Travel insurance whilst waiting for tests to diagnose a conditon

[SpainToday]

I saw my GP on Tuesday, she suspects kidney stones and has referred me for tests to confirm. I wanted to delay the appointment til after my trip but DH was pushing me to get it checked out.

I’m due to have a long weekend in Spain at the end of this month and I can’t work out what to do with travel insurance. I understand that no one will cover me for an undiagnosed condition (however I’m going privately and am hoping to get the scan early next week, so I may have a diagnosis). But if I can’t get an appointment before I go – I assume I just have to get on the plane knowing I wouldn’t be covered for this?

However – we have an existing annual travel insurance policy, so do I have to disclose this latest development, even though I know they wouldn’t cover me for it? I am only having mild symptoms at present, so currently feel fine to travel but if, hypothetically, I get worse and have to cancel, I assume they wouldn’t pay out for cancellation unless I’d told them about the current situation?

Any ideas? This is also posted on AIBU, for traffic

Yes you have to declare it for your annual insurance. If you don't and have to claim (for anything), there's a chance they wouldn't pay out. They may or may not cover you for the kidney stones. Phone them and check.

Yes. I have annual, and last year I had a very minor accident (in medical terms) when I fell and nearly svered the tip of a finger. Treated before I went on holiday although still in a cast. Doubled my insurance cost. If I hadn't told them the entire policy would have been invalid - it's in the small print.

You could tell them you have kidney stones and ask what the extra charge to cover it is. Or cancel the trip. Postponing the test wouldnt help as one you've seen a gp you need to report it to insurers. You can ask if you can still go on the trip and just have kidney stones excluded from cover.

Kidney stones can cause pain similar to childbirth. If you have to cancel later they might be persuaded to pay out what they'd have to pay if you cancelled now.

There's no problem in covering me for kidney stones, its that 'awaiting tests' element of it that's causing the issues.

You have 2 choices - tell them about the doctor appointment and investigations and end up with no insurance, or don’t tell them and end up uninsured for failing to declare. Either way, it’s only Spain for 2 days - I’d take the risk!

If kidney stones caused you a problem on holiday and you'd paid a premium to cover kidney stones then I'd argue the "awaiting tests" didnt matter. Of course if it turns out to be something else you wouldnt be covered for whatever it was.

You have to tell them but it doesnt mean you have no insurance at all, it means you have no cover for whatever that turns out to be. You would still be covered for, say, a broken leg or stolen luggage.

There are very few companies that will cover you while awaiting tests.
One of them is All clear and the other is Aviva. They will cover you for anything unrelated to the thing you're having tests for. So if something catastrophic happened you'd be covered. Just not for kidney stones. How likely is it that you might end up in hospital for kidney stones?
If you already have an annual policy just ring them. If they withdraw all cover (which happened to me) then at least you know and can either try and find cover elsewhere or claim for cancellation.

Don't want to derail this thread, but do we really have to declare everything.

Even a HPV result on a smear?

Horrendous advice...

@SpainToday it will be in the T&Cs of your annual policy that you must inform them of any changes in your health, therefore you may as well phone them and ask their advice. You've already sought medical advice, so if you don't inform them the policy is as good as useless anyway. Worst case scenario they withdraw your cover (I don't think this is likely) but at least you know and can make an informed decision about whether to cancel.

I ended up not going abroad because the travel insurance was too costly, as I had outstanding referrals. Had a lovely holiday in the Lake district instead.

Realistically claims are more likely to
involve plane cancellations or stolen items. I don’t believe either of those would involve the insurance company checking your pending GP appointments. They want police or airline numbers.

If you are worried you may have to cancel. yes you’ll not be covered. However the cost of the insurance premium plus excess might not be worth it anyway. It’s only what, four days?
Are you on a package holiday? If not you’ll he getting airport tax back and possibly hotel or apartment refunds even if not the full amount .

Yes, that was my concern - that everything except the issue under investigation would be covered, and the ‘under investigation’ bit is the thing I’d like cover for.

But I have decided to ring my travel insurance company, tell them the whole story, and then travel with my GHIC card in case I need emergency treatment for kidney stones (unlikely). I realise GHIC wouldn’t cover repatriation costs, but then we’re only going to Spain!

Hi OP, I’d be interested to know what the insurance company says. I had a slightly different situation when I was diagnosed with an issue this year. I have an annual policy through my bank and they did cover me as I had booked the trip before the symptoms started. I appreciate the tests had all been completed in my situation.

My husband was undergoing tests for tinitus. I told insurance and they said not to book any further travel ad he would not be insured whilst undergoing any investigations. We had major travel plans coming up. So, he went private but consultant then referred him back to NHS for a hearing issue/further tests. Fortunately he's now been signed off by consultant so we can travel in just over a week.
For Europe make sure you have a EHIC card - just in case.

Thank you to everyone who replied: all sorted now! I managed to get a policy with AllClear, only £29 for the two of us for a short break in Spain, it was very clear that it won't cover me for any undiagnosed conditions (which is fine) but will cover me normally for everything else. I phoned them just to check I had understood correctly, and I had.

Our annual policy is with Post Office, I rang them I explained the situation in full, and they said that if I travel with any undiagnosed conditions, the entire policy (for both of us ...... ) would be void.

I will be taking my GHIC card for any emergencies.

I rang them I explained the situation in full, and they said that if I travel with any undiagnosed conditions, the entire policy (for both of us ...... ) would be void.

They should pay for cancellation if you chose to cancel because the undiagnosed condition arose after you took the policy out. That's kinda why you get insurance before you go.

This happened to us. DH was awaiting a test and our insurer went nuclear. They did, however, pay for the cancellation of the holiday. We didn't want to travel without cover.

"Repatriation" doesn't just mean a flight home, it covers full medevac which could mean a charter flight and accompanying medical team.

Yes, they would have paid for us to cancel, but I feel pretty good and it would be such a shame to not go. But at least if we find ourselves in this situation again, I know there is help available

Thanks for mentioning your insurer - definitely not one to use again!

The Spanish health system is very like the British one: public is free at the point of care, but lots of people go private for elective stuff, so there is a BUPA-style network too.

Keep your GHIC handy, and before you travel, identify the nearest public health centre to your hotel. They will treat you for free if anything flares up. The emergency care in Spain is generally excellent (no 4-6-12 hour waiting in A&E). You can find the health centre on Google Maps. If it's public, it will be called PAC (Punto de Atención Continuada, 24 hours, like an A&E without the rest of the hospital), or CS (Centre de Salud, a full-service health centre), or UBS (Unidad Basica de Salud, a local health centre with limited hours). Or of course you might be next to a full-scale hospital.

Also if you need an ambulance, dial 112 — do not ask your hotel's reception to call one, as they will call a private ambulance that will take you to a private hospital (and give the receptionist commission).

Thank you @samarrange thats really helpful

@samarrange that's useful. I've had experience of this.
Once in Tenerife a family member collapsed and I ran to reception to call an ambulance. A private ambulance arrived with just a driver, no paramedic. It was a catalogue of disasters thereafter ending up with said relative being held hostage by refusing to remove a cannula until the bill was paid. We were insured.
Since then I research the NHS facilities before travelling.
This year I fell ill and went to the Urgencias at a PAC centre with my GHIC and passport. I was seen within 10 minutes, given IV treatment and discharged after a few hours. The only cost was 4Euros for a prescription.