Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Condition

GingerWarrior

Hi there

I'm off to Sharm-el-Sheikh on Tuesday, and I'm looking to get my travel insurance sorted.

I've just seen a specialist with a problematic groin (which originally was diagnosed by a Doctor as a hernia), who has confirmed with ultrasound and an MRI scan that no hernia is present. I am having an exploratory operation in January to see why there is discomfort there. I've been given the all-clear to go scuba-diving too.

Now down getting travel insurance - because the hernia has been discounted, am I able to get normal travel insurance or do I have to go for travel insurance with a pre-existing condition?

I welcome your thoughts.

Cheers

Toby

holidaze

Hi Toby, unfortunately I would say that you are still receiving investigations/ treatment/ on a waiting list to receive treatment and you therefore count as having a pre-existing condition. That's just my thoughts though, you're probably best calling the medical screening helpline of the travel insurance company you are planning on using, see details below tho for a geographical phone number that may be of use.

I'm currently fuming with the "pre-existing medical condition" part of travel insurance. I have just bought travel insurance today from Trailfinders for my 6 month round the world trip (and will be doing a fair amount of scuba diving :-) ). It seems that all travel insurance companies want to know, not just about the person travelling and whether they have ever had the audacity to see a doctor ever about any condition, but also now need to know about any travelling companions and any close relatives. I called the medical screening helpline this afternoon to check regarding my travel companion and close relatives who have had medical conditions both past and present and the level of detail required for these individuals is frankly unbelievable and a total invasion of their personal privacy. The medical screening helpline actually requested that my travel companion and affected relatives all need to phone their excessively expensive helpline using an 0844 number to discuss their most intimate and private medical details. Personally I am appalled by that when it's me that is going on the trip, not my close relatives.

Anyway, rant over :-) If you do choose to call the medical screening helpline (and woe betide you if you don't inform them in advance if you do have what they determine to be a pre-existing medical condition), then try the geographical number 01702 427 237 instead of the ridiculously expensive 0844 826 2686 number that a large number of travel insurance companies try and get you to use.

I've always used Direct Travel in the past for travel insurance that includes scuba diving and would gladly recommend them for shorter trips. In the past, their medical screening procedure has been much less intrusive than the one I describe above. Sadly they wanted double the premium that Trailfinders were asking for my current trip otherwise I wouldn't have considered going elsewhere.

Good luck and hope the diving in Sharm is fab - do go and dive The Thistelgorm if you can, a long day but awesome!

luci

You will need to declare the condition as a PEMC as well as any other condition you have had in the past. You are unlikely to get cover for an undiagnosed condition, but should be able to get cover excluding it.

Maz945

That was a great post mate. You have a medical condition and you phone up a Medical Pre-Condition number which costs 6p per minute. They have the audacity to ask you about any close relative illnesses (which if they were sick and you hadn't told then and then their condition necessitated your cancellation and claim which then wouldn't have been met), and you're complaining!

And the you go onto say they were half the price of your current insurer? 20 minute call... It cost you just over a quid! And the savings on your Direct Insurance policy.... £50, £60 or more?

Funniest thing I've read in ages. Good one.

GingerWarrior

Well, spoke with Direct Travel insurance, and they've confirmed that as I am under investigation still for the problem, I won't be covered for that should a claim arise.

So looks like I will just get normal travel insurance and I won't be covered for any problems with regards to the problematic groin.

Effectively an exclusion then isn't it.

veryunsure

Just be careful that your problematic groin doesn't cause you to slip and damage any other part!

I don't trust travel insurance companies at all. I was once made to pay extra after appendicitis incase it recurred.

GingerWarrior

Decided to go with Direct Travel, and have got 15% cashback too through QuidCo, so have Annual Travel Insurance (off to Kenya on cricket tour at Easter) for under £40 :-)

mayfair1985

holidaze wrote: »

I'm currently fuming with the "pre-existing medical condition" part of travel insurance. I have just bought travel insurance today from Trailfinders for my 6 month round the world trip (and will be doing a fair amount of scuba diving :-) ). It seems that all travel insurance companies want to know, not just about the person travelling and whether they have ever had the audacity to see a doctor ever about any condition, but also now need to know about any travelling companions and any close relatives. I called the medical screening helpline this afternoon to check regarding my travel companion and close relatives who have had medical conditions both past and present and the level of detail required for these individuals is frankly unbelievable and a total invasion of their personal privacy. The medical screening helpline actually requested that my travel companion and affected relatives all need to phone their excessively expensive helpline using an 0844 number to discuss their most intimate and private medical details. Personally I am appalled by that when it's me that is going on the trip, not my close relatives.

If you had to curtail your trip due to one of your relatives medical conditions or cancel because of your traveling companions medical conditions i'm sure you would be the first to kick off with the company if it wasn't covered on your policy. Be thankful that they have prompted you to provide all the information required for you to have a FULL, COMPLETE and VALID travel insurance policy. Yeah it sucks that it takes 20 minutes but if you want cover you have to bite the bullet and get on with it. After all, you wouldn't expect to be able to buy car insurance without giving full details about the car your drive and your history. After all, that it what you're insuring for!

FYI It's so easy travel will cover people that are awaiting or recieving treatment or investigations.

pennymakespounds

Really unhappy !

been with columbus direct a few years , annual multi trip policy just for me , went to them originally as good reputation for pre existing conditions.

Heart attack 16 years ago .... so instead of about £40 basic cost , last year paid further £12 for pre existing cover .

Last years £52 was about £8 up on previous year . No problem .

Phoned yesterday to renew for next 12 months ... The £40 basic gone up a fiver .... but want a total £120 , claiming this reflects their general increase "necessary" for pre existing .

Talked to management etc .. told nothing can be done .

Going to have to work hard today trying to find better ..( any ideas ?? ) ........... flying tomorrow !!

thor

Try http://www.itssoeasytravelinsurance.com/
I have been shopping around for travel insurance for my mother and they have come up cheapest so far for pre-existing med conditions. I have only checked 4 companies so far though.

pennymakespounds

Try http://www.itssoeasytravelinsurance.com/


tried them .. came up at £78 as a start price for basic cover and then site crashed after i'd gone though medical info . .. would be way over £100

i've covered now with www.direct-travel.co all in at £68 less 15% TCB