Back pain should cancel holiday

[AliasGraced]

I am due to go on holiday tomorrow and I have been suffering bad back pain which is getting progressively worse. In the past this has meant months of chiropractic treatment and months of pain. I just don’t know what to do. If I cancel I don’t know if travel insurance will pay out .

Are you covered for the back pain? Did you mention it when you got the insurance or was it not an issue at all when you booked it ?

It wasn’t a issue when I booked it but the doctor referred me for physio a couple of years ago which was useless

Insurance doesn’t usually cover pre-existing conditions.

Did you list this on the insurance application ?

Work with a physio not a chiropractor. Your back will thank you for it later.

You would need a letter from your GP saying you are not fit to travel and a cancellation invoice from the holiday company. And you will have to find out if you are covered by the insurance.

That has not been my experience at all.

I presume you’ve had NHS? They can’t do more than basic stretching exercises. Completely not fit for purpose.

Do you want to go back issue aside?
anyone else impacted if you cancel?

Well look where a chiropractor has got you OP?

wanting to cancel your holiday because pain remains debilitating

When you booked your insurance you only have to declare medical conditions which are relevant according to the questions asked.
Different insurance companies can have different questions but they might ask for example if you've been on any medication in the last 12 months / on a waiting list to see a specialist, received any in or outpatient treatment in the last 12 months. As long as you answered honestly, and your back problem didn't need declaring because treatment didn't fall under the definition of an existing medical problem according to their questions, it should be ok.

How bad is it? I went on holiday with a bad back because I knew that if I could manage the journey it would be easir than being at home as DH would not be at work and MIL would be there too.
Strong painkillers got me through the flight, which was not fun but I managed. Only you know if you can do it and not makee things a lot worse
Travel insurance may be an issue now if you didn't disclose when you took it out

When you booked your insurance you only have to declare medical conditions which are relevant according to the questions asked.

Almost all ask for any pre-existing condition whether current or not - something along the lines of "have you ever been diagnosed with back problems" or "have you ever had a mental health diagnosis". They also tell you, if in doubt, phone and ask, don't assume.

OP, you have a double bind here - almost certainly you should have stated the bad back when you took out insurance, even if it wasn't painful at the time. The company might or might not have taken this into account in their quote, but it would be registered as pre-existing. If you decide to go and then something happens that needs medical treatment, you may not be covered if they find the pre-existing problems in your medical records (and they do tend to check). But equally, as things stand you must now tell them even if you decide to go because it is a material change to your policy details. I got "caught" by this last year. I have an annual policy and actually have pre-existing conditions that are covered. A few weeks before one holiday I fell and damaged a finger (almost severed it!) - it had been treated and was in a splint. I told the insurers as I was required to (it says this in the small print!), and they DOUBLED my premium as a result. I had no choice but to pay if I wanted cover, but if I cancelled I got nothing as I was technically fit to travel.

I would pack your ibuprofen/paracetamol/deep heat/ibuprofen gel/cold gel/support pillow and go, especially if there's a pool.
Swim every day, lay in the sun if you can get comfortable enough and switch between hot/cold. Splash out on massages if available.
It might do you the world of good.

if you declared it it’ll be covered. If you didn’t declare it you wasted your money buying a policy as it will be invalid

I can’t remember if I declared it. When this has happened in the past it’s taken months of treatment to resolve and left me virtually crippled. The last episode was two years ago.

My travel insurance policy has a page which shows declared medical conditions. If you haven't declared previous back issues then you can bet your bottom dollar that you won't be covered for cancellation due to your current back problem.

Very easy to find out
root out your policy and it will confirm declared conditions

either way… abandon the chiropractor. Clearly not working

It isn't on my policy. I didn't think I would have to declare every single issue I have ever had in my life.

Thanks. It is a bit better today. The trouble is lying on sunbeds and swimming are the things that make it worse unfortunately. I really don't know what to do.

Cancel. You could be in trouble if it kicks off big time. Safest option.

Yes that is my thought. I’ve had two episodes of it absolutely crippling me for months.

In that case - you’re not covered

and don’t be a drama llama. You have to declare conditions that you’ve received treatment for over the past 12 months or undergoing tests

I haven’t had it in the past 12 months. What a rude woman you are.

So you’ll be coveted then subject to the conditions

ill presume the back pain is making you very sensitive and grumpy!