To think travel insurance is an utter scam?

Are there different strengths of Anusol? The GP gave you this when you can just buy it at B and M? Did you not try this first?
Sorry if that's a daft question but if I can just buy something in a discount shop I'm not going to the GP.

The statistics aren't lies though. Someone who made a claim is more likely to make another. Health conditions don't occur at random - they are usually related to either behaviour, lifestyle choices or genetics.

If you claim for any medical condition the insurers will look at your last 2 years of GP records and probably refuse to pay out at that point if it's even vaguely related. So they will find out if you claim. They normally ask if you've been to the GP or have any existing conditions or are waiting for a referral or diagnosis - whether you are on medication is not the only thing they ask

I have just checked the travel insurance I took out for a holiday in Italy next month. I wasn't asked about pre-existing medical conditions and the policy says it won't pay out for 'claims related to pre-existing medical conditions'.

I am menopausal, a bit insomniac and have had long covid, all of which are on my medical records. I have also had my blood pressure checked and found to be okay in the past couple of years.

I am happy to pay more to have these things covered but can't quite see how they would be relevant. What should I do?

I had a similar response from Staysure also. Because I have outstanding investigations, they won’t insure me for anything, even the breast cancer which was over ten years ago. I phoned them because they advertise pre-evicting conditions.

willstarttomorrow · Today 18:28

I have had annual cover with Staysure for a good few years, they are highly rated

^

Ever claimed with them???

🤣 maybe

I think that's fair enough

Loads of potential reasons for fatigue

Why should the insurers pay out if the customer has misled them?

Perhaps insurers think that the kind of child who falls off a scooter is at risk of falling off a bike next year?

Read the thread! No you only need to declare stuff you have seen a medical professional about. Nothing else. Just anything in your medical records.

So do all women have to say menopause if they have been through it, my menopause was fine and I didn't see the doctor about it, I also have a small pile as many people do but I have never seen a doctor about that either. I would mention my basal cell carcinoma that has been cut out recently, I suppose that would invite a large extra premium even though it's gone and is hardly likely to affect anything on a holiday

they insist on excluding the conditions I'd honestly advised them about!

This is the bit I don't understand
However silly/trivial it seems I can just about see them excluding something you hadn't told them about, but presumably you asked why they've now excluded something you had advised them of and which was previously covered ... so what did they say?

FWIW I have an annual policy with Staysure myself, and had to advise them of a "new" issue just a couple of months ago. As it happens there was nothing extra to pay for this one, but there was never any question of cancelling existing cover for other conditions, which is why I'm confused over hat's happened to you

We had the same issue with staysure. Had an annual travel policy and halfway through DH was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Advised Staysure but they said they don't cover pre-existing conditions even though it wasn't a pre-existing condition when the policy was taken out. And they won't refund what's left on the policy even though it's not fit for purpose. Very cross.

He should have declared everything that would be on his medical records. The first thing insurers do if you make a claim is look at your gp record. If there is anything on there that you have not declared, your policy is invalid. It doesn't matter what it is. By not declaring it you have not accepted the t&c.

It is the chance you take. For everyone saying they would not declare minor things, your insurance will be invalid, whatever you claim for. Many moons ago as a student, I worked as a call handler for a break down company. Insurance call handlers were in the same room, including travel insurance. Valid claims were paid, but people who withheld information, exaggerated claims or were untruthful were quickly found out. Even if you are claiming for something unrelated, your insurance is invalid if you have withheld information. Insurance is such a tiny cost compared to most holidays, unless you have significant health issues, I am not sure why people bugrudge it so such.

It depends what your conditions are. Certain conditions don't effect the premium. Yours obviously do as its a higher risk.

But it does affect the premium as I got quotes both with declaring and not declaring and all the ones where I declared were higher despite the fact that like you say it isn’t going to cause any further issues.
obviously because I’m a rule follower I declared and paid the higher premium but it definitely rankled

I wouldn’t declare things like that. Whilst I know you’re meant to it’s just batshit and the chances you needing to pay for medical treatment are next to nil whilst away. You have to play the same game they play.

I had some chest discomfort and heart palpitations. GP sent me to hospital. Checked out. All fine. Stress.

The insurers said they'd not cover me for heart attack or stroke because of this.

When I said I'd been checked out and healthy which is more than can be said for some, why won't you cover me even with an increased excess they still refused. They offered an annual policy at £700.

Needless to say I didn't take their cover. I just feel they want your money but no risk at all. It's a fucking joke. Who'd take insurance knowing heart attack or stroke abroad would not be covered.

Charlatans the lot of them ! Recently had to cancel a holiday the day before due to a fall causing a hospital admission and a back injury. Due to a telephone consultation with my gp 4 years ago about low back pain , that resulted in advice to take pain relief , my claim was denied .
Despite 2 months off of work needed this year and not one day off taken 4 years ago ! Disgusting !
Awaiting the ombudsman!

Some people seem to be being a bit obtuse here. No you don't have to declare menopause, verrucas or piles if you have not needed to seek medical advice about them. There will be nothing on your medical records about that.

If you've been for a GP appointment in the last 12/24 months however, there will be information about that in your medical records. Even if it could be completely unrelated to any medical emergency you might suffer while travelling, if you haven't declared it then you might invalidate your insurance.

Eg, my DD had antibiotics for an ear infection 6 months ago. She hasn't had any trouble since but I still declared it.

Just add, I recently had a flare up of an ongoing condition, no chanhe in treatment but had to visit GPnfor fit note. Let Staysure know and premium remained the same.

I have had annual cover with Staysure for a good few years. They are very highly rated and as I have an annual policy for myself and DC, their snow sports are covered. Of course you have to declare all health issues, it does not necessarily translate to your premium being higher. What it does mean that they will actually pay out rather than some random having to set up a 'Go Fund Me' because you have not taken out adequate cover or not been truthful.

All insurance is a grudge purchase, if not needed it seems just money for nothing. However- if/when you do need it then it is money well spent. I have some health conditions and pay £50ish a year for the 2 of us to cover Europe and Turkey. As we tend to go away about 5 times a year this is not bad value, includes snow sports. Also pretty cheap to upgrade for US etc.

OP is right about companies trying to weasel out of paying by looking at medical records.
I have a friend who went to the doctors about some fatigue. He didn’t think to mention it and whilst he was away he had a bleed on the brain. Insurance refused to pay out!

Bottom line is, if its on your medical records, declare it as the insurance company will check.

That said so many of the least serious things are not listed and phoning does t help as it answered by sales muppets!