To think travel insurance is an utter scam?

[ragingruby]

Before taking out annual travel insurance, declared health conditions of menopause and insomnia - both managed by medication. Have had some issues recently with piles. Got anusol from GP to manage.

About to travel later this week. Rang to advise of Insurance company, Staysure, re new condition (as their documentation notes you have to). They said they will continue cover but not for the pre-existing conditions and neither for the recent condition, the latter of which they said don't just emerge suddenly so I must have known about the piles for some time and hadn't told them.

I'm like 'what???'. I've just told you!

They wouldn't budge.

So, despite previously insuring the conditions of insomnia and menopause, both of which are being managed, they've decided now not to. Apparently I'm covered if I die and need repatriation or for medical aid if in a car crash though I suspect they will say if I was driving, I was likely not to have had enough sleep!

Not going to renew my cover with them next year. Renaming Staysure as 'StayAway'. What's the point?

I just checked

It is there if you search for menopause but they dont need to know any further information which says they are not interested. You can also declare a cold!
Really not sure why you would have searched it as a condition in the first place

Yep - they seemingly exclude all pre existing conditions if you add a new one that you're waiting for results for - despite having been covered by these through the original annual insurance policy which I took out in May

How many times has it been said on this thread it is not about if you need treatment for that condition. Not declaring any condition or medication you are taking can void the whole policy. For example you break your leg on holiday, but haven't declared you are on hrt, this can void the whole policy no matter that it is not connected to the hrt.

To be fully covered, declare everything you have seen a medical professional about in the past 2 years. If not you run the risk of bankrupting yourself or your family, or being a beggy wanker and setting up a gofundme that people will rip you apart over as you should have had full insurance.

I had to make a claim for a visit to a medical centre in America.

my claim was denied as I hadn’t declared naproxen for a sore back (lifting tables at work) took the meds for 5 days almost two years ago.

my claim had absolutely nothing to do with my back. Completely unrelated.

i was devastated

What I also f find frustrating is I had high blood pressure over 15+ years ago , lost weight and have never had high blood pressure since , my chlorestoral has never been over 4 ever but because I’m diabetes 2 , statins are given as a preventative measure and Vitamin D as preventative measure yet I’m still classed as having high blood pressure cos the question asked is have you ever had high bp ! Frustrating

@scissy I may persevere with the drug question companies. (that could be why I rejected insurewith.

@Puzzledandpissedoff I have hearing aids. Never thought of it as a health condition, more akin to wearing glasses.

@Cancermummy sorry to hear all that. You can get cover I am sure, just be prepared to pay a lot. My annual premium for DH and me is £500

I will say one thing in defence of Staysure. I had an annual policy and a new problem occurred for which I needed tests. I had a holiday booked before the issue arose. They agreed to cover me for all my other pre-existing conditions but not that one. I had to get GP to record on my notes that I was fit to travel. They then refunded the rest of the year's policy as they wouldn't cover me for further travel until I had a diagnosis (it was gastritis).

But surely the increased premium will be due to the diabetes. I'd venture to guess that the BP declaration doesn't increase the premium, but the diabetes does. They usually relate to each other, i.e. increased weight for the high BP and unhealthy eating for diabetes (assuming type 2). In fact from memory, one of the questions in the diabetes declaration is whether you've ever had high BP, as the statistics will show that they are commonly associated.

I have hearing aids. Never thought of it as a health condition, more akin to wearing glasses

I thought exactly the same, @Merro, and since I also wear contacts I told them about that too when they noted the hearing aids

Only it turned out they didn't want to know about the contacts ... go figure

So basically, if you have something that might need investigation which may take a few months, a good example is that I had a basal cell carcinoma but obviously biopsies and treatment can take a few months/years especially on the NHS, you are best not to go and get it looked at if you have a holiday booked in the near future because you might not be insured for any previous conditions as you will be awaiting diagnosis for a new condition.

Just got travel insurance for DS, don’t remember there being a drop down box detailing all medical conditions. Mind he hadn’t been to a doctor for years

I do understand the requirement to declare everything.

Just as a query really, I'm officially over the menopause, as in 2 years from last period. However I still have many symptoms. So declare or not declare?

Also not been to GP to declare I'm no longer in the throes of menopause. I don't think they would care, so long as I'm not needing anything they are great drs.

And piles? I've never had piles, I wouldn't have a clue if I had any.

Insomnia hits me occasionally, I'd never think to declare it.

Should I also mention my crappy eyesight even though I dont wear glasses?
And my knee that aches like fuck permanently?
The bruises that erupt all over my legs that I do not remember where from?

Or in other words, how detailed do I need to be.

I don't drive btw. No need to have a go at my not wearing glasses.

It would appear so - at least for Staysure ... I don't know about other companies though. An earlier poster warned that many of them belong to the same big company but I wouldn't know where to start with trying to find that out. Staysure would state it's their underwriters that set the policy so I guess it might involve a bit of detective work as to who underwrites which company's policy.

