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Original poster

Travel Insurance and pre-existing “condition”

58 replies

PussInBin20 · 09/02/2023 11:20

Hi, just wondering whether anyone has had a condition excluded and what you did ie did you take the risk and go on holiday anyway or just not go?

My DH was investigated a couple of years ago for heart palpitations - he was fully checked and nothing found to be wrong but he was put on statins as a preventative measure. I think this was mostly because DH said both his brother and Dad have had heart attacks.

He was a bit paranoid after this, thinking he is next although he has had a full MOT and nothing deemed wrong.

Now I know the insurance company won’t see it like this and I am guessing they will exclude all heart things - especially as we are/were thinking of going to Disney/USA.

I don’t go on the big rides but DH would with DD13 but now I am thinking we can’t ever go as I don’t want to risk losing our house if the worst was to happen!

What can we do?

OP posts:
WhatTrophy · 09/02/2023 13:43

It's not usually that they won't cover it, but that you'll need to pay an increased premium

LIZS · 09/02/2023 14:00

If it was a while ago and he was discharged it may not be an issue, or attract a slightly higher premium.

tired17 · 09/02/2023 14:50

I have a heart condition and annual travel insurance with my bank. I declared it to them and now pay an annual premium, I think about £150 to be covered. It doesn't sound as though your husbands condition is as serious as mine so I don't think you'll have to much of a problem. But definitely declare it.

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Holidays
Oblomov23 · 09/02/2023 14:57

I buy travel insurance for Dh and I, both have pre-existing conditions. Easy. What's the issue?

Floofydawg · 09/02/2023 15:00

PussInBin20 · 09/02/2023 12:37

I wasn’t intending not to declare it but I just assumed as it was the US, that travel insurance wouldn’t cover it at all. We have worldwide travel ins with our bank account but I will try Staysure as suggested if they don’t cover it.

Thanks all!

Which bank account is it? Many sell 'upgrades' via the insurance company to cover any pre-existing conditions so you could still get cover via your existing insurer.

You would be completely mad to travel to the US without full cover.

Ethelswith · 09/02/2023 15:06

Do not travel to US without insurance unless you have recently won the Euromillions!

Plenty of companies offer cover for those with pre-existing conditions. And depending on how long ago the diagnosis and whether you need ongoing treatment, the extra premium might not be that much.

Someone in my household has a few things that need declaring - additional premium has been as low as £27 and no higher than £260 (cost also varies by destination and whether you are taking add-ons such as winter sports or diving)

Ethelswith · 09/02/2023 15:08

Companies who have given us quotes covering existing conditions in the last few years include InsureWith, Aviva and STA

Toddlerteaplease · 09/02/2023 15:10

I used to get specify insurance. But Tesco have covered me this time for a very good price.

Growlybear83 · 09/02/2023 15:11

Whenever I've travelled since my cancer diagnosis I've used InsuranceWith and they've been really reasonable. Don't forget thst if a condition isn't declared and you need treatment for a completely unrelated condition, your insurance policy will be void if it's discovered that you haven't declared something.

Margarita45 · 09/02/2023 15:12

Stay sure and Cedar Tree are both great for pre-existing conditions. Although arguably if they found nothing wrong there’s no condition there, but rather a declaration of the investigation so you might not need special insurance as such.

Have you tried a comparison site already? I think you’ll need to buy extra incurable if your bank one won’t cover him.

Zipps · 09/02/2023 15:16

Just declare it. It doesn't sound like an ongoing condition though. It's been investigated already and nothing found. Doubt you will pay more. Your doctor is unlikely to say he isn't fit to fly either. He's not had an emergency operation or on serious medication for the rest of his life etc. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Fairysilver · 09/02/2023 15:17

I have heart arrhythmia and several other serious health conditions including a history of cancer.
There is very little a travel insurer won't cover at a price.
The main thing you can't cover is a condition which is awaiting tests /diagnosis.
I paid £500+ for an annual policy with Staysure.
I wouldn't say I recommend them because I haven't made a claim, it really annoys me when companies solicit reviews on trust pilot from people who have only bought a policy. The real test is if you claim.
Travel in Europe and a few other places you should get a GHIC. Not a substitute for insurance but useful.

yodaforpresident · 09/02/2023 15:21

I have an annual, global policy with Puffin that covers pre-existing conditions. I really wouldn't risk travelling without it.

mrsbyers · 09/02/2023 15:23

PussInBin20 · 09/02/2023 12:37

I wasn’t intending not to declare it but I just assumed as it was the US, that travel insurance wouldn’t cover it at all. We have worldwide travel ins with our bank account but I will try Staysure as suggested if they don’t cover it.

