Travel Ins: new health info on annual policy?

FatherAbraham

Hello,

I think I understand what happens on a single-trip policy if, after buying the cover, and before travelling, some new medical information comes to light (a new diagnosis, or one suffers new symptoms) -- the policyholder is due to tell the insurer, who then gets to decide whether to cancel the trip and pay compensation, or let the trip go ahead. This makes sense for a single-trip insurance.

What about an annual policy? If the insurer in informed of a new medical condition during the period of the policy, what can the insurer do? Presumably the insurer has the choice to cancel any booked travel, in exchange for paying compensation, but what happens to the rest of the annual policy? Are all future trips uninsured? Is there compensation for curtailing the insurance?

Thanks for any clues,
FA

Quentin

It's up to the insurer - once you notify the new condition then if they are happy to continue cover then no problem

Alternatively they may end the policy or agree to cover the new condition with a pemium adjustment

katejo

FatherAbraham wrote: »

Hello,

I think I understand what happens on a single-trip policy if, after buying the cover, and before travelling, some new medical information comes to light (a new diagnosis, or one suffers new symptoms) -- the policyholder is due to tell the insurer, who then gets to decide whether to cancel the trip and pay compensation, or let the trip go ahead. This makes sense for a single-trip insurance.

What about an annual policy? If the insurer in informed of a new medical condition during the period of the policy, what can the insurer do? Presumably the insurer has the choice to cancel any booked travel, in exchange for paying compensation, but what happens to the rest of the annual policy? Are all future trips uninsured? Is there compensation for curtailing the insurance?

Thanks for any clues,
FA

In 2015 I fractured my wrist but recovered very well and there was nothing to stop me going away. I contacted my insurer who covered the two trips already booked with no extra charge but I would have had to pay an additional premium if I had booked another trip before the policy expired. I didn't book any more so can't tell you how much extra they would have charged.

JosephK

Yes, you will have to inform the travel insurance company with any new medical information on an annual policy otherwise it could be invalid.

Whether they choose not charge extra, increase the premium or cancel the policy will depend on what the condition is. They may also levy an admin charge to make any change.

A year or so back our then insurer did increase the premium for a minor change. When we renewed a few months later with a different company they did not charge extra for the same condition, so it can vary from one company to another.