To not update travel insurance

[QuiltedHippo]

DD has a number of food allergies. The only time we've been to hospital was during weaning when her head swelled up after peanut butter. No treatment needed beyond antihistamines, which is how we've managed any other reactions since.

Requests for an epipen were denied as she's not had anaphylaxis and isn't high risk (bad asthma etc) - have been nervous about this especially during ambulance strikes but it is what it is.

She'll go on her first flight this year to North America, when doing travel insurance we declared the food allergies but said no to "life threatening allergies" - saying yes would add £200+ to the quote.

Knowing that PBJs are more likely to be kicking around a playground than here, and because of the flight we requested an epipen again which was approved. Its a holiday prescription so not a long term thing and her consultant described it as "an abundance of caution". The paperwork to carry it on the flight states the patient is at risk of life threatening allergies...

So do we need to update the insurance? There's no change to her health so I'm loathe to give them hundreds of pounds more, but I'd hate them to slither out of a claim if the worst happened

Medical travel insurance should be a must, illegal not to have it.
my parents died in France nearly 7 years ago, reparation needed, luckily insured, thousands to bring home, that’s without funerals

Of all the countries in the world - USA is the last place you want to be under insured fir medically.

It's nice to see a change from the usual "I'd do anything for my DCs, they're the most important thing in the world to me" type of thread. Not sure the DAVL (Do Anything Value Limit) should be quite as low as £200 given the potential liabilities mentioned by PPs.

Of course you need to up date insurance. If your DC needed treatment you would have invalidated your policy. You'd be mad to take such a risk with your DC health. In US it's no insurance or money up front or no treatment. Your DC's health is worth a lot more than £200. Yabvu.

Don’t be so fucking stupid and pay the premium, your daughters life is worth more than £200.

Our family paid a premium triple that and a little bit more, the price we would have had to pay was nearly 75k, a life was lost in the Caribbean. Always tell the truth and never travel without your insurance.

My emergency was nothing to do with my declared, pre-existing conditions. But if I had not told them every single detail of those conditions, paid £90 premium, my policy would have been declared void at the point where they scrutinised my GP records. I would have had to find around £10K out of my own pocket.
Thankfully I was in Thailand, not USA or it would be nearer £100K.

If the paperwork for her epipen references life threatening allergies then I simply cannot see why you would not update her travel insurance to match that. Honestly pay the £200 or you might just as well get no insurance at all and that might save you a bit. I am possibly exaggerating for effect but I think you would be bonkers not to upgrade her insurance.

Look , we all know that ( with hope ) insurance will never be called upon , but when it is , you need it to be covered properly. If something were to happen I doubt "Oh but the consultant said this was over cautious " when her travel documents for the epipen reference life threatening will cut the mustard.

I hope all is well , but this is what insurance is for. & they rely on people declaring all truthfully & honestly. If something happened to your DD and you have not declared anything they are not slithering out of it - you have not upheld your side of the bargain.

Pay the £200 is my advice.

One "lie" and the whole policy could be held to be invalid, why on earth would you risk it?

@OrderOfTheKookaburra - you have said much more succinctly what I was getting at.

Insurance companies aren't stupid - they will check . They aren't unkind but if you have not paid for the policy properly , for what you need to be insured for , they won't pay.

Probably a silly analogy but if you insure your house saying it has a gabled roof because it is cheaper than a flat roof & you get a leak through the roof , why would you expect them to pay out when they realise you have a flat roof. You have not paid for what you are asking for.

Any back to @QuiltedHippo As with others I think you need to pay the £200. Well I would - obviously up to you . IMHO I think you would be foolish not to

@BasiliskStare - I will add this just as succinctly.

I work for an insurance company, I think the OP is being a bloody idiot if she thinks she will get away with it. Come claim time THEY WILL CHECK!!! And then promptly cancel the policy from its start date.

I hope the refunded premium will be enough to pay for US medical fees, OP! Because that's all you'll get!

You can’t have it both ways, claiming life threatening allergies to get a epipen but it’s not life threatening for insurance if something did happen you really think the insurance won’t check
you would be fucking crazy not to update the insurance company and pay the extra

@OrderOfTheKookaburra Many moons ago my father worked for an insurance company ( not sales or general insurance more Life and pensions again not sales ) but I do remember when I was young him explaining to me the way insurance works which is basically shared risk. So you pay for what you want to be insured for - & you pay properly for that. This is what actuaries are for - they asses the risk . If everyone just ticked the lowest box to get the cheapest price , then the company could not operate which is why they will check somebody like the OP has paid the appropriate premium.

& which is also why I agree with your "bloody idiot" comment and also @chipsandpeas "fucking crazy" comments .

If you aren't going to tell the truth on an insurance policy I reckon you might as well not take one out at all.
OP's DD might twist her ankle or sprain her wrist - nothing to do with epipen but if the insurance application has not been done correctly the insurance company could & I think this is what you were saying @OrderOfTheKookaburra just cancel the whole thing.

But to fill out a form to get an epipen saying "life threatening" on travel documents and not declare that on insurance is a whole level of craziness. & frankly just not thinking the whole thing through

Well OP must do what she will. I think she has had advice which is swaying one way

@QuiltedHippo I would not do this if I were you and I hope you have read as far as to see Insurance companies do not try to "slither" - they just want you to pay the appropriate premium.
To get back to your question Yes you need to update the insurance

This lists the costs of epipens in the USA. If she had an allergic reaction and used the pen you have, just replacing that would be more expensive than the £200 premium. If she was seen by a doctor, hospitalised, etc, the costs would escalate rapidly. Pay it.

https://www.talktomira.com/post/how-much-does-an-epipen-cost