Travel insurance - how do you get cover?

[Egggywegggy]

I have just booked a last minute holiday to Spain and I'm trying to arrange travel insurance for the family

I have an MRI scan booked at the end of this week for a neck problem.

I cannot get travel insurance to cover me AT ALL because this falls under 'undiagnosed condition'

Until I get the results (no follow-up appointment made yet) I can't get a diagnosis to declare it as an existing medical condition.

My point being ...

There are thousands upon thousands of people awaiting tests, on waiting lists and waiting for results in this country which means all of these people are uninsurable.

If you are lucky enough to find a company that will insure you (at an inflated premium) they won't cover ANY existing medical conditions

How do 1000's of people travel each year with undiagnosed conditions?

If it's undiagnosed then there's no record on your medical file recording it, right so you're not in breach or lying?

Don't declare it on the quote?

You shouldn't not declare it, as you won't be covered if you are taken unwell while you are away. Have you googled "travel insurance for undiagnosed conditions" to see if there are any specialists in this?

Don't take any risks. No one ever thinks they are going to be taken unwell on holiday.

Hi OP.. A quick Google showed that Staysure offer cover for this. There are probably others but that was the first.

Enjoy your break.

I agree with @HolyMountain - you don't have anything diagnosed yet (and may never have).

My travel insurance has a section which explains how to update them if you subsequently need to declare a specific condition after the policy has started. I imagine they then either exclude it from the coverage or offer you to pay an extra premium to include it.

Just do it on the basis that you have no declarable illnesses according to their lists.

You need one of the specialist insurers, such as InsureWith. There may be a higher premium, depending on what the test is and why you are having it done.

My credit card company has a great insurance plan, if I pay for the holiday with my cc all of the travelling party - including non relatives - are included with no pre-existing condition exclusions.

@HolyMountain There is a record on her medical file because she's already been referred for an MRI. And not declaring will mean the insurer will refuse to meet any claim, probably not just for her but for her family too. And because insurers exchange information about fraudulent declarations, it may affect future insurance applications too.

It may be that an insurance broker could find you a specialist provider who would be prepared to cover. It would be more expensive, because higher risk, and they'd have to do more work to establish the level of risk.

You could insure rest of family. EHIC would provide some cover but not, as far as I know, cost of repatriation (check this), which in your case, with a neck injury, could be high.

I have similar trouble with cancellation cover for death/serious illness of relative - now a non-negligible risk with close relative in their 90s. But I can't find an insurance policy which doesn't exclude over-80s!

Try www.spectrumtravelinsurance.co.uk/ we've used them for pre-existing medical conditions a number of times and you just pay a little extra to be covered, there medical info says

What is a pre-existing condition?

You should tell us if you:
a. have any medical conditions for which in the past 2 years:
i. you have had or are waiting for any consultations, investigations or follow-ups;
ii. you are having or have had treatment or prescription medication;
iii. you have been on a waiting list, or knew you needed surgery, inpatient treatment or tests at a hospital or clinic at the date you bought the policy or the booking date of your trip;

so in theory they should be able to cover you,

I am in the same boat - awaiting investigation results on 2 collapses.

No company will insure me for this - which is fair enough.

Make sure you have an EHIC and check with that there is a non-private hospital near to where you are going. Your EHIC will be valid there and you would be treated as a Spanish citizen - worth looking up what that means in terms of financial contribution. I am going to Switzerland and now know where the public hospital is and that I would be charged 10% of medical costs if I have an EHIC.

I think it is reasonable that they would not cover me for an unknown problem. From their point of view it is high risk.

I am covered for everything else; just this one condition excluded. I am off and away and taking a chance that all will be well.

As others have said, repatriation is not covered with EHIC.