Travel insurance preexisting conditions

[ohmeohmy]

do you bother? If so with what company?

I would never travel unless I was properly insured. Not declaring medical conditions can invalidate your insurance and isn't worth the risk.

I've used www.flexicover.co.uk/ a few times and they have been very good and my parents have used www.allcleartravel.co.uk/cgi-bin/lansaweb?procfun+msdweb01+msdw009+alc

Yes you bother. Definitely. We used Columbus Direct. It wasn't hideously expensive either. We have one severely ASD DS and a DD with a genetic syndrome with respiratory risks. Wet oil it out before going to Florida last year. We paid £110 and there are six of us.

Definitely bother - if you're not covered and something does go wrong, medical support overseas is tantamount to extortion!
Many companies cover general conditions such as asthma etc at no, or virtually no extra cost. Sometimes its in the wording of the condition. DS3 was told his swallowing issues were dysphagia (general term) and we struggled to get cover - even though it was highly unlikely that he would have needed any treatment as he could only eat puree and we had taken it with us. Change it to food intolerance (which had been causing the discomfort in eating) - and not allergy - and it was covered automatically.
The other thing we have done is cover all bar 1 on a family policy, then covered the 'more difficult' 1 separately, as that time it worked out cheaper.
But please don't give the insurance company cause to refuse a claim due to non disclosure - it can make the whole policy invalid even though the claim could be nothing to do with the pre-existing condition.

Hi - I agree that it is definitely worth it.

Depedong on your DC condition, they may be covered by standard insurance. For example, last year DD (who has Down's) was covered for her heart condition - as that was diagnosed & being monitored, but couldn't get standard insurance because the hospital hadn't officially diagnosed her glue ear, even though she'd never had any problems with her ears (apart from lack of hearin).

This year, because she now has a diagnosis for both, getting insurance was no problem and she was covered free of charge on my policy.

If you are struggling to get a standard insurer it's worth talking to the ABI (ABI.org.uk) as they can give you a list of insurers who specialise in your area. We used them last year and we ended up paying about £30 extra to get DD covered.

HTH

Thanks for your replies. Ds has a stable neuro condition, no surgery for more than 10 yrs, no shunt, no meds but as it is not common insurers are overestimating the risks and quotes are very steep. Will do some more digging around.

we are all covered under a family travel policy included with our bank account
i notified them of ds2's conditions & we paid a small premium of £12

I am debating this at the moment too. I am finding it quite difficult and dont want to pay much as dd is very unlikely to need emergency cover and we are going to France so have the European health cards. Some won't cover her as only diagnosed in last year, some won't at all, and others are v expensive. I am going to ask her consultant at next appointment.

On the subject of EHIC cards, we have just got back from Majorca (Alcudia- not the back of beyond) and we would've had to travel 45 mins to use it so ended up paying to see a private doctor - and that was just for a throat infection.

Found something reasonable via money supermarket preexisting conditions section.