AIBU to think awaiting test results for one person should not void family travel insurance

[Worldgonecrazy]

I have a premium level of travel insurance cover for me and my family, with all pre existing conditions declared. However, I am due a X-ray linked to one of these declared conditions and have been told that until I get the results, the entire travel insurance for me AND my family is void.

The catch is I go on holiday 2 days after the X-ray, so won’t have the results before I go for a week in Europe.

AIBU to think a lot of people might get caught out with this loophole, that whilst having or awaiting for an X-ray or test, and then results, for ANY medical treatment, regardless if it’s a pre declared condition, makes annual trip cover void until the results are received, and makes it void for everyone on the policy, not just the person awaiting tests or results?

Presumably if one of the family is taken ill or needs some treatment there is a high chance that the rest of the family won't piss off on holiday without them. Or if already away, will want to come home too. Seems reasonable to me.

I think you can pay extra to cover you for that condition should it turn out to be bad but they won’t cover anything related to that condition. The voiding for the whole family is not normal in my experience

I was waiting for some test results prior to our last holiday and they just excluded anything relating to that but the policy (joint) was allowed to remain in place. Are you sure that’s what they’ve said re cancellation? Or could you call back, maybe the person didn’t understand the rules.

That’s not correct. The policy will still cover other insured persons. You would still be insured for everything else such as baggage etc just not for emergency medical expenses. Cancellation you would be covered except if you cancelled due to the undeclared condition

That shouldn’t be the case at all. Are you sure you haven’t misunderstood?

I get you, I really do.

My daughter has some medical issues which mean we are waiting for results a lot of the time - usually for most of the year if you add them up! If it's not waiting for results about her main condition (which TBF is very serious, but stable) it's for something else. It's going to be the same for at least a decade.

We've resigned ourselves to only having holidays abroad when the stars align, being very careful about timings, or occasionally being willing to travel in Europe only without insurance for her, if we are clear that the GHIC treatment will be sufficient.

It sucks.

Discussing things with my insurer today it seems the worst place to be in is the analytical phase of treatment, I.e. having tests but not yet a diagnosis.

Their cautious approach seems to ignore the fact that its a test on a knee and assumes that it could turn up brain cancer or other unlikely event.

Yep, its completely rubbish trying to get travel insurance with a chronic health condition that has regular tests is a nightmare. Im surprised they cancel everyones policy.

For all those asking if I have understood, I phoned twice to check that I had clearly understood that the entire policy would be void, including for my husband and child, whilst I await the X-ray and then the results of that X-ray.

If you think otherwise, I strongly recommend you check with your own travel insurance that you are correct and please share the name of your company so I can get a quote from them.

My insurance (annual multi trip family cover) was with Post Office Travel Insurance, and I have also tried Saga to see if I could get single trip insurance.

It’s an X-ray for arthritis that is causing the problem - not anything life limiting or tri threatening. It’s not affecting me day to day, I am still fit and active. There is no reason I or my family would not be able to go on holiday.

I called them twice to ensure I had not misunderstood. Crazy that the insurance will return to normal as soon as I get the results.

That’s is exactly what I used to think …..,

I spoke to two different people to ensure I was not misunderstanding the situation. Can o ask who you insure with? Might switch to them.

Yes I’ve had this and it’s very annoying. Try getting a single trip policy from Staysure they are good for this sort of thing.

Thank you. As it’s just two of us going away whilst I await the results, I’m going to get two individually single trip insurances.

Cant you wait for the results then if not favourable (as in they wont cover you) you can then get different insurance

I've been in this position (re waiting for tests, not the family thing). I was on a long waiting list for a 24 hour ECG and consult, and no-one would cover me. My present insurer said no, and I called seven other insurers (including the health specialist ones who'll even cover you with stage 4 cancer). Same answer. They wouldn't even cover me for the non-health related stuff.
The only way out was for me to go private for the first time in my life. Fortunately it wasn't as expensive as I feared. I got the all clear within ten days, and was able to book my flights.

If you're awaiting tests, the insurer has absolutely no information on which to calculate risk. So they simply say no.

I'm now wary of going to my GP about anything, in case they refer me for tests.

Insure with is good for preexisting conditions. Alternatively, how much for a private x ray? Might be cheaper than the insurance!

Are you saying that you had booked a holiday and had valid (annual) cover in place, but now they say you are not insured any more, due to something that occurred after booking and taking out insurance? That seems crazy!

Yes, and it is linked to a pre existing condition too, so it’s not a new medical condition. It is absolutely crazy.

To clarify, the entire family is not covered whilst I wait for my X-ray and then the results of that. It is not to do with the actual results of the X-ray.

That is shocking. If they can get away with that, what is the point where they can't turn round and say "nah, we are just cancelling it, rather than covering you".

@Worldgonecrazy I had to go through a specialist insurer last year as I was waiting for removal of a salivary duct stone. The crazy thing was that I would have been covered if I had been waiting for more serious operations (e.g. hip replacement), but not for this minor procedure because it wasn’t ‘on the list’.
We take out a family policy and even though I wasn’t insured for the salivary stone, we were all covered for other declared and unknown conditions.
I think you will need to go through a specialist insurer. Look on Money saving expert website for links.

I chose LV because they continue to cover pre existing conditions with ongoing or future testing. I avoided all the insurers that like to charge you a premium if you have a new diagnosis - ever since my son had a mild skin irritation (dermatitis) that only needed a cream but the Post Office insurers tried to load the premium for the remaining 4 months of the annual policy by £xxx!

Simillar situation here. Go on holiday Sunday, had blood tests and X-ray today. My insurer came back with 3 options. To cancel holiday and they would honor the claim. To cancel insurance and get new insurance or add a clause to exempt claims related to the possible condition that is under investigation. I opted for the exemption as it doesn’t really effect me & hoping results all come back normal.
when I actually have results I need to contact them to go from there but at least no last minute stress with getting new family travel insurance. This was with Admiral.