Travel insurance - what counts as a pre-existing condition?

[Bloodybridget]

I've got a hospital appointment next week about something that I think might be serious, but I don't have a diagnosis, I think they will need to do more tests, maybe an MRI. I have several holidays booked over the next few months - if I take out travel insurance now, can I say I don't have anything wrong with me (not sure exactly what the questions are)? No point doing it if they won't pay up, in the event I can't do some trips or have to change plans.

I would assume if you took out insurance now and said you has no pre-existing conditions you would be expected to notify your insurance company if you are subsequently diagnosed with something before you travel.
It is not worth trying to fudge anything with travel insurance because it will cost you a heck of a lot more than the extra premium if a problem arises and they nullify your insurance.

Yes, agree with pp. You can sign up and say non, but anything diagnosed between now and the holiday will have to be declared. We had to declare my DHs MRI etc as we have annual cover.

I have been looking at travel policies this very evening.

Almost all of them have a clause which basically translate to "if you think there is a chance you might have something wrong/will need tests etc you need to tell us"

The fact that you’ve been referred and have a hospital appointment means that you know that something might be up and they will expect you to tell them.

Typical example from one policy doc:

You will not be covered under this policy for any claims arising directly or indirectly from a pre-existing medical condition unless it is shown on the waived condition list or it has been declared to us and accepted by us in writing for cover. Call us on 01293 855960 to declare your pre-existing medical condition and confirm if cover is available.

For the purposes of this insurance, a pre-existing medical condition is considered to be:

• Any medical condition where you have been prescribed medication, including repeat prescriptions, or received treatment or attended a GP or a specialist as an outpatient or inpatient in the last 2 years or for which you are currently on a waiting list for treatment or investigation;

• Any illness for which you have received a terminal prognosis or any heart, heart-related or circulatory condition; or any respiratory condition; any stress, anxiety, depression or any other psychological condition or any cancerous condition.

• We cannot offer you cover if you have any undiagnosed symptoms (i.e. symptoms for which you are awaiting investigations/
consultations, or awaiting results of investigations, or where the underlying cause of the symptoms has not been established).

There is a question about whether you are currently waiting treatment or appointments; and they'd expect you to update them and consider any symptoms linked to what you currently have as pre-existing, sadly.

But it may be worth getting insurance ASAP just incase you have to cancel for further treatment, if you buy a policy where that would be covered...

If you have holidays booked already why don't you already have insurance?

You will need to disclose anything that is found to the insurance company

Thanks, that's all very helpful. BritInUS1 we don't usually get insurance if we're just travelling within the UK, although we are having a week in Italy at the beginning of May - I'm assuming nothing would happen before then anyway.

FWIW, several of the policies I was looking at said UK trips had to have at least one prebooked night away from home and/or be a certain minimum duration (or variations on that theme - so a daytrip to legoland wouldn't be covered for example).

The small print will mention awaiting tests. It’s always cheaper with a known condition than when awaiting tat results.

Although we are having a week in Italy at the beginning of May - I'm assuming nothing would happen before then anyway.

Cancellation cover starts from the minute the policy is in force - and I guess that is the biggest worry unless your health issue is one where appts can be flexible, not "use it or lose it"?

Although with the medical bit as per your OP, that is complicated slightly now.

Your choices are to declare and see if they'll still insure /possibly insure for more ££ / insure but exclude that issue / something else.

Or not declare, which is up to you and depends on what level of risk you are prepared to shoulder of the worst happening, and you would do with your eyes wide open as to what you are doing.

(NB. Don't know if they share databases so if you declare to one then every other firm will know forever more or not. I think auto does, not sure about travel)

Thanks again everyone. I guess I could call a couple of insurance companies, explain the situation, and see what they say.

We're currently going through a claim for holiday cancellation due to illness. The claim form, which has to be completed by your GP, asks about the dates you first consulted a doctor about the symptoms and when the condition was diagnosed.

Agree that the insurance company asks if you have been referred for tests or are awaiting results.

Unfortunately, you have to fess up. If you have to cancel and were untruthful, they will find out and are likely to refuse to pay out. Hopefully the increase in premium won't be too great.

yes, call them. usually they go through a catalogue with you.
you cab sometimes declare conditions but exclude them.

I will be honest, Barbara, oh I do hope the holidays don't get messed up! They all involve other people as well as me and DP. Hope your claim is resolved satisfactorily.

greenelephantscarf it's really only the chance that I'd need treatment clashing with holiday dates that I'm worried about, so that would need to be covered, otherwise I wouldn't bother.

My OH started suffering with very high blood pressure and was declared unfit to fly. We had a big family holiday to Florida booked and I have annual travel Insurance.

I called the company to put them on alert for cancellation and they were brilliant. I really didn’t want to cancel the trip and we worked with the doctors about getting blood pressure under control. In the end it was controlled and he was declared fit to fly. The Insurance company agreed to cover high blood pressure issues but at an increased excess. No other conditions or increased premium imposed. They were really supportive as I spoke to them and kept them informed. .

Ah that's very good QuitMoaning.

As Buzz's example shows, you might find it hard to get cover at all in your position. You've got something wrong but you don't know what - for the insurer that's a high risk.

You have to say if you are waiting for tests/being referred etc

Well, I'll just have to hope there's nothing too nasty wrong with me!

You won't be covered. You're on a waiting list for investigation and treatment for something that might lead to cancellation or incurring medical expenses whilst abroad.

This used to be my job - and believe me, I didn't enjoy informing ill people or their relatives that their attempts to recoup costs weren't covered, but I had no choice.

You will not be covered.

As it happens Bridget we have just received the refund today, which is a relief as they dragged their feet a bit, and kept asking for 'just a bit more information', as in we booked the holiday via an activity centre who booked it with a specialist travel agent on our behalf, so made some payments to the activity centre and some direct to the travel agent, so they wanted a detailed explanation of what all the payments were for.

They then wanted copies of all the bank and credit card statements for the six months between booking the holiday and the date of the claim, so they could check that we hadn't received any refunds, despite having a letter from the travel agent stating, 'you have cancelled your holiday two weeks before the anticipated date of travel and we won't give you any money back as per our cancellation terms'. It just felt a bit like they were putting obstacles in the way, in the hope that we'd give up with the claim.

Glad that's all sorted now, Barbara!

You often need to declare any pending outpatients appointments.