Travel Insurance - What is a 'pre-existing medical condition'?

cazzablanca

Hello from a first time poster! I know this sounds like a stupid question but have just booked a holiday *and* been to the doctor within 24 hours so not sure where I stand when buying insurance for our trip.

Basically, on Sunday night last OH and I booked flights to America for my 40th in April - so far so good. While in work on the Monday I suddenly started getting palpitations (v.scary!) never had them before and naturally was concerned so off I trotted to the docs. Doctor examines me and tells me that it's nothing to be overly concerned about, it's probably an anxiety attack, but wants me to go back next week for an ECG and blood tests to make sure everything's ok.

SO.... now I'm looking at travel insurance and don't know where I stand. As I've not had a diagnosis surely I can't have a pre-existing condition can I? Or does the fact I've seen a doctor, albeit briefly, mean that I was aware of a problem and therefore won't be covered if it does turn out to be a heart problem (heaven forbid!)?

Please help - confused!!

Thanks in advance

Caz

Quentin

You normally have to disclose the fact you have seen a doctor within so many months prior to taking out the policy.

In this case, make sure you do disclose you are having investigations (including an ECG).

You would not want to end up in a USA hospital with any associated complaint and find you aren't covered!! (Unless you are so rich you can afford to pay the bills yourself)

cazzablanca

Thanks Quentin! I wish I *was* rich enough to not bother with travel insurance but sadly it looks like I'll have to fork out for it! Better safe than sorry eh!?

Caz

InsideInsurance

Each insurer has its own definition of pre-existing condition which normally you will find at the beginning of the policy document where it defines all special terms.

A condition is a condition irrespective of if you have a diagnoses for it, its still under investigation or you have symptoms and you're ignoring them.

You will be hard pushed to find an insurer that wont consider it a pre-existing condition and so you have one of two options, find an insurer that allows you to buy cover but exclude the condition - so break your leg and your covered, have more heart palpitations and your not - or buy a fully underwritten policy which will cover the pre-existing condition but will be significantly more expensive

daveyjp

In a situation such as this you are advised to call the insurance company to advise them of a developing situation - they will probably exclude cover for heart conditions until such time as you have been given the all clear.

Any cancellation cover should still be intact as the medical condition happened after the insurance was in force.

Quentin

daveyjp wrote: »

....Any cancellation cover should still be intact as the medical condition happened after the insurance was in force.

Not according to the OP!

The OP has bought the flights but not yet bought the insurance. Thus any cancellation as a consequence of any pre-existing condition won't be covered.

cazzablanca

Quentin is right - I've not purchased any insurance yet. As we don't fly til April I have decided to wait til after the tests (scheduled for next Tues) before purchasing. I am kicking myself that I didn't buy insurance straight away but it was late Sunday night and thought that waiting til the following morning wouldn't make a difference. Little did I know my body had a different plan! Will wait and see what tests reveal - hopefully nothing more than panic attacks, but will definitely then phone insurer to inform and enquire. If I have to pay more then so be it - a few more pounds = a lot less worry!! Thanks all for your advice so far!

wozearly

Just wanted to add that your planned approach is almost certainly the best one.

If the tests show it was a one-off issue and gives you the all-clear, then provided you're up front about it with potential travel insurers then it shouldn't be an issue at all.

The one thing worth confirming is whether they have any moratorium-style approach on conditions that have appeared shortly before you travel (eg. excluding cover for conditions where you have had symptoms in the (x) weeks before travelling). I say this because some single-trip insurers will consider medical conditions pre-existing if they occur before you travel, irrespective of when you purchased the policy.

If you get less good news from the tests and you do end up looking for cover for a pre-existing condition, you might need to phone around a few more insurers. Several ompanies operating at the 'cheap' end of the travel insurance market aren't usually interested in inclusion pricing for these.

However, there are a number of insurers who will be quite happy to do this, particularly if the results aren't scary (fingers crossed), so long as you confirm that you haven't been advised not to travel by your GP, specialist, etc.

Either way, definitely get a couple of quotes if you can - the US is one of the more expensive areas to get travel insurance for, so prices can vary quite dramatically for very similar policies.