Health travel claim refused due to non disclosure of minor illness?

katejo

Has anyone been refused a payout after a new (not pre existing) illness or accident simply because they have failed to disclose an unrelated minor illness when taking out the policy? Perhaps you had a hospital referral/test which was negative so you had nothing to declare or it was just a minor illness which anyone could have eg. vomiting bug or mild chest infection.
Someone (who previously worked for an insurance company) has told me that absolutely every condition must be declared.

leylandsunaddict

katejo wrote: »

Has anyone been refused a payout after a new (not pre existing) illness or accident simply because they have failed to disclose an unrelated minor illness when taking out the policy? Perhaps you had a hospital referral/test which was negative so you had nothing to declare or it was just a minor illness which anyone could have eg. vomiting bug or mild chest infection.
Someone (who previously worked for an insurance company) has told me that absolutely every condition must be declared.

I declare in line with the medical questions I'm asked when I take out the policy. I answer them truthfully, and there is a copy of those questions and answers on the policy when it comes through. If eg it doesn't ask me to declare a visit to a consultant that was over 2 years ago, then I don't. If I've had a complaint that they don't ask about then I don't declare it.

peachyprice

katejo wrote: »

Has anyone been refused a payout after a new (not pre existing) illness or accident simply because they have failed to disclose an unrelated minor illness when taking out the policy? Perhaps you had a hospital referral/test which was negative so you had nothing to declare or it was just a minor illness which anyone could have eg. vomiting bug or mild chest infection.
Someone (who previously worked for an insurance company) has told me that absolutely every condition must be declared.

I don't think your friend is correct in saying that every little condition has to be declared to every insurer, they all ask different questions.

It's usually any condition for which you have been to your doctor. Would you go to the doctor for something minor like a vomitting bug? Probably not. On the other had a chest infection for which you went to the doctor and received medication, then if the application asks for details of any condition for which you have been to the doctor, then yes, you would have to declare it.

EssexExile

We always declare the big ones that could upset our plans - heart troubles & IBS for which we take regular medication, & back pains for which I've had no treatment for many years but could cause a problem if it flared up at the wrong time. Other than that we just answer the questions truthfully. This year we had to cancel due to my gallbladder problems but despite my doctor mentioning on the claim form that I knew I had gallstones, Columbus paid out £6000 with no problems.

katejo

It wasn't a friend, just someone on another forum.