Have been refused travel insurance cover for covid for a UK holiday - advice wanted

Manchesterlodger

Hi, I just called Staysure this evening to arrange a single trip insurance cover for a 9 day break I'm taking at a retreat centre in Devon at the end of January. I went through the medical conditions with the individual on the phone and I have had covid twice - once in January 2021 (I was off work for a month as it took me a while to recover) and once in June 2022 (I was off work for a week). I've also had all my covid jabs and flu jabs. The covid I caught in Jan 2021 was due to the fact that there were no vaccines available and I was working in frontline community mental health services - so was going out and working in the community during the pandemic.

I was informed by the insurance company that any policy would not cover me for covid related claims - so if I catch covid before I go on my break the policy wouldn't cover me for cancellation. Also if I have a medical emergency related to covid, for eg, I get covid and then I get pneumonia, the policy also wouldn't cover me. I'm a fairly fit 59 year old and while I have had a few other things I've consulted the GP about over the past few years, these other conditions have been pretty minor. 

I do have elevated cholesterol and had some non-cardiac chest pain back in 2020 but that's about it. 

I was somewhat thrown to be told that they won't cover me if I catch covid and have to cancel my holiday. I've already booked and paid for the break and I really want to go on it so I'm hoping I don't catch covid and I am going to try a couple of other travel insurance companies. But just wondering whether anyone else has been informed they won't get insurance cover if they've had covid? I was hoping to take a few more trips this year and now I'm wondering whether I'm uninsurable for this condition?

Any advice appreciated. Are there any travel insurance companies others can recommend? I went by the recommended list of UK insurers on the moneysavingexpert website.

Thanks

DullGreyGuy

Not sure what you mean by medical emergency cover? That sort of language would normally mean treatment (rather than cancellation or curtailment) which isnt covered on a UKholiday anyway thanks to the NHS.

Staysure can only answer for their own insurers (or panel of). They cannot comment if you went to another company if their insurers will or wont cover covid for someone that's already had it. 

Have you looked at the cost difference of booking the trip on a cancelable basis therefore if you are ill you cancel rather than claim?

comeandgo

 Are you sure the fact they don’t cover covid cancellation is due to you having had covid before or they just don’t cover it?  I don’t think I was asked whether we had had covid.  Do Staysure not have different levels of insurance, ie you pay a lot more to be covered?  

DullGreyGuy

comeandgo said:

 Are you sure the fact they don’t cover covid cancellation is due to you having had covid before or they just don’t cover it?  I don’t think I was asked whether we had had covid.  Do Staysure not have different levels of insurance, ie you pay a lot more to be covered?  

You'll only be directly asked about the big items like cancer, heart conditions etc, often on an "any" basis... but you will be asked a generic question of any medical condition you've had in the last X years. You have to listen to the Q carefully, some will ask only for those that you've had medical intervention but others are broader, and so you may have to declare episodes of covid under that generic question. 

Levels of cover are unlikely to change anything other than the premium. Medical screening gives one of three options generally... we'll cover it for free, we will cover it for an additional premium or we wont cover it. It's up to you if you proceed on those basis. 

Manchesterlodger

DullGreyGuy said:

Not sure what you mean by medical emergency cover? That sort of language would normally mean treatment (rather than cancellation or curtailment) which isnt covered on a UKholiday anyway thanks to the NHS.

Staysure can only answer for their own insurers (or panel of). They cannot comment if you went to another company if their insurers will or wont cover covid for someone that's already had it. 

Have you looked at the cost difference of booking the trip on a cancelable basis therefore if you are ill you cancel rather than claim?

The medical emergency cover term was the one the staff member I spoke to used. That said, she basically said that if I developed an additional health issue after catching covid, then if it was related to catching covid, I wouldn't be covered. 

In terms of booking the trip on a cancelable basis - do you mean dealing with the retreat centre in terms of cancellation? Only the retreat centre have policies in place where, for eg, if you cancel close to the retreat date, you don't get any money back. 

If you mean in relation to the insurer - I asked the Staysure member of staff about cancellation cover if I caught covid and she basically said I wouldn't be covered at all if I catch covid again! Which, for me, was the entire point of getting travel insurance - just in case I catch covid again and can't go on the holiday. But it seemed like, because I had covid twice before, I'm not covered for it. 

DullGreyGuy

Manchesterlodger said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Not sure what you mean by medical emergency cover? That sort of language would normally mean treatment (rather than cancellation or curtailment) which isnt covered on a UKholiday anyway thanks to the NHS.

Staysure can only answer for their own insurers (or panel of). They cannot comment if you went to another company if their insurers will or wont cover covid for someone that's already had it. 

Have you looked at the cost difference of booking the trip on a cancelable basis therefore if you are ill you cancel rather than claim?

The medical emergency cover term was the one the staff member I spoke to used. That said, she basically said that if I developed an additional health issue after catching covid, then if it was related to catching covid, I wouldn't be covered. 

