Single Trip Travel Insurance

Neversurrender

Hi,

I have just successfully applied for travel insurance with a few pre existing conditions, and at the moment fingers crossed I am in good health.

I managed to get through the screening, and mentioned my whole medical history, over the last 5 years (TIme consuming for a 62 year old)

Now for something I fail to comprehend.

The insurance I have just bought is for a single trip to Corfu in September 2023.
My Insurance company have said, I was told by the insurance company that if I have ANY medical conditions which occur between now and when I travel, I must contact them to make them aware.  They told me any medical conditions, happening between now and when I travel, could have an impact on my premium or cover.

Heres the bit I can't grasp.  I thought the whole purpose of insurance was to get cover for anything, which might mean taking your booked holiday, could be jeopardised,  thus meaning a claim.  If a medical condition occurs AFTER you have applied, surely that's got to be covered, even if already screened.

I feel this is almost as bad as a home insurance saying "oh you've damaged your carpet after you applied for cover, so its not covered or we want to put your premium up"
Looks like a goalpost moving action to me.

Have I got this wrong??

baser999

You need to update the Insurers of anything that occurs before you travel as it might impact on the cover they’re providing

Neversurrender

baser999 said:

You need to update the Insurers of anything that occurs before you travel as it might impact on the cover they’re providing

Yes but I don't understand why.

Surely what happens after I have paid for my policy, should be covered whatever.

My cover starts from the day I pay for the policy, through to when it ends, in my case last day of my holiday.

baser999

Same as car insurance - they insure the risk, being the car you’ve told them you drive however should you then modify it beyond OEM specification you are obliged to tell the insurers as it might affect your cover and premium. As far as travel cover is concerned, if you have the misfortune to be diagnosed with some illness before you travel (beyond the common cold etc) you need to advise them. Furthermore, if you then need treatment whilst away for an undisclosed illness you’ll not be covered 

user1977

If you get diagnosed with something before you travel, they might prefer you to cancel rather than them risk having to pay for medical treatment / repatriation etc. Whether they'd pay for the cancellation in those circumstances I dunno.

Neversurrender

baser999 said:

Same as car insurance - they insure the risk, being the car you’ve told them you drive however should you then modify it beyond OEM specification you are obliged to tell the insurers as it might affect your cover and premium. As far as travel cover is concerned, if you have the misfortune to be diagnosed with some illness before you travel (beyond the common cold etc) you need to advise them. Furthermore, if you then need treatment whilst away for an undisclosed illness you’ll not be covered 

I can understand not being covered for an illness, you may have already had but didn't disclose.

But I fail to see what benefit the insurance is, if you have to keep updating them during the cover period of any visits you make to the GP.

Its almost like getting redundancy protection, but as soon as you are made redundant they don't pay

Neversurrender

user1977 said:

If you get diagnosed with something before you travel, they might prefer you to cancel rather than them risk having to pay for medical treatment / repatriation etc. Whether they'd pay for the cancellation in those circumstances I dunno.

So whats the point of insurance, you are supposed to be covered from moment you pay for it

55ryan

You are covered based on the you now. So the way your health is now. Anything that crops up before you go away means the insurance is 'invalid'. For example, 'do you have two legs'...you do now but if you lose a leg in a couple of months this could affect your ability to get around once you go on your trip and increase the risk of an accident. So the insurance would have to be adjusted to take that into account. Some will do just that or say no thanks.  Quite normal. 

It is a contract. If anything changes inbetween it makes the original contract void. You are insured based on your health at the time. 

user1977

Neversurrender said:

user1977 said:

If you get diagnosed with something before you travel, they might prefer you to cancel rather than them risk having to pay for medical treatment / repatriation etc. Whether they'd pay for the cancellation in those circumstances I dunno.

So whats the point of insurance, you are supposed to be covered from moment you pay for it

Bear in mind travel insurance is essentially a two stage thing - at the moment all you really have is cover for cancellation. Your baggage, medical bills etc are only covered while you're actually away. So if something you hadn't already declared crops up and requires you to cancel, you're covered. But your medical cover during the trip is based on your health on your departure date.

Neversurrender

user1977 said:

Neversurrender said:

user1977 said:

If you get diagnosed with something before you travel, they might prefer you to cancel rather than them risk having to pay for medical treatment / repatriation etc. Whether they'd pay for the cancellation in those circumstances I dunno.

So whats the point of insurance, you are supposed to be covered from moment you pay for it

Bear in mind travel insurance is essentially a two stage thing - at the moment all you really have is cover for cancellation. Your baggage, medical bills etc are only covered while you're actually away. So if something you hadn't already declared crops up and requires you to cancel, you're covered. But your medical cover during the trip is based on your health on your departure date.

So let's say I need to cancel my holiday in September 2023 due to an illness which means I can't go on holiday.

Then the insurance would cover any non refundable payments I've made?

If not I cant understand what use travel insurance is, and  doesn't Martin always say "Book insurance at the same time as the holiday"

Neversurrender

55ryan said:

You are covered based on the you now. So the way your health is now. Anything that crops up before you go away means the insurance is 'invalid'. For example, 'do you have two legs'...you do now but if you lose a leg in a couple of months this could affect your ability to get around once you go on your trip and increase the risk of an accident. So the insurance would have to be adjusted to take that into account. Some will do just that or say no thanks.  Quite normal. 

It is a contract. If anything changes inbetween it makes the original contract void. You are insured based on your health at the time. 

But that is surely senseless, as I am insuring against the unexpected.

Thats no different to paying for home contents insurance, then getting your TV stolen, then the insurance company saying you won't get cover

Let me put it another way, let's say I have paid for travel insurance, and declared all pre existing conditions, I passed screening and all is accepted.

Then between now and when I travel I have a major illness, so contact the insurer, and let them know.  They would probably say  we don't recommend you travel, and if its proved medically that travel is not advised, then the insurer covers any cancellation charges for the holiday.  Now that's what I would expect