Travel insurance - What counts as a pre-existing condition?

alsa1

Hello

My mum is going away on holiday and I recommended she take out travel insurance. But the problem has been declaring any pre existing conditions - she doesn't take any medication and no current illnesses as such. But she has been to doctors in the past few months for minor things like varicose veins in legs and some mild neck pain after an accident months ago.

She said just to say nothing as its not serious but me being so cautious with these things I don't want her to go away and leave them any way out of a claim if its needed. The thing is how do I declare these, filling out a 'normal' form doesn't even give you an option to enter anything without directing you to a specialist form.

Thank you for anything you can suggest

IAmWales

She needs to declare both. Varicose veins puts her at greater risk of thrombosis, she doesn't want to get a DVT and discover she's not covered.

maman

You've given your mother very sensible advice. It sounds as if she's being rather irresponsible both in needing to be told to take out insurance and then that she needs to declare pre-existing conditions.

Not sure why you're doing it for her though (unless to make sure it happens).

I'd suggest you use mse to choose a company and then phone them if needed. They'll want to speak to her I expect and she must tell the truth or she'll invalidate cover. Her doctor will know that she's had the consultations so she couldn't hide it if she had a problem with something she hasn't declared.

alsa1

Thank you both for your replies, I will definitely help her fill out a policy with the conditions. My parents only travel ocasionally abroad and they've always had the misunderstanding that travel insurance only declared serious illnesses like stroke or heart attacks or they didn't bother with it at all. That's why I was insisting she take out a proper policy this time after reading on here over the years, that isn't pointless due to not covering everything needed.

But even I was in the dark over what exactly a pre existing condition was! Would that also mean things like the flu, colds or sprained ankles need to be declared?

Ganga

alsa1 wrote: »

Thank you both for your replies, I will definitely help her fill out a policy with the conditions. My parents only travel ocasionally abroad and they've always had the misunderstanding that travel insurance only declared serious illnesses like stroke or heart attacks or they didn't bother with it at all. That's why I was insisting she take out a proper policy this time after reading on here over the years, that isn't pointless due to not covering everything needed.

But even I was in the dark over what exactly a pre existing condition was! Would that also mean things like the flu, colds or sprained ankles need to be declared?

When you speak to a Insuance Company they normally ask you a set list of questions ie- have yu had any prblebs with your heart,vascular system etc.
One of the questions is - have you been to hospital,seeing a doctor or specialist or awaiting to go to hospital for tests etc.

As others have said,not declaring any health issues will only come back and bite you in the bum if anything goes wrong health wise whilst on holiday.Your parents are better off paying something like an extra £20/£30 for a policy that covers them than having to sell the house,a kidney etc to get home.( all right i was kidding with the kidney bit but there are people on this board who have had to raise substancial sums of money to help loved ones abroad ):eek:

sarah69696pink

many of them also allow you to declare online. They will have a list of conditions that you can type in and see if they come up.
My view is they don't ask for any ailment you've ever had that anyone could have - e.g. colds/flus - but they do ask you to declare anything specific to that person's medical history, particularly if it could be linked to something that could go wrong on holiday (even if it is well managed at the current time). I therefore declare anything I am taking medication for, anything I have needed further investigation for (e.g. hospital appointments)

System

I remember one travel insurance policy I bought online - couldn't tell you the company now and it lists an extensive list of procedures and illnesses not to disclose such as the common cold (seriously) and gallbladder removal.

Heedtheadvice

Often you will get (as already mentioned) drop down boxes to declare conditions or be given a phone number to call for declaration.

Obviously the insurer is interested in anything that is already known about that might affect health, not only when on holiday but something that could also cause cancellation so they want to know not only about previous conditions but also if, for example, if you are waiting for treatment or if medications have recently been changed.

Many minor ailments are of no great consequence when it comes to cost so better to mention them. MSE has some good advice on the main pages and better that you find you have cover than not if the worst happens!

alsa1

Thank you everyone, that is really good to know and clears up the confusion over what to include, I filled in a new form with her and all it costs is an extra £8 for single trip but for much greater peace of mind. And this will definitely be something I will encourage them to do next time and not just go off without bothering to take a policy at all!

elsien

If she wants an example:
Relative unexpected taken ill on cruise ship. Pre-existing condition which was not expected to have any bearing on health while away, declared. New condition subsequently impacted on existing one.
Costs: airlift from cruise to hospital. Several weeks in European intensive care unit. Cost of special medical repatriation flight back to uk. Cost of partner to get to hospital from cruise ship at its next stop, all hotel food and transport costs for partner while relative in ICU. Cost of partner to get home.
All insured because all conditions declared. Doesn't bear thinking what that might have cost without insurance. All because something new affected something else in an unexpected way. That's the point of insurance, to cover for things you really don't expect to happen.