WARNING Staysure Holiday Insurance MUST register EVERY new condition since start!

alexandr

As title. I took this out as a "one off" payment for 12 months cover having declared EVERY condition. I was quoted on the basis of the truth I had declared.
Say that part way through this 12 month period, I get a cold or worse and must then declare this to see if:
1) I am still covered
2) If any adjustment to premium is required IMMEDIATELY.
I do understand that at any RENEWAL date a new policy will start, new premium, cover, declarecd conditions, exceptions etc.
I can then choose whether to renew or go elsewhere.
As the current policy stands, you MUST declare EVERY NEW Condition/event before travel. So, really, what is the point of an annual policy I now wonder?
I bought this on the basis that it was like car insurance, 12 months being a cheaper option than say a monthly contract.
The pitfalls I describe were not made clear by the sales advertising. ie the pitfalls I describe are not really appreciated until you read the policy you have now paid for.
An example of what I consider as an annual policy.
My car insurance is £xyz a year. I keep the same particulars as declared throughout, then 6 months in have an accident (whether I claim or not is irrelevant). My insurance STAYS the same!
9 months through I get 3 points. It stays the same!
Admittedly, come renewal, depending whether a protected NCD I might have to pay an increased premium.
House insurance on a 12 month policy works the same as car insurance example just given.
BUT, holiday medical insurance is on a day by day basis. I pay a 12 month premium but it is valid for only 1 day, because if for example on the second day I had something like a cold, or more serious, I have to notify the insurer and tell them about this and see if my premium will rise. That is assuming they are prepared to continue with cover.
Yes, a cold MUST be declared. I dread to think what would happen if for example I had a stroke the first week, then a few months later the doctor declared me fit to travel. I bet Staysure would more than double my premium part way through.!
I really do wonder if annual policyholders understand fully what they have actually bought?
vaio, I agree with you.
CoffeeandStitches, I can only see a true comparison with a change as major as from European tavel only, no sports, to Worldwide, including winter sports. THAT would be like from a fiesta to a ferrari!
BTW, Quentin stated
With annual policies you have to declare new conditions at the time you book a trip AND at each renewal.

Meaning you may end up booking a trip to commence after the policy renews, develop a new condition and find the insurer won't cover the trip.
Surely that is the same analogy as Fiesta/Ferrari?
Or am I missing the point?
alex

rs65

alexandr wrote: »

Say that part way through this 12 month period, I get a cold or worse and must then declare this to see if:

Who says you must declare a cold?

What does your policy say about notifying the insurer mid-term?

vaio

alexandr wrote: »

.......Quentin stated
With annual policies you have to declare new conditions at the time you book a trip AND at each renewal...........

That's quentins opinion......the FOS disagree and say there is no ongoing requirement to disclose conditions that arise after you have honestly completed the proposal and the policy has started.

read the links I gave in post #9, particularly the second one

alexandr

rs65:

Staysure sent this as part of e-mail recently:
Declaring pre-existing medical conditions?

• Many pre-existing medical conditions covered as standard, all conditions considered • Easy medical screening online or over the phone for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions and cancer • Your policy will be void if you fail to declare a condition on your Medical Health Declaration when booking your policy • Your policy will not cover you if you choose to travel against the advice of your doctor • Remember to declare any condition you have suffered from or visited a doctor with no matter how minor (i.e. a cold) just to make sure you are fully coveredStated in Black and yellow!
"Your policy will be void if you fail to declare a condition on your Medical Health Declaration when booking your policy" it says.
That is how I THOUGHT it worked, "WHEN BOOKING YOUR POLICY" which is at the start of the 12 months. Fair enough I thought, makes sense.
However, a few months into the annual policy I had to have a hospital checkup for a new minor condition, results nothing to worry about, minor inflammation etc. I told staysure and they promptly increased my policy from that day on. Pay or not be covered!
Regarding the condition:
"Your policy will not cover you if you choose to travel against the advice of your doctor" I have no problem with that, it is what I would expect.
Regarding pre-existing conditions that were declared and accepted at increased premium:
Unless accepted by us, no cover would be available should a claim arise directly or indirectly from the condition concerned.

You must inform us of any change in your circumstances, happening after the policy has been issued and before you travel.

Nowhere does it state that if a new condition is declared mid-term that an increased premium may apply immediately.

From actual policy:
• Material facts: you must declare to us all material facts that are likely to affect this insurance. Failure
to do so may prejudice your entitlement to claim. If you are uncertain as to whether a fact is material,
you should declare it to us by calling Customer Services on 0844 692 8418. Please refer to the
definition of a ‘Material Fact’ in the meaning of words.
• Health: this policy contains restrictions regarding pre-existing medical conditions which unless
declared and accepted by the insurers in writing prior to travel may invalidate any subsequent claim.
If you are in any doubt as to whether you would be covered by the policy please call the Medical
Screening Helpline on 0844 692 8418.
• Changes in health or medication: you must contact us and declare any changes in your health or
your medication that occur between the date you take out this policy and the date you start any trip.
Sorry if lengthy response, but I like to be very accurate with all facts I disclose.
Thanks for your interest....
alex

Quentin

vaio wrote: »

That's quentins opinion......the FOS disagree......

