I fear I’ve messed our holiday up and feel sick at the thought

[theferry]

We’re due to go to the US next month (5th). It’s our first ‘big’ holiday. DD1 is 16 and DD2 is 13. A couple of weeks ago I got in touch with our GP as DD1 has been getting stomach ache. She’s sent her to paediatrics for a blood test to check for gluten intolerance (& thyroid) but thinks it’s IBS. The blood test is on Tuesday .

I went to purchase travel insurance today but they wouldn’t cover DD1 because she’s waiting on a blood test. Now I’m worried sick that she’ll be sent another appointment/referred, meaning we won’t get travel insurance so will have to cancel the whole holiday. (I would never go without insurance).

Does anyone have suggestions of what to do? I feel sick at the thought of what I’ve done. It could have waited until we got back—it’s not really bad for her. Just gets stomach ache now and then.

I am very confused - I have gluten intolerance/coeliacs and quite a few people in my family have thyroid issues - and its not affected insurance. I am not even sure why your doctor has checked thyroid for stomach pain if I am honest. Can you not just list stomach pain as a pre existing condition?

Get insurance for everyone else and that covers most of the risk. Or just put IBS as a pre-existing condition because that’s what the GP thinks it is.

It's not the fact she has a pre existing condition or what it is - it is the fact that she is under investigation and trying to get insurance. There is no condition pre- existing or not to cover atm.

From an insurers pov she could have something serious so they are very reluctant to cover when under investigation.

Technically, you have to be declared as pre existing conditions on travel insurance. Failure to declare them can void the entire policy. I know this as I have pre existing conditions. There’s no problem if she had those conditions, it’s the fact we can’t say one way or the other right now.

GP is testing for thyroid as well because DD has been tired recently and such problems run in my family. GP said she might as well test at the same time.

Just Travel Cover will cover pre existing conditions etc. We always use them as they offer a huge range of packages for this type of thing. Have a lovely holiday x

The day you book a holiday is also the day you book insurance. Declare everything at time of booking and you are covered.

This is what I was (unsuccessfully) trying to explain.

We have been insured with Staysure, and when DS was waiting on an ultrasound and then results they were happy to cover for everything except the potential condition they were investigating.

They were also very helpful when our other DS potentially had a claim for a broken foot on holiday (we had a group policy and he was off on his own).

I’d give them a ring.

There is always one!

Pay for private blood tests and get them done urgently

Whoops sorry - didn’t realise the test is on Tuesday anyway. Hopefully results will be back quickly.

It it is a matter under investigation so you must declare it and it won’t be covered.
hace the blood test and get the result thrn get the insurance

Another vote for staysure. I'm on biologic meds for arthritis and a literal carrier bag of meds on prescription every month and they cover me

@AmITooOldToDoThis you do realise insurance isn’t like booking a cheap deal if you get in early? You have to update them for a change in circumstances? Or you should, if you want confidence in your policy/ability to claim.

@PuffinsRocks you can travel without insurance? Lying on the application just means there is a possibility of no pay out.

@NoPrivateSpy I would just look for one that doesn’t ask. If that isn’t possible then be as clear as you can about the test, it’s nothing major. May help to speak to someone on the phone (though I appreciate nobody wants to spend an hour on the phone to an insurance company!).

I’m not sure why they wouldn’t cover you even if you just tick no and a claim was completely unrelated to the stomach problems. We’ve just had a claim for two of our dc on our travel insurance and they didn’t ask us to verify anything pre-existing or go through any medical records. It was a very expensive claim as well. I doubt they do unless it’s something obvious like heart problems/cancer related etc.

you have two choices. Get cover now and tick the no box. This will at least cover you for cancellation too as pp has mentioned. Or wait for the results and then get cover with any new condition covered.

@theferry sorry I tagged @NoPrivateSpy for some reason!

Deeply helpful 😂

Some terrible advice on here, I used to work in this field.

You must declare that your DD is having investigations atm. Otherwise the insurers may not pay a claim.

The problem you will face is the destination being the US, who are notorious for exorbitant healthcare costs, should DD be admitted to hospital, this is why insurance to the US is so expensive.

Had you been travelling to Europe on a single trip policy the underwriters may not be so concerned.

My advice would be to book with someone like Staysure, but be prepared that they may not cover for the undiagnosed condition, so that would mean, should you need to cancel, curtail, medical treatment that may reasonably be connected to the condition/s for which your DD is being investigated for.

Don’t bother booking a policy for the rest of the family and one for DD later, if you needed to cancel or curtail due to DD undiagnosed condition you will not be able to claim, as insurance is there to cover the unexpected, the fact DD is having investigation negates this point.

The golden rule with travel insurance is to book as soon as you book your trip, that way you are insured for cancellation should this situation arise.

Good luck, I hope DD is ok and you have a good holiday.

Yes you would, but if they wouldn't cover you then you would get a refund.

That is the point of taking out insurance when you book the holiday.

It’s a real nightmare if you have medical issues that are unstable and need lots of tests- trying to book insurance when you can say ‘no’ to any tests waiting can be really hard -I’ve not had a single point since I booked our upcoming holiday when I could book travel Insurance that would cover me- was just about to book some last week when I got a follow up letter from my last clinic appt (when I thought I’d been signed off) saying they want a second opinion and more tests.

Generally though I find I can get cover for everything except the system currently causing issues. I’m happy enough to risk that in Europe but not sure I would in the US.

You’d unlikely to get a refund because there’s currently actually no reason she can’t go on the holiday- she just can’t get insurance. I don’t think any dr would sign her unfit to travel for mild tiredness and stomach aches.

Telephone Staysure snd I think they will sell you a policy, it just might exclude that particular issue

I’d definitely suggest ringing round some of the more specialised travel insurers though, not just applying online to see if any will take into account the circs.

My daughter is on a surgical waiting list and we could still get insurance. You many find there are exclusions for certain things related to her condition. Eg, we wouldn't get cover if we had to cancel the holiday due to the surgery being on that date (no chance as the waiting list is so long!).

Forgot to say, we coukd only use certain providers. I got quotes from Staysure and Goodtogo.