Do you declare EVERYTHING for travel insurance?

[Squeekey]

Just that really.

I would always declare my daughter's health condition as it's serious, will affect whether we get coverage etc, but do you really declare everything everyone in the family has seen a Dr for in the last 2 years?

Last time I phoned up about insurance (phone needed because of daughter), they spent about 20 minutes asking innane questions about my husband's 5 minute trip to a Dr 9 months ago for foot pain.

I'm perfectly happy to accept that I won't get coverage for anything we don't declare, but in reality what do people do? I keep, I think I had a phone appointment with the GP last year for antibiotics for a chest infection - according to the insurance rules I need to declare it.

I'm considering that I might benefit from antidepressants for the first time to get me through a very very stressful few months and I can feel my mid plummeting, but I can't face having it over analyzed for donkeys years by insurers.

What do people do?

Who did you go with btw? They may be worth a (long and intrusive) call.

100% declare everything. A friends parents didn’t and one of the parents ended up in hospital to the tune of 20K plus. It’s not worth it. Minor things (I’m not saying depression is minor, but it’s often considered inconsequential as are physical conditions that don’t require a lot of medication etc ) won’t really make a different to your premium.

I don't go to the GP unless it's really urgent so I went about my basal cell carcinomas so would obviously declare them but things like fungal toenails I just bought something from Amazon so they wouldn't know anyway. I probably haven't been to see the GP for 15 years apart from the BCC, how far do they go back. I had antibiotics from the dentist about 5 years ago for a tooth abscess, is that the same.

We were recommended this company by a friend who has multiple medical conditions. It's single trip only but he said his cost is vastly reduced with them. His wife takes a separate policy because she doesn't have any medical history.

https://www.totaltravelprotection.com/

They dont really make a difference to the premium but the ball ache of trying to remember everything, particularly if like me Ive had so many things i the pst and loads of GP visits, theres always something wrong with me that isnt really anything of substance.

I go with tescos. I'm limited to them or post office as I didn't have DD vaccinated against Covid.

I had no clue that was an issue until I did some digging, but nearly all policies state that if you have been offered the Covid jab and not taken it then you are not valid for any Covid related illnesses. (It's buried about page 40 on most Ts&Cs) I appreciate that might not be as prevalent now; but I was insured with staysure at the time and going to the USA. I queried if DD got admitted to hospital with say croup (something she was always prone too) and then she was automatically tested for Covid, was positive but asymptomatic what would happen. They said all related claims would be excluded. They wouldn't refund as I hadn't read the terms and conditions so I had to take out an extra policy.

Tesco only ask if you've seen the Dr in the last 12 months too. Not everything and the kitchen sink.

Yes you do. But in the quote breakdown it should state if they deem specific conditions a risk.

We did family cover for 12 months. They didn't charge extra for DC & DH dr visits but added something like £20 for my chronic condition- I have medication and all is well managed. Something started on the application...

Sorry, not sure, DH sorted it all (he’s the one with the cancer diagnosis, he is OK though). He’s away again at the moment so can’t ask him.

Oh I totally get that too, it’s a pain. I still cannot believe the bill that couple ended up with though, it was horrific so I think it gave me the fear!

Yes, as if I didn’t there wouldn’t be a lot of pointing in buying insurance. I get a yearly policy and have an excel with appointments and dates on, so when I update each year its easier to get everything sorted.

Yes, very tiresome - every ear infection, UTI, fracture. Last year one DC was waiting for surgery for a benign but unusual condition which didn't come up on any insurer's list. At the same time DH was on anti-depressants and had and DC2 had fractured a wrist and had recurrent tonsillitis. Getting insurance took forever and cost me a fortune. We didn't need to use it but the insurers will jump on any reason to invalidate your claim if you do need to make one.

This is from Stay Sure policy

When you purchase or renew your policy, you must declare ALL pre-existing medical conditions.

A pre-existing medical condition means:
a. in the last two years, you have suffered from any medical or psychological conditions for which you have received treatment, been prescribed
medication, attended any consultations, investigations or check-ups.

And/or

b. you have ever suffered from or received treatment, investigations, or tests for:
• a heart attack, angina, chest pain(s) or any other heart condition.
• high blood pressure, blood clots, raised cholesterol, aneurysm or any circulatory disease.
• any form of stroke, transient ischemic attack
(mini-stroke) or brain haemorrhage.

Pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered unless they have ALL been declared and accepted by us and are shown on your Validation Certificate.
You must therefore ensure that you answer all questions about yourself and anyone else insured under your policy fully, honestly, and to the best of your knowledge, as failure to answer our questions accurately may affect the cover we provide and our ability to pay your claim.

So it's conditions you are receiving treatment for or had investigations for in the last 2 years and / or if you've had any of the other issues in b

I wonder how people in Scotland navigate this. I have never needed travel insurance so I don't know but we don't have an app with all our appointment details on it, I have seen the GP several times over the past year or so but I couldn't tell you when or even the details of the consultations.

I can't in Wales

I do it from memory - not the most reliable method! Do you get text message confirmation of appointments that you have made? That could be a starting point.

Im with staysure, I can tell you she virtually interrogated me about my entire life when I phoned (my initial application and first renewal was online)

Im waiting for 3 consultations for boring things, gallstones, gastropocy (or whatever its called) for acid reflux and a gastro appointment for digestion issues

All boring stuff, but good god, because Im waiting to be seen its causing problems. I have the appointments coming up soon after waiting over a year since those referrals were made, I know thats going to be some other recommendation for another appointment and more explanation needed

I remember the insurance company wanted a letter from the GP on my fitness to fly after making the referral for the gallstones consultation, in November 23!! GP wouldnt do it and insurance company simply wouldnt believe me, she sounded as if she thought I was lying

@lavenderlou

I do it from memory - not the most reliable method! Do you get text message confirmation of appointments that you have made? That could be a starting point.

I do but I haven't kept them after the appointment has passed. I was just pondering really, I'm unlikely to ever need it.

So all of these people that rely on their bank insurance probably don't realise they have to declare their boil that they got antibiotics for 2 years ago

However - the policy documents clearly state how they define a pre existing medical condition.

I broke my arm when I was young. I didn't declare that.

If a claim was disallowed (by them) because they claim it was pre - existing, but it was not pre-existing according to their policy, then I think the ombudsman would find against them

Gosh. Mine don't want that level of information. They asj if you have any existing conditions but have never been interested in anything other than an established long running condition.

Yes, if you want to be covered, you must make full disclosure.

Otherwise you may as well just not bother buying insurance as you'll find it invalid if you come to claim for the person who hasn't made full disclosure.

They're not going to pay out nor help you if you've not been honest with them.

Depending who the insurer is yes, this comes up all the time on threads like this, people just dont get it.

I only started getting travel insurance myself once we started going abroad a few years ago because we had a dog for many years so only UK holidays

But Im always under investigation for something, waiting for appointments, waiting for scans or this or that. All low lying stuff in the past in terms of 'pre existing conditions', obesity being one and apparently you have to be in the healthy BMI range for obesity to disappear so I havent been obese for a couple of years and I still hav to report it with Staysure!!! The cheek!

So years of migraine, bit of arthritis in the foot, a myriad of other conditions which are somthing and nothing but medicated for, on BP meds but not got high BP, it all needs going over and all appointments and their 'outcome'.

How would you define full disclosure?
How would you define pre-existing medical conditions?

I go with Allclear travel insurance for reduced costs for those with existing medical conditions and just declare everything.

You can phone them for advice of what to include