What annoys me is that they market themselves as being accommodating re health changes.

It is anything on your GP records in the preceding 3 years. This is pretty standard for travel insurance. With my bank account included policy you tick a box if you have or have had any medical conditions or are waiting for tests or treatment. Then they ring you and take you through a detailed Q and A. I have been lucky and found their staff really helpful.

I too think that's a scam. How can they not cover pre existing conditions?

They can and do, for an appropriate price for the risk. Insurance companies are businesses, not charities.

Plenty do cover pre existing conditions, sometimes free, sometimes for a higher premium. Like anything else, you have to shop around.

I've high blood pressure and diabetes. OH has cancer. We have been covered for these conditions by paying a premium of, if I remember rightly, around an extra £50 each.

What do you think is going to happen?

Some kind of freak accident that involves you dying while applying anusol in an airplane toilet?

Getting hit by a car and breaking your leg while getting some air during a menopausal hot flush?

Me too Taxguru. I shop around, for diabetic cover.

But the point of this was that op has already declared 2 conditions. So it's a bit naughty for them to now quibble.

You have not been to a health professional about any of those things so no you do not need to declare.

It's really not hard! Seen a health professional within 2 years, yes declare. Not seen a health professional you don't need to.

I told My insurance but they said no need to .. best to tho just in case

Don't be an obtuse idiot. If you read the thread then everything has to be declared if you have seen a Dr for it within the past 2 years. It is nothing to do with the initial illness and something happening to that when away on holiday.

I tell them absolutely everything because some companies will do their utmost to not pay out should you claim

Because Insurance is legitimised turf accounting, bookies without horses/dogs/sport.

You're going to them and betting that you won't need expensive medical treatment/have to come home early because a relative is dying/the house has burned down /your stuff won't be nicked.

Imagine yourself in the position of an Insurer - or a Bookie - asked to give the odds on some hypothetical trips;

1. Bog standard, two parent family, holiday to Europe, no major/declared health issues. Likely case for medical expenses is a bit of sunburn, infected bug bites, case of the shits or one of the kids slipping over poolside and breaking a wrist. GHIC applies, not particularly expensive, most comes under the excess. If the Dad slips over and does his ankle, might have to stump up for a rebooked flight and accommodation for him for a week until the swelling goes down.
2. 64 year old, chain smoker, on a waiting list for investigations at hospital as of last Friday, is off to Florida for a month visiting family. Didn't take insurance out when he booked back in February, only remembered it the Thursday before his GP appointment where he presented with a persistent cough of >6m duration and weight loss. Booking accommodation in Jacksonville within shouting distance of the Mayo Clinic (when his daughter lives in Tallahassee, but this won't be discovered until three days in when he goes to a doctor for a pain in the chest and is suddenly admitted to hospital).
3. 50 year old on biologic and steroid medication for PSA. Previously diagnosed with and treated for periodontal disease and returned to the dentist to be prescribed strong antibiotics following an incidence of extreme neurological pain with no obvious cause, is already waiting for an MRI for unilateral deafness on the same side, has had lower spinal and hip MRI in the last two years due to pain. Fancies a trip to Florence.

The first is a standard, Insurable risk.

The second is going to be declined cover altogether (and will just as likely then take out standard insurance somewhere before the claim comes rolling in). There's no way that this is a good idea, even if it's not with a view to committing insurance fraud. It's going to happen and it's going to cost shitloads.

The third is going to be declined cover for medical stuff such as losing her Cosentyx pen and having to see a doctor to get oral steroids instead because she's flaring/drops her hearing aid down the toilet, emergency dental treatment or if her back hurts. But they'll cover if she gets her foot run over by a bloke on a scooter or if her handbag is nicked. Might charge a bit more in case she has to see a doctor for infected mozzie bites or blisters and a trip is likely to result in a more expensive tendon injury than somebody else, but all in all, standard risk outside specific medical matters, so can get specialised insurance.

Different levels of risk give different odds. Different insurers, different policies, different levels of cover and exclusions give different odds.

Never said I haven't been to GP about these things.
The bruises on my legs were noted because I was in for something else. They saw the bruises, asked about them and got my shrug as a response. No idea if it's in my notes or not.

The eyesight, well no not my GP obviously, no one sees GPs about eyesight do they? But sure I've been for an eye test. GP wont know about that and it wont be in my notes.

And my knee, around 3 and a half years ago I went about my knee, still waiting for any referrals or anything really.

So again, disclose or not disclose. All academic anyway cos I've not been abroad since 2017 and I'm not likely to for a few more years yet.

I’ve done a new insurance quote today, declared my cancer, DH’s cancer, my high cholesterol and medications, my anti-anxiety medication and history. Everything we have seen either a hospital medic or GP about in two years. Completely covered, including those conditions, no probs, for a year, all Europe for £100 all in. That’s Insurance With.