to ask what constitutes a pre-existing condition and what effect would it have on a travel insurance claim?

[Sullabylullaby]

Ok, so say for e.g. I'm overweight. I've recently been in hospital for a heart attack. Recover, discharged. Go on my previously booked trip and have a further heart attack while there, which I felt coming on.

That's not the exact scenario, but analogous to the situation I'm talking about.

Now, the insurance claim form is asking the following:

Have you ever suffered from the condition that has resulted in the submission of this claim, or any related condition. My answer would be Yes.
Will this mean the insurance company won't pay out as I've previously had this health problem?

Also, form is asking whether I contacted insurance company when admitted (not claiming for medical expenses) and whether I had previously disclosed this condition when booking insurance (wasn't a question, and I hadn't had my first heart attack at the time).

What do you think? Will they get out of paying anything? I'll be claiming loss of accommodation charges and a daily subsistence rate for my time in hospital (10 days I think).

What is the condition?
Answer everything truthfully .
You do need to disclose everything medical when you take out travel insurance. Certain conditions will increase the premium.
Some won’t.
My 13 y o son has v mild asthma and the premium was doubled.
If I hadn’t disclosed that it’s unlikely they would pay out in event of a claim.

Why did you not disclose ?

You should have updated your details after the first 'heart attack'.

You were suffering from a pre-existing condition (whatever caused the first 'heart attack') which reared it's ugly head on holiday.

They will probably tell you that your claim has been declined.

There was no questionnaire when I got the travel insurance. There possibly was a tick box (not that I recall) to say I had read the terms and conditions, but it was just an option that came up when I booked the flights (i.e. do you want travel insurance) and I clicked yes.

The condition is a complicated one caused by another condition.

It absolutely would have been a question on your original insurance.
I think you also agree in the terms and conditions to inform them of any changes to your health subsequent to taking out the insurance .
Do you have your policy ? Check the small print

Ok, if they say no, so be it.

Nope - it was literally an extra like 'check in a bag' and 'do you want travel insurance' when I booked the flights.

It ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT A QUESTION on my original questionnaire as there was no original questionnaire. Know it all.

Did you declare the “other “ condition ?

And sorry to repeat, it 100% would have asked you in the terms and conditions about medical conditions, whether you noticed it or not.
I hope you are ok now.

I repeat, there was nothing to fill in! It was literally 'Include travel insurance?' and a tick box with a fee of £10 approx.

I used to work in insurance. The answer is pretty much always 'Check what your policy says.'

It needn’t have been a questionnaire as such.

It could have been a ‘I have read and understood the terms and conditions “ tick box.

And in the t&cs was an obligation to disclose your medical history.

It's probably covered in their 'I've read and ticked the box' t&c. You need to advise at the time, any details which could affect any future claims. For example, if you develop angina, were put on heart medication and didn't say and had a heart attack on holidays, you probably wouldn't be covered. They will try everything to avoid paying out. All insurance companies are the same.

Guys. Book a dummy flight on AerLingus.com and see what comes up.
I'm telling you there was no blooming questionnaire!

Guys. Book a dummy flight on AerLingus.com and see what comes up.

I just did this. Just before you pay there's an option to review the terms and conditions, which includes the T&C for the insurance. I'm in the US so it brings up the T&C for travel insurance as sold to someone in my state, and it says in there:

"You aren’t covered for any loss that results directly or indirectly from any of the following general
exclusions.
The following things if they affect you, a traveling companion or a family member, whether the
family member is traveling with you or not:
 existing medical conditions (unless you have existing medical condition coverage in
Section 2);"

So really it depends what it said in the T&C when you bought the flight/insurance.

I will add, having worked in insurance, I would not buy a travel insurance policy unless I'd had some way to read the T&C before I paid for it.

Can you let us know how you get on with your claim?
Good luck !