Thanks all!

Your bank will probably extend cover for an additional premium

I usually pay £300 to travel to the US with a number of chronic conditions and a stroke in my history

2bazookas · 09/02/2023 15:32

You must declare it. Failure to declare a health condition invalidates the entire policy. So, if DH catches covid/breaks a leg and needs an op, any US hospital treating him WILL need to be told the family heart history and your insurers will see it and cancel the policy. They will refuse all payment, you'll be paying the full cost of US health care (and medical repatriation if needed) all by yourselves. You'll be lucky if selling your home covers the bill.

Tell the insurers; they will then arrange their own medical assessment of DH's health and history; and set the premium accordingly. DH and I both have "declarations" which the insurer accepted. Affordable premiums and full medical cover (including, the declared conditions)

MrsMariaReynolds · 09/02/2023 15:33

Definitely declare it. I have high blood pressure and GPs are struggling to find the correct medication/dosing to stabilise it, and I've fully disclosed the situation with my insurance. I even had to pay an additional premium when my dosage was adjusted in the middle of my year-long worldwide coverage.
It does cost more than a standard plan, but it's well worth it to be on the safe side of things (especially if you have travel plans to go to somewhere like the USA...)

unsync · 09/02/2023 15:43

If you are going to the US, you most definitely need proper cover. Go to a specialist broker. I use covered2go.co.uk and get good cover for my 90 year old father who has preexisting conditions. The insurance takes two parts, the general holiday cover and then you pay a separate premium to cover health. As long as there are no outstanding diagnostics, it's quite reasonable.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 09/02/2023 15:51

Yes I had "free "cover with my household insurance. Except it didn't cover pre existing conditions. So very little use once you hit your 50s. I just have annual cover elsewhere!

Mindymomo · 09/02/2023 15:52

For insurance for my 86 year old father in law with heart condition and a few other different conditions I used Just Travel Insurance. You put in conditions and then they ask if you are taking medications for it. My father in law didn’t actually know the names of his various conditions, but they ask what medications you are on, so it worked out better that way. If in doubt you could ring a few companies direct, like Allclear and Staysure.

wonkylegs · 09/02/2023 15:54

I have a serious condition that I declare I use 'get going travel insurance' you have to do medical screening questions but generally the bump in costs is not awful and coverage is good and weirdly my annual policy this year ended up being marginally cheaper than fully healthy DH (I think it's because he's 4yrs older)

Spotsstripes · 09/02/2023 16:00

www.moneyhelper.org.uk
Try these lots of companies will insure for a price. I've found the things that seem to raise the price the most are awaiting treatment and having had a recent hospital admission.

RandomMess · 09/02/2023 16:02

I have travel insurance via my back account. I just declared everything and paid a premium.

I did shop around and found one a little cheaper but it didn't include cancellation if someone in your group but covered by someone else got Covid.

gogohmm · 09/02/2023 16:16

You need to declare it, you may find it's not as much of an issue as you think. Try staysure who are good with preexisting conditions.

We have a shopping list of fairly minor preexisting conditions and all are covered for no additional fee

gogohmm · 09/02/2023 16:20

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

You can always get travel insurance for a price, to nearby Europe I would potentially go with a ghic card assuming no reason to believe any condition is deteriorating but if you would need a flight to return I would never travel without insurance (my theory is that in emergency you can be driven back from france, not so much Greece!

Cyclistmumgrandma · 09/02/2023 16:21

If you already have worldwide travel insurance with your back account, ring them up and ask about extending it to cover condition. They will charge extra but probably not as much as a complete new policy.