In terms of booking the trip on a cancelable basis - do you mean dealing with the retreat centre in terms of cancellation? Only the retreat centre have policies in place where, for eg, if you cancel close to the retreat date, you don't get any money back. 

If you mean in relation to the insurer - I asked the Staysure member of staff about cancellation cover if I caught covid and she basically said I wouldn't be covered at all if I catch covid again! Which, for me, was the entire point of getting travel insurance - just in case I catch covid again and can't go on the holiday. But it seemed like, because I had covid twice before, I'm not covered for it. 

They've worded that poorly then... so they are excluding "related conditions" for cancellation and curtailment in relation to covid. I am not a medical expert but I strongly suspect if your covid is sufficiently bad to move to pneumonia or such then you are already until to travel before that. It's more relevant a statement for things like diabetes where you feel ok from a hyper/hypo perspective but have sudden loss of vision from a detached retina (a known related issue from poorly controlled diabetes).

Have you spoken to them? If its a retreat then its likely their options are limited but if you looked at a regular hotel then often you can pay £X if you want to be able to cancel up to the day before travel or £Y if you are willing not to be able to cancel at all. Sometimes it's cheaper to pay more for cancellation rights than pay for insurance.

Staysure is a retailer/intermediary not an insurer... I think they sell with just one insurer backer but I hedged my bets as some use a panel. My comment was that just because they say the cannot cover doesn't mean another company will take the same approach. 

Manchesterlodger

At Come and Go re: Are you sure the fact they don’t cover covid cancellation is due to you having had covid before or they just don’t cover it? I don’t think I was asked whether we had had covid. Do Staysure not have different levels of insurance, ie you pay a lot more to be covered? On the moneysavingexpert website Staysure are listed as one of the companies that cover for covid cancellations - so, as far as I understand it, they do offer policies to people which provide cover if you get covid and have to cancel your holiday However, the person I spoke to asked me a lot of questions about my medical history including specific questions related to covid. And unfortunately I've had it twice. She then put me on hold and said she had to speak to some medical people (I guess to check things) and then came back and said I wouldn't be covered! Which blindsided me. So I can only assume that the reason they won't cover me for covid cancellation is due to the fact that I've had covid twice. If I'd gone ahead with the policy, it would have covered for other medical stuff arising and causing a cancellation - but to be honest, I've never really worried about that happening before because I'm generally in good health. So I've not taken out travel insurance in the UK before for a UK trip. But with the new covid variant doing the rounds, I just didn't (ideally) want to risk the possibility that I might get covid again (I still do a lot of work in the community). However, it would seem I can't get cover for it - or at least not by Staysure.

Manchesterlodger

@DullGreyGuy Re: You'll only be directly asked about the big items like cancer, heart conditions etc, often on an "any" basis... but you will be asked a generic question of any medical condition you've had in the last X years. You have to listen to the Q carefully, some will ask only for those that you've had medical intervention but others are broader, and so you may have to declare episodes of covid under that generic question. Levels of cover are unlikely to change anything other than the premium. Medical screening gives one of three options generally... we'll cover it for free, we will cover it for an additional premium or we wont cover it. It's up to you if you proceed on those basis. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was asked to list any medical condition I had had in the last 2 years BUT I was also asked for details of any medical consultations I'd had in the last 2 years as well - like GP appointments. Basically what seemed like my detailed medical history for the past 2 years PLUS information related to chest pain (as it comes under heart conditions even if it's non-cardiac). After my second bout of covid I did go to my GP and query some of the symptoms I'd experienced during covid. The GP referred me for an ECG and then I spoke to a TIA consultant by telephone who told me I hadn't had a stroke and that everything was fine. I don't know whether that information is what threw the system into a spin but it was made clear to me that I wouldn't be covered for covid or anything covid related.

DullGreyGuy

Manchesterlodger said:
I was asked to list any medical condition I had had in the last 2 years BUT I was also asked for details of any medical consultations I'd had in the last 2 years as well - like GP appointments. Basically what seemed like my detailed medical history for the past 2 years PLUS information related to chest pain (as it comes under heart conditions even if it's non-cardiac). After my second bout of covid I did go to my GP and query some of the symptoms I'd experienced during covid. The GP referred me for an ECG and then I spoke to a TIA consultant by telephone who told me I hadn't had a stroke and that everything was fine. I don't know whether that information is what threw the system into a spin but it was made clear to me that I wouldn't be covered for covid or anything covid related.

My response wasn't to you but the other poster... it ultimately comes down to the question and your personal circumstances.

Purely personally... I think I had covid once in Jan 2021 but I was out the country and so for various reasons I didn't get tested nor did I see a doc about it. I felt rough for a few days and within a week was fully recovered. Ignoring any wishes to fraudulently make declarations because there was no record of it... with many question I would have to declare it as I never tested, never saw a doctor and never took medication. With other questions though I would have to answer I did have covid like symptoms. 

