Travel and a peanut allergy

[jellybrains]

We are going abroad next week and I am having problems with the travel insurance. My dd has a severe peanut allergy and needs an epipen with her although we have never had any reactions. Should I tell the insurace companies? Is this a pre-exsisting medical condition?

Oh dear -- I have the same, but haven't told my travel insurance. Is it because it's an allergy and not a pre existing condition?

If it's EU, then wouldn't she be covered on an E111?

Why don't you read the terms and conditions of your policy and see what needs to be declared and what doesn't, and then decide...

ilovemydog - On the travel policy it says that any pre-existing medical conditions are not covered but is it a medical condition? I have asthma is this a medical condition and I don't declare it. I think she may be covered om the E111, will check

I don't know, but think not. There should be a definition section in the policy.

But if you're going to an EU country, then there are reciprocal arrangements where you get treated under the E111 scheme...

ok Thanks

you do need to do this.
ring the anaphylaxis campaign and they will give you a list of companies that will help.

I have done this, but cant remember of hand what the companies name was!!

Insure with Swinton and there are quite a few pre-existing conditions that don't need to be declared. One is nut allergy . I've also seen Tesco recommended, but they can be expensive for other medical conditions.

If you don't declare the allergy and need hospital treatment or your travel arrangements are disrupted they could refuse to pay. There has been a case where a person had to be taken off a plane after a bad reaction and the airline refused to carry them when they recovered. Expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.

I have an allergy - some insurance companies don't cover it and some have charged me a very small premium. It's worth getting covered if you can as even if you can get treatment via the E111 scheme, depending on the country that sometimes only covers say 90%, and won't obviously cover flying you home if that's necessary, or whatever. Also, even if you tried to claim for something else, they could technically refuse to pay up if you had not disclosed the allergy as it would potentially mean you were paying the wrong premium.

My DD has many allergies and I've always declared it when travelling. Ususally it just involves paying a small premium but I reckon it's worth it just in case anything did happen.

Hi there,

Having worked for one of the major insurance companies and used to be part of the Travel department, any pre-existing medical condition or event that you are aware of that may affect your travel at any point should be declared, it is usually in the small print in your policy book.

If you forget to let your insurance company know, it is hard to prove a genuine mistake. There have been occassions were the company have paid out on a claim where something has not been declared, but this is rare.

Check out what home insurance you have some companies give you free travel insurance, some bank accounts give you free travel insurance too(still declare your allergies - some do not charge for medical conditions whereas others do).

If you book with a travel agent ensure that the sales assistant has declared any conditions to the insurance company - sometimes they 'forget' to let the insurance company know, which gives you a cheap premium at the time, but a headache if you need to claim.

Hope this is of help, not too boring and have a fantastic trip wherever you decide to go.

xxx

Have you told the airline?

I have been on a few flights where everyone has been given Bombay mix rather than nuts with the take-off drinkie because one passenger has a nut allergy.