Pre existing condition. Travel insurance declaration? ??

celticfc

My wife & I are off to Cuba for two weeks at the end of August. I have been looking at travel insurance, but I really don't know what I should do, declare or not!

I suffer chronic lower back pain & have done for almost 12 years. I take a variety of medications for pain relief, the main one being Matrifen, Fentynal patches. In filling my details for an insurance quote I don't know wether I should declare my back problem or not.
I have travelled quite a bit & have never bothered with insurance, but in travelling to Cuba it is a requirement.
To be honest I don't feel there is anything more that could go wrong with my back. I am in pain, but with the use of medication it helps ease it slightly. I know my limitations, & am not likely to go paragliding or bungee jumping or anything reckless. Having had 12 years of pain I know what I can & cannot do.
Should I declare or not? Insurance for me not declaring is £68.43, declaring is likely to push it into the hundreds of pounds. I really would appreciate some thoughts.
Thanks.

rs65

You need to declare it but might get an option to exclude it to save premium.

celticfc

Still searching travel insurance & one site lists amongst ailments considered as pre existing conditions the following,

Acne, Athletes Foot, Abnormal Smear Test, Ingrowing Toenail, Cold Sore, Common Cold(s), Conjunctivitis, Constipation, Acid Reflux, Adenoids, Alopecia, Bunion (Hallux Valgus), Eczema, Chicken Pox, Indegestion, Insomnia, Migraine (provided this is a definite diagnosis and there are no ongoing investigations), & should any ladies be going through the menopause you'll need to declare that as a pre existing condition.

Absolutely shocking, Ingrowing Toenail, oh oh pre existing condition, that'll be extra on any travel insurance. What a bloody rip off. As well as back pain, I have a hiatus hernia causing acid Reflux & also an ingrowing Toenail. By the time I go through the checklist travel insurance will cost me a fortune. There's high blood pressure, asthma & sciatica to be added yet...........

Quentin

celticfc wrote: »

Still searching travel insurance & one site lists amongst ailments considered as pre existing conditions the following,

Acne, Athletes Foot, Abnormal Smear Test, Ingrowing Toenail, Cold Sore, Common Cold(s), Conjunctivitis, Constipation, Acid Reflux, Adenoids, Alopecia, Bunion (Hallux Valgus), Eczema, Chicken Pox, Indegestion, Insomnia, Migraine (provided this is a definite diagnosis and there are no ongoing investigations), & should any ladies be going through the menopause you'll need to declare that as a pre existing condition.

Absolutely shocking, Ingrowing Toenail, oh oh pre existing condition, that'll be extra on any travel insurance. What a bloody rip off............

You may have misread.


That list looks to be pre existing conditions that need not be reported to that particular insurer

rs65

celticfc wrote: »

Still searching travel insurance & one site lists amongst ailments considered as pre existing conditions the following,

As Quentin says you are probably misunderstanding.

Forget the concept of pre-existing conditions. Focus on the question asked. One for example says have you sought or received any treatment at your GP or as an inpatient or outpatient in the last 24 months.

jaybeetoo

Another question probably asks what medications you take.

You have to answer the questions honestly - if you don't, you don't have insurance cover.

celticfc

Thanks for your replies.:T

It seems that I did misread the list of complaints. At first glance I took it to read pre existing.

Is there any insurer that anyone has used for pre existing conditions that were good to deal with? Don't particularly want to pay over the odds.

rudekid48

I've always used Insurance Choice for single & annual trip cover due to medical conditions in the family. They are a broker and so have a range of insurers able to offer cover. Watch out for their 'set up fee' though as it can be a bit steep if not challenged.

megabellegirl

I agree!!Was not impressed with the Leisure Guard insurance recommend this week for over-65s.

I was interested in the world annual cover at £96 for myself & my husband - fully expected to have some extra added on as we both have health problems, but which are fully controlled with tablets. Wouldn't be buying worldwide annual if I expected to be unwell during the year.....

I rang them & for myself they would add £132 to my base £48 - but wouldn't even consider my husband,as he had a stent fitted last August!! Apparently, the basic medical cover only covers you for something you HAVEN'T had before, like malaria etc.
Hardly seems worth the bother!

Hope MSE can now survey those companies that accept that over- 65's nearly all have some existing medical conditions & come up with some best buys!

Shedman

celticfc wrote: »

My wife & I are off to Cuba for two weeks at the end of August. I have been looking at travel insurance, but I really don't know what I should do, declare or not!

I suffer chronic lower back pain & have done for almost 12 years. I take a variety of medications for pain relief, the main one being Matrifen, Fentynal patches. In filling my details for an insurance quote I don't know wether I should declare my back problem or not.
I have travelled quite a bit & have never bothered with insurance, but in travelling to Cuba it is a requirement.
To be honest I don't feel there is anything more that could go wrong with my back. I am in pain, but with the use of medication it helps ease it slightly. I know my limitations, & am not likely to go paragliding or bungee jumping or anything reckless. Having had 12 years of pain I know what I can & cannot do.
Should I declare or not? Insurance for me not declaring is £68.43, declaring is likely to push it into the hundreds of pounds. I really would appreciate some thoughts.
Thanks.

You really should declare the back issue especially as you are using Fentynal patches (it seems to be something that insurers specifically ask about once you declare back problems as I have to). You might think your back issues can be managed and won't be a cause for claiming but if you put a claim in for something else (or you slip and put your back out - easily done) then if the insurers discover your back issues and can make a link to whatever your claiming then you risk them not paying or voiding policy.

There a number of insurers that will potentially cover back problems without much increase in premiums. Try Coverwise, JustTravelCover, Columbus Direct or Southdown as examples of ones that I have used for pre existing medical conditions and whose premiums are reasonable. Much as it galls to have premiums increased for a condition you know or feel won't result in a claim you have to way up the downside e.g. Cost of hospitalisation or at worse repatriation and how you would cope if insurers refused to pay.

Be_Happy

You mentioned perhaps excluding pre-existing conditions (a risky choice).

A few years ago, I was shopping around for a quote, listing OHs many pre-existing conditions. The quote from Liverpool Victoria came back at a very good price, even showing all the pre-existing conditions. It was only when I read further down that it had excluded cover for all the listed pre-existing conditions.

I'm not sure if they still offer this choice to exclude, but be warned, so many other illnesses can be linked back to those you may have excluded.