Do you have to declare new medical conditions after you've got travel insurance?

secondary_school_teacher · 11 October 2016 at 7:22PM

Hi,

This is my first post and I could only find 'new thread' in this section, so I'm probably posting this in the worng place - apologies!

So here goes:

In April I bought an annual travel insurance policy with StaySure Insurance (by looking for good priced insurance through MSE). Last week I received an email, and today a letter from the company. They say that I need to let them know if our medical history has changed since buying the policy, and if so, they will charge me for updating their records. If I don't tell them any changes (including the fact that we've had dr's appts or started taking new tablets), our insurance is now void.

Is this normal or are they taking the mickey?

Thanks!

helcat26 · 25 October 2016 at 2:54PM

It is usually in the small print that you need to inform them if it is a significant illness, or something that may impact your ability to travel eg if you have a heart attack, stroke, thrombosis etc.
Not if you have a cold and take antibiotics .

If you have had a significant illness since taking out the policy, you can contact them and either pay additional cover, or agree that you would not be covered for a claim based on the significant illness.

DomRavioli · 25 October 2016 at 3:01PM

helcat26 wrote: »

Not if you have a cold and take antibiotics .

A cold is a virus. Anribiotics will do nothing.

secondary_school_teacher wrote: »

Hi,

This is my first post and I could only find 'new thread' in this section, so I'm probably posting this in the worng place - apologies!

So here goes:

In April I bought an annual travel insurance policy with StaySure Insurance (by looking for good priced insurance through MSE). Last week I received an email, and today a letter from the company. They say that I need to let them know if our medical history has changed since buying the policy, and if so, they will charge me for updating their records. If I don't tell them any changes (including the fact that we've had dr's appts or started taking new tablets), our insurance is now void.

Is this normal or are they taking the mickey?

Thanks!

Very normal. If your condition improves or worsens, you need to tell them as it will affect the cover they provide. Even if you visit a doctor and meds are changed, you need to let them know, as this can change your risk profile.

They cannot insure someone if they don't know the insurable risk. Its that simple.

Gloomendoom · 25 October 2016 at 3:26PM

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is a bit tedious, but whenever I have rung up to declare anything, it has just been noted and there has been no extra charge.

photome · 25 October 2016 at 4:08PM

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is a bit tedious, but whenever I have rung up to declare anything, it has just been noted and there has been no extra charge.

That is my experinence as well,
I have a yearly policy and they dont seem to care what happens between renewals as long as you update them at renewal so they can provide the correct cover the following year

helcat26 · 28 October 2016 at 6:12PM

OK I was being hasty in my reply. A secondary respiratory infection requiring antibiotics!

I had a pulmonary embolism and they gave me the choice of paying an additional £60 or not being covered for issues resulting from it. That was Columbus travel if I am allowed to say that.

katejo · 28 October 2016 at 6:43PM

photome wrote: »

That is my experinence as well,
I have a yearly policy and they dont seem to care what happens between renewals as long as you update them at renewal so they can provide the correct cover the following year

Let's imagine that you had been diagnosed with a new significant condition (say type 1 diabetes just as an example) which later caused you to be taken ill on holiday and need hospital treatment. Your insurer wouldn't pay out for that treatment if you hadn't declared the new diagnosis before leaving for your trip.

photome · 28 October 2016 at 8:26PM

katejo wrote: »

Let's imagine that you had been diagnosed with a new significant condition (say type 1 diabetes just as an example) which later caused you to be taken ill on holiday and need hospital treatment. Your insurer wouldn't pay out for that treatment if you hadn't declared the new diagnosis before leaving for your trip.

Are you sure?

If it's a yearly policy and you don't have the condition at the start of the policy

I thought the same as you ,but when I called to tell my insurance company of a new treatment they didn't want to know until renewal

Maybe I misunderstood though

pollypenny · 29 October 2016 at 10:07AM

With every annual policy we've had there's been a condition that we inform them of any major change.

That doesn't mean the flu, obviously. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

jonesMUFCforever · 29 October 2016 at 4:56PM

photome wrote: »

Are you sure?

If it's a yearly policy and you don't have the condition at the start of the policy

I thought the same as you ,but when I called to tell my insurance company of a new treatment they didn't want to know until renewal

Maybe I misunderstood though

I wouldn't like to take the chance would you?

leylandsunaddict · 29 October 2016 at 6:16PM

photome wrote: »

Are you sure?

If it's a yearly policy and you don't have the condition at the start of the policy

I thought the same as you ,but when I called to tell my insurance company of a new treatment they didn't want to know until renewal

Maybe I misunderstood though

Read your policy. I know mine explicitly states "After you have paid for this policy, you must tell us if your health changes".

Do you have to declare new medical conditions after you've got travel insurance?

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