To think a lot of people don’t have valid travel insurance

[Goatymcgoaty]

Apparently getting travel insurance is just not possible when referred and sitting on a waiting list for an outpatient appointment (for symptoms that have not been formally diagnosed). It’s just not possible to insure someone when they are awaiting diagnosis. Any policy claim would be void as you’re not covered in the first place.

But with the length of NHS waiting lists, often a year or more, what do people do? Not go on any foreign holidays for a couple of years until they have a diagnosis? Cancel anything that’s already booked? Do people just assume that they don’t yet have a diagnosis so there’s nothing to declare, and go on holiday anyway?

If that were to happen, they'd pay the costs involved. They're not stupid or reckless really, they've just assessed the chances of something happening and decided that travel insurance isn't worth it for them in their circumstances. We have travel insurance partly because it's cheap through work but also because I'm more risk averse than they are and don't have the cash to pay upfront for any costs (which they do). Insurance companies exist to make money for themselves not to insure people out of the goodness of their hearts so if you've done the sums and you're happy to take the calculated risk of not getting insurance, it's not necessarily a bad decision.

My insurance does cover corona / flu etc but my tests are neurological so unrelated - if you are saying being tested for a condition which would cause coronavirus to be much worse I would phone and ask as that could well be a grey area. Though with coronavirus there seem to be a lot of maybes as the insurer didn't know either just saying case by case review.

You don't have to declare every doctors visit, just every condition. I don't think they are especially bothered about child has an ear infection a year ago though they could technically refuse to pay out for non-declaring under terms and conditions. Think depends on sums involved - one doctors visit abroad they'll pay out. Child needs to be hospitalised and you could have an issue.

NoveltyFunsy

"It then becomes invalid.
Why? You did not know about it, so why would insurance be invalid?"

Because you have to inform them of any changes before you travel. It's under 'your responsibilities' t&c.

"Well, travel insurance isn't mandatory. My parents don't bother with it usually because they've weighed up the risks and potential costs and they're happy to go without"

Says everyone on the go fund me pages and the people on local news outlets, still trying to raise funds two years on to repatriate a body.

I can’t believe the number of assumptions being made on this thread! Read the policy documents-every policy is different!

If you don’t declare something, it isn’t just that thing you won’t be covered for-most insurers will turn down any claim whether or not it’s related, because you’ve signed a declaration stating that you’re not awaiting tests etc, so you’ve lied on the application.

It didn’t cost anything extra to insure my daughter’s partner with Type1 diabetes, the company just needs to know about it.

What I’ve noticed is a lot of people take out the cheapest policy they can find without bothering about what it actually covers and what they might need.
I’ve had breast cancer and dh has a brain tumour so our policies are obviously horrendously expensive, but we factor the cost of a decent policy into the holiday. Basically If we can’t afford good travel insurance then we aren’t going.

I tihnk I vaguely remember some legal cases on this kind of topic -0 if someone does not declare Y condition and then needs to claim on insurance for X condition insurers were using any excuse as they always do to get out of paying on policies including that not declared condition y (even though Y was irrelevant to X). I think the insurers had to climb down a bit and still cover some claims but it is certainly best to check carefully if you choose to be insured.

The bigger issue for people who aren't insured and have assets/a house is if they damage someone else abroad, are sued for £3m and lose everything they have eg if they ski into someone else or on a boat on holiday cause someone else who is rich a lot of financial loss.

@Ponoka7 It's only a good decision if you have enough money to be able to pay for any treatment/repatriation etc. My parents do. Therefore it's not an issue.

I had this problem this week. One insurer covered all conditions apart from the one being treated but wouldn't cover FCO cancellation for coronavirus. Found insurer who would cover the CV but none of the pre-existing conditions until the treatment is complete on current one. Had to buy both