Obviously your situation was different in that you sort formal medical assistance and as such with almost any question it'd have to be declared. 

Manchesterlodger

DullGreyGuy said:

Manchesterlodger said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Not sure what you mean by medical emergency cover? That sort of language would normally mean treatment (rather than cancellation or curtailment) which isnt covered on a UKholiday anyway thanks to the NHS.

Staysure can only answer for their own insurers (or panel of). They cannot comment if you went to another company if their insurers will or wont cover covid for someone that's already had it. 

Have you looked at the cost difference of booking the trip on a cancelable basis therefore if you are ill you cancel rather than claim?

The medical emergency cover term was the one the staff member I spoke to used. That said, she basically said that if I developed an additional health issue after catching covid, then if it was related to catching covid, I wouldn't be covered. 

In terms of booking the trip on a cancelable basis - do you mean dealing with the retreat centre in terms of cancellation? Only the retreat centre have policies in place where, for eg, if you cancel close to the retreat date, you don't get any money back. 

If you mean in relation to the insurer - I asked the Staysure member of staff about cancellation cover if I caught covid and she basically said I wouldn't be covered at all if I catch covid again! Which, for me, was the entire point of getting travel insurance - just in case I catch covid again and can't go on the holiday. But it seemed like, because I had covid twice before, I'm not covered for it. 

They've worded that poorly then... so they are excluding "related conditions" for cancellation and curtailment in relation to covid. I am not a medical expert but I strongly suspect if your covid is sufficiently bad to move to pneumonia or such then you are already until to travel before that. It's more relevant a statement for things like diabetes where you feel ok from a hyper/hypo perspective but have sudden loss of vision from a detached retina (a known related issue from poorly controlled diabetes).

Have you spoken to them? If its a retreat then its likely their options are limited but if you looked at a regular hotel then often you can pay £X if you want to be able to cancel up to the day before travel or £Y if you are willing not to be able to cancel at all. Sometimes it's cheaper to pay more for cancellation rights than pay for insurance.

Staysure is a retailer/intermediary not an insurer... I think they sell with just one insurer backer but I hedged my bets as some use a panel. My comment was that just because they say the cannot cover doesn't mean another company will take the same approach. 

The retreat centre have a policy that if you cancel less than 2 weeks before the start date, the cancellation fee is the full amount paid. Having said that, they also do say they may waive cancellation fees in compassionate circumstances but its done on an individual case by case basis. I've also booked 2 nights AirBnB as I'm travelling by coach instead of train this time and so needed to break my journey. I have insurance for the coach if I get covid and have to cancel as I applied for that when I bought the coach ticket. And the AirBnB allows cancellation quite close to the date I'm going. It was just the cost of the retreat itself I wanted to cover. 

I'm really hoping I don't catch the latest newest variant - I'm wearing a mask a lot more while I'm out and about at the moment. I may try another insurer or I may just leave it and hope for the best - I was just surprised at the outcome of the call tonight and the amount of medical information I was asked to provide after I voluntarily gave the details I thought were needed - it felt very invasive and I was kept waiting on the phone for a very long time before I was told that actually no covid cover for me!  I am also fully recovered from my covid experiences - so I don't have long covid fortunately. The staff member did refer me to a money helper number and I notice on the money helper website there are insurers listed that cover people with more serious medical concerns - but Staysure are one of the companies listed! 

DullGreyGuy

Manchesterlodger said:
The retreat centre have a policy that if you cancel less than 2 weeks before the start date, the cancellation fee is the full amount paid. Having said that, they also do say they may waive cancellation fees in compassionate circumstances but its done on an individual case by case basis. I've also booked 2 nights AirBnB as I'm travelling by coach instead of train this time and so needed to break my journey. I have insurance for the coach if I get covid and have to cancel as I applied for that when I bought the coach ticket. And the AirBnB allows cancellation quite close to the date I'm going. It was just the cost of the retreat itself I wanted to cover. 

I'm really hoping I don't catch the latest newest variant - I'm wearing a mask a lot more while I'm out and about at the moment. I may try another insurer or I may just leave it and hope for the best - I was just surprised at the outcome of the call tonight and the amount of medical information I was asked to provide after I voluntarily gave the details I thought were needed - it felt very invasive and I was kept waiting on the phone for a very long time before I was told that actually no covid cover for me!  I am also fully recovered from my covid experiences - so I don't have long covid fortunately. The staff member did refer me to a money helper number and I notice on the money helper website there are insurers listed that cover people with more serious medical concerns - but Staysure are one of the companies listed! 

Ultimately all things are negotiable and smaller providers have less governance to be flexible if they want to. Compassionate is great but I understand that it's discretional and you'd rather something more certain. 

It's always worth trying multiple other companies. In your circumstances you will probably have to universally declare it but in each time be sure you answer the question correctly. In some cases people self incriminate without needing to