Not my "opinion" at all.

Just the facts for the vast majority of annual travel insurances. And the FOS agree - they cover this:

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/49/annual-travel-insurance.htm

(First link in #9)

To be fully covered against any medical problems arising when taking out insurance for a trip to take place after the annual policy renewal is due, you need to take out single trip insurance.

With annual cover, if you have a "clean" bill of health when you book a trip, and a problem arises which you have to disclose at renewal which results in the insurer being no longer able to cover you for the trip, then they should cover your costs in cancelling the trip.

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

With annual policies you have to declare new conditions at the time you book a trip AND at each renewal........

This thread is about an ongoing need to disclose conditions as they arise during the life of a policy. The FOS have ruled that this is not allowed.

It's your assertion that you need to declare new conditions when you book a trip that is wrong

Quentin

vaio wrote: »

This thread is about an ongoing need to disclose conditions as they arise during the life of a policy. The FOS have ruled that this is not allowed.

It's your assertion that you need to declare new conditions when you book a trip that is wrong

With most (if not every) annual policies then you do!

You agree to disclose at inception/when booking/when renewing.

These are the "catches" with annual policies:

Buying an annual policy when you have a clean bill of health doesn't guarantee you will be covered for a condition that develops during the life of the policy, and needs disclosing for a trip that is booked during the course of the policy - (and if your trip doesn't take place till the policy needs renewing, and you develop a new disclosable condition after booking, then as previously posted, come renewal time it must be disclosed, with the possibility that cover cannot continue)

(Your "FOS" examples you see as relevant to the OP in # 9. (FOS 36/9 and 36/12) are irrelevant, as both refer to single trip policies, and the thread is discussing annual policies)

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

With most (if not every) annual policies then you do!

You agree to disclose at inception/when booking/when renewing.

These are the "catches" with annual policies:

Buying an annual policy when you have a clean bill of health doesn't guarantee you will be covered for a condition that develops during the life of the policy, and needs disclosing for a trip that is booked during the course of the policy.......

If you are required to report new conditions as they arise or when you book a trip (and the insurer can reduce/remove cover and/or increase your premium) then what is the point of buying an annual policy?

The FOS is clear in that an ongoing requirement to disclose is unfair

.......Sometimes, a firm will attempt to vary the terms of an insurance policy unilaterally - after the customer has bought it. We have seen this - for example - with some travel policies. The firms concerned have sought to exclude from cover not only any medical conditions that the customer suffered from before they took out the policy, but also any medical conditions arising between the start of the policy and the start of the trip.
The terms of one of these policies said: "If your health changes between the date the policy was bought and the date of travel, you should advise us as soon as possible. We will advise you what cover we are able to provide after the date of diagnosis."

We do not necessarily consider the terms of such policies to be fair and reasonable......

.......... if the policyholder's circumstances change during the term of the policy, that is generally just part of the risk the firm agreed to take on. We would not normally expect the firm to then change its mind about what cover, if any, it will provide.

It is well established that the customer's duty to disclose any relevant facts to the firm arises only at certain times. These are:

• when the firm and customer finish the contract "negotiations" and the customer takes out the policy;
• when the policy is renewed; or
• when a claim is made.

Firms cannot normally expect customers to recognise relevant facts and to inform them of these facts - voluntarily - as and when they arise. By varying a contract after it has been agreed, the firm arguably creates a "significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations", as defined under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.........

.....We cited Professor Malcom Clarke's Policies and Perceptions of Insurance, together with Ivamy's General Principles of Insurance Law, to support our view that - generally - there is no duty on a policyholder to disclose "material facts" once the firm and policyholder have agreed on the contract.....

I can't see why the general principles would vary between single trip & annual policies, when you buy the policy the terms are set for both sides for the length of the policy

Quentin

vaio wrote: »

If you are required to report new conditions as they arise or when you book a trip (and the insurer can reduce/remove cover and/or increase your premium) then what is the point of buying an annual policy?

The FOS is clear in that an ongoing requirement to disclose is unfair


I can't see why the general principles would vary between single trip & annual policies, when you buy the policy the terms are set for both sides for the length of the policy

The point of an annual policy is that if you make more than one trip in a year they are cheaper than single trip cover for each trip.

(The FOS is referring to single trip travel insurance in "the ongoing requirement to disclose is unfair")

The "general principles" regarding disclosure don't vary between single and annual policies - in both you disclose when you book your trip!

As I have tried to point out, the misconception (or "catch") with an annual policy is the 3 times you have to disclose (inception/when booking/renewal) as opposed to just when buying single trip cover.

alexandr

Everyone, thank you for your time. Quentin's reply with "the misconception (or "catch") with an annual policy" really confirms my original thoughts at the starting point of the thread. Back then, I thought it unfair so was trying to warn others. Now, it appears this is a little publicised condition attached to such annual policies.
I think confusion is caused by thinking it is a cheap way to insure. If you are lucky, it might be.
Buyer beware!!
alex