Pre-existing Travel Insurance Guide Discussion

sheramber

Doc_N wrote: »

Standard form these days for most, if not all, insurers - even on an annual policy which logic suggests should provide cover on the initial terms for a year.

They will have offered you a refund of any lost deposits etc, but as you say the risk is that anything arising will be linked to the heart condition, and that could prove quite easy for the insurer. You do have the Financial Ombudsman Service to fall back on, but that’s certainly no guarantee of success, even in an extreme case.

Only you can decide on the risks, I’m afraid. An EHIC card might provide some cover within the EU, and we do have reciprocal arrangements elsewhere, but neither of these covers everything, particularly the potential cost of an air ambulance.

Brexit may affect EHIC

Doc_N

sheramber wrote: »

Brexit may affect EHIC

It may indeed - but next March is within the transitional period and should be OK.

MarthaM

Martin's guide to travel insurance with pre-existing conditions says


Group insurance premiums are based on the oldest traveller or the person deemed to be the highest risk, such as someone with pre-existing medical conditions. Insurers become more selective under these circumstances, and hike premiums.
A separate policy for you may be the best option to avoid everyone paying over the odds but always check both options

I have an expensive pre-existing condition but always insured us as a family because I understood that if I had to, for example, cancel a holiday due to my pre-existing condition then my fellow travellers would not be covered if they had separate insurance?
It would definitely be cheaper to insure separately.

koru

MarthaM wrote: »

I have an expensive pre-existing condition but always insured us as a family because I understood that if I had to, for example, cancel a holiday due to my pre-existing condition then my fellow travellers would not be covered if they had separate insurance?
It would definitely be cheaper to insure separately.

It depends on the wording of the policy taken out by the other people. Often, cancellation cover includes cancellation due to illness or injury of travelling companions, whether they are insured on the same policy or not.

ThisCantBeChanged

I am finding it difficult to find a travel insurance provider that will pay out for cancellation cover. My father has a pre existing medical condition. He will not be travelling with us but it is likely he will need surgery in future, we have not been given any dates. I have had a look online and have seen that most providers will not cover cancellation costs if I knew when taking out the policy of my fathers medical condition.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and could you recommend any travel insurance that will cover this. Any help would be much appreciated.

applepies

Hi, I’m looking to buy an annual travel policy with Multi Trip and 3 weeks ago had preventative laser eye surgery (outpatient) to avoid a possible eye condition in the future.  Prior to the operation I was having no eye problems and no further treatment is required.  The application requires me to declare surgery in the last 1-2 years but my operation was not done for a pre-existing condition, rather it was to prevent one happening.  Has anyone had a similar situation and did it need to be declared?  I’ve tried explaining this to the insurer but they do not seem to understand that an operation can happen without an illness.

Doc_N

applepies said:

Hi, I’m looking to buy an annual travel policy with Multi Trip and 3 weeks ago had preventative laser eye surgery (outpatient) to avoid a possible eye condition in the future.  Prior to the operation I was having no eye problems and no further treatment is required.  The application requires me to declare surgery in the last 1-2 years but my operation was not done for a pre-existing condition, rather it was to prevent one happening.  Has anyone had a similar situation and did it need to be declared?  I’ve tried explaining this to the insurer but they do not seem to understand that an operation can happen without an illness.

I'm afraid if an insurer asks for surgery to be declared, and you've had surgery, it has to be declared.  If you don't, and make a claim, the chances are they will find a way to refuse it.

You can try to explain the circumstances, and that might help, but most insurers use algorithms that allow pretty much no scope for individual intervention.

bashful

4 of us are going to Brittany for a week at the beginning of May with car & trailer. Going via ferry and hiring a gite. The ferry costs with cabin on the outward journey are quite high and I would like to cover my share against cancellation (about £220).
I am currently awaiting an angioplasty appointment to check on the condition of my heart and the stents previously fitted following a recent "episode"  - which wasn't a heart attack.  Quotes including pre-existing conditions are coming out a nearly £300.
I realise that the insurance cover is for more than just cancellation but that seems disproportionate but I accept its their assessment of risk.
Following a lead from an earlier post, I got a quote of £56 from InsureandGo whose Budget insurance waivers the pre-existing conditions. That quote waives all the excesses but I am still not  sure whether it's a worthwhile investment. Any thoughts from fellow forumites would be appreciated!
Also, does anyone know what other companies might offer this waiver please?

Doc_N

bashful said:

4 of us are going to Brittany for a week at the beginning of May with car & trailer. Going via ferry and hiring a gite. The ferry costs with cabin on the outward journey are quite high and I would like to cover my share against cancellation (about £220).
I am currently awaiting an angioplasty appointment to check on the condition of my heart and the stents previously fitted following a recent "episode"  - which wasn't a heart attack.  Quotes including pre-existing conditions are coming out a nearly £300.
I realise that the insurance cover is for more than just cancellation but that seems disproportionate but I accept its their assessment of risk.
Following a lead from an earlier post, I got a quote of £56 from InsureandGo whose Budget insurance waivers the pre-existing conditions. That quote waives all the excesses but I am still not  sure whether it's a worthwhile investment. Any thoughts from fellow forumites would be appreciated!
Also, does anyone know what other companies might offer this waiver please?

£56 to protect £220 seems high. I'd sooner just risk the £220, I think, unless you feel the chances of cancellation, within the policy terms, are high.

When you say waive, by the way, are you saying medical cover for existing conditions is excluded? I'd not travel outside the UK without full medical cover.

nigandjules

If you are only insuring against cancellation that seems high, but if it covers you for other things like any other medical problems that could arise abroad, or getting you home if necessary, or losing some items, then all should be taken into factor inho.