Travel Insurance query RE declaring pre-existing medical conditions

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

I go to Czech Rep for a few days tomorrow and want a basic travel insurance just in case anything major happens.

I have two quite minor recent "pre-existing":

- a mild-ish back problem. Never had time off work for it and it has not effected day to day living. But I have seen a chiropractor a couple of times (more because I like things to be perfect!)

- an infected testicle. This was in April 2012. My GP sent me up to the hospital to confirm diagnosis. Was given anti-biotics.

My main question is, if i do not declare these, will my insurance be totally invalid or just invalid for claims relating to these pre-existing conditions?

The policy I'm considering is with Coverwise (AXA).

Cheers

Max

almeria1

I recently had some queries regarding travel insurance and imho you should speak to your insurer to make them aware of your conditions because as I understand it it gives them an out should something happen to you and they can attribute it to one of them. Also I may be wrong but the fact that you were referred to a hospital by your GP is also relevant.

Battleaxe44

I am not sure,but the hospital one is relevant, I know I had surgery and told the insurer, they asked was it more than five years ago, I said yes and they didn;t seem to worry about it. Talk to them and see what they say

weejonnie

Put it like this - the additional premium to cover the conditions is going to range from £0 to £very small.

The insurer will NOT turn down a claim that is unrelated to an undisclosed pre-existing medical condition - although if you buy online you may have to fight to get this. If in doubt, read the policy wording. However my recommendation is that you declare them just in case.

almeria1

well I would'nt take a chance on that . If you have a pre existing condition tell the insurer no ifs or buts.

beedeedee

Sorry - don't want to hijack this thread, but would that apply to conditions that you'd had in the past - but that had been sorted by surgery to remove the affected part? Thinking in terms of appendicitis, gallbladder, hysterectomies ....there must be more? Does everyone disclose these every time?

Enterprise_1701C

All pre-existing conditions, within the time frame that the insurers specify, should be disclosed, including those sorted by surgery, the insurers do specify visits to hospital/doctors etc!

If you do not disclose these the insurers WILL find out when you make a claim and will deny the claim.

Voyager2002

If you fail to declare the pre-existing conditions, you are totally at the mercy of the insurance company. If they decide not to pay a claim they have the perfect excuse (they could argue that you had been dishonest and so had invalidated the insurance). Yes: if your claim was for something like losing your passport they might not check, and it is possible that they might choose to be kind to you (not something you can count on!): but if you are willing to take such a massive gamble then why bother with insurance?

beedeedee

Tbh I've never disclosed stuff that happened when I was a child (over 60 years ago) tonsils/adenoids etc - can't remember most of them anyways, and never disclosed every time I was sent to hospital, broken fingers etc. I'd be filling in the form all day........! I'll check to see the time limit - next time I insure.