Pre-existing Travel Insurance Guide Discussion

sheramber

Apparantly, you need to claim cancellation costs from the claims department , who are separate from the department dealing with policy cover.

Mel_Rob

I've got a month long holiday booked for Florida next summer. I have several pre-existing conditions. I tried getting insurance from two companies but was refused. All major (life threatening) conditions happened just less than two years ago. Do you think I may get insurance if I try again in August when these will be outside the two year mark? I don't mind paying a large premium.
It was 2 mild heart attacks then for which I got 2 stents in July 2015. Heart wise I had a stent in 2011 as I had a narrowing and had this reinforced in 2012 which resulted in me having a heart attack on the table when they broke loose a clot which stuck elsewhere and they had to fish it out. I have several other things.

I can cancel holiday up until April only losing deposit or I'll just let husband and daughter go themselves.

EssexExile

Personally I'd try several more companies. We've found some won't cover the wife (heart problems) but will cover me, some are happy with the wife (as am I) but won't cover me (lot's of things) & some are happy to cover both.
Columbus Direct happily paid out last year when one of my little things caused us to cancel. Well, probably not happily.

Melrob

If you have been refused cover by one company does this affect getting a quote from another? I.e. I'm not sure if this is correct but do some companies ask if you have ever been refused cover by another insurer?

EssexExile

We'd be in trouble if we had to declare every company who declined our business!

dale85

Hi

My dad (65) was struggling to find travel insurance after a triple heart bypass and being diagnosed with diabetes.

He's finally managed to get covered after calling Just Travel Cover - their call centre is in the UK and the screening process was quite simple. There was even a discount of 10% I think.

They were able to offer some good advice, and while they do specialise in 'senior' travellers and medical conditions they also insured my mother, me and my wife as we're all going away together.

Just thought this might be useful.

JustTravelCover dot com or 0800 542 4717.

Dale

Clariman

I have a DirectLine Home Plus building/contents policy which includes worldwide travel insurance. When I call to discuss the policy with them, I am advised that I do not need to tell them about pre-existing conditions, but I won't be covered for them. I also can't see anything in the policy document that says I have to inform them of any conditions. Is that normal? Does that make sense?

In the policy, it only refers to existing "Serious Medical Conditions" which are defined as ...

Serious medical condition (section 6 only)
Any medical condition for which you:

• have had advice or treatment or been
  prescribed medication (whether you are taking
  it or not) from a doctor during the 12 months
  before your trip was booked
• have any circulatory problems or heart
  problems or cancer-related condition
• are under investigation or awaiting diagnosis
• are on a waiting list for inpatient treatment or
  are aware of the need for inpatient treatment,
  or
• have had a terminal prognosis.

So I guess bullet point 1 would mean you wouldn't be covered for anything for which you were on a prescription for? So my mild asthma for which I take an inhaler would not be covered. Is that right?

What about investigations for a gastro problem a few years ago for which I did not need any treatment. As far as I can see that does not come under their definition of a "Serious Medical Condition" so I should still be covered. What do you think?

What about a pre-cancer diagnosis more than 10 years ago for which there is no on-going treatment? I guess that could come under "cancer-related" but the present tense saying "have any cancer-related conditions" would also suggest to me that that is not an issue either? What do you think?

Many thanks
Clariman

Clariman

Update - feeling somewhat reassured. I used one of MSE's recommended Travel Insurers and added in any potential conditions and it came out with a worldwide (including USA) policy with cover for pre-existing conditions at £265 so that's fair enough.

koru

Clariman wrote: »

So I guess bullet point 1 would mean you wouldn't be covered for anything for which you were on a prescription for? So my mild asthma for which I take an inhaler would not be covered. Is that right?

Sounds like it.

Clariman wrote: »

What about investigations for a gastro problem a few years ago for which I did not need any treatment. As far as I can see that does not come under their definition of a "Serious Medical Condition" so I should still be covered. What do you think?

As long as it does not appear in your medical notes in the last year, you are probably OK.

Clariman wrote: »

What about a pre-cancer diagnosis more than 10 years ago for which there is no on-going treatment? I guess that could come under "cancer-related" but the present tense saying "have any cancer-related conditions" would also suggest to me that that is not an issue either? What do you think?

Their wording is very ambiguous, but I bet they would say that their interpretation is that any diagnosis counts, no matter how long it has been fine.

TwitTwoo

I had cancer treatment 6yrs ago. One of my meds had a tendency to weaken the heart muscles so regular ECG's were required. My baseline ECG revealed a leaky valve (mitral regurgitation) which apparently 70% of population have to some degree AND which I may have had since birth! No symptoms or issues.
All other ECG's during treatment showed no detrimental affect on the heart but, as the leak was found, I have had annual 'valve surveillance' scans. Still no issues.
I have always declared history of cancer only - as I didn't perceive the medical criteria on electronic searches to be relevant to me . . . I haven't had treatment - just surveillance
I rang LV to see if I could renew our lapsed policy but the operator's questions led me to mention the scans - for which a WW Annual renewal would hike from £132 to £890 :eek:
Obviously, I'm still of the opinion that I'm not receiving 'treatment' but that could fall into abyss of insurance terminology.
I'd be grateful to hear your opinion on my reasoning or, if anyone else has come up against confusing terminology.