a lower risk there but no reduction for that!

Basically, yes. I think the moral of the story is that, if you are worried about a dodgy looking mole, don’t go to the doctor until after your holiday, or it can invalidate your travel insurance (even if it turns out to be totally harmless).

I used to work in insurance. There was one man who kept getting his expensive briefcase stolen from his legs while he was using a phone box at the airport. Of course it had a rolex etc in it each time. You would think he would learn to be less careless. They stopped paying his claims and his name got shared and couldnt get cover