Travel insurance - Moneyhelper

boots_babe

Hi, 

I've never had any dealings with travel insurance, other than buying it, so would be grateful for input from those more knowledgeable. I have an annual multi trip travel insurance policy. I recently developed a medical issue which means there's a chance I will not be able to travel for an upcoming holiday. Checking my policy wording, it says I must notify them of any changes even if not claiming, so I contacted them.

.......very very very long story later as they have been a nightmare to deal with, I finally spoke to someone who seemed to speak common sense. He advised that they could not cover any new medical issues, and has cancelled the policy. He has not asked me what the medical issue is, and I made it clear that it may or may not resolve itself before I travel, and that I am not claiming right now. I accepted that he said he must cancel the policy, but he confirmed that any existing pre-booked travel would still be covered, which was fine by me. I still very much hope that my issues will improve, such that I can still go on my planned trip.

However, I have now received an email from the insurer, which contains some potentially worrying wording:

"The MoneyHelper travel insurance directory has been created for anyone who may have been refused Travel Insurance cover due to their medical conditions, to allow them to shop around for alternative providers."

This sounds as though I am now on some sort of black list? Will I not be able to get travel insurance from normal insurers? I am hoping I have the wrong end of the stick, but if so that seems very unfair, I have not even told the insurer what the medical issue is yet - I tried but he didn't want to know.

Many thanks.

boots_babe

Just bumping in the hope someone can help, thanks.

DullGreyGuy

No blacklist, just the list of medical conditions that insurers wont cover tend to be very similar, often because they use the same reinsurers. As such they will try and earn some commission by referring you to other companies who may be more tollarent to medical conditions.

Annemos

Good evening boots_babe. 

Wishing you a successful outcome with the issue and hope you can have a lovely holiday.

It is a coincidence that you should mention this. A couple of days ago I was trawling through lots of websites trying to find out about travel insurance for higher altitude trips.

On my "google travels" I actually came across this piece below in the attached link. 

I hope this puts your mind at rest. It is something they have to do these days to "signpost" and help consumers. 


https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/policy-statements/ps20-3-signposting-travel-insurance-consumers-medical-conditions

boots_babe

Thanks for the replies. I haven't actually told my existing travel insurer what the medical issue is, they didn't want to know. For all they know I could have broken a toe, all seems very odd. 

I am going to look this afternoon at trying to obtain a new annual policy, so I will see if I start to have issues.

Annemos - thanks for that, that is somewhat reassuring.

Annemos

Here is what Staysure puts as a reply on many of their Trust pilot reviews. (Please see bottom in italics.)

Taking this position, it really doesn't seem to matter what the thing is you are awaiting results for (eg a wart removal or a heart transplant.) Using this very basic 'all in' or 'all out' approach, it does not matter to them what it might be.

(I expect their policies are cheaper, by taking this position.)

I have to say I did have a very good experience with Staysure pre Covid in 2020. I was waiting for several hospital test results and they kept my policy suspended until I had my final results in, so long as I was not travelling. I received the "no-problem" results just in time for a big trip and they reinstated the policy (unsuspended it for me.) The issue was loosely related to the Condition I already had and was paying a higher premium for, so I do not know if that made a difference. (The remedy for the new condition was the same remedy I already had for the original condition.)   Or whether they were looking at the cost of my trip and what they would have to pay out if I had to cancel. I also do not know if procedures have changed after Covid? 

But I was very grateful to Staysure at the time. 



There are times when a traveller is awaiting a procedure or test results, no matter how minor, where our underwriters have taken the decision to exclude all pre-existing medical conditions. This is due to the fact that they are unable to determine how the current medical circumstance with your condition is or will be affecting your other declared pre-existing conditions. It also means they are unable to determine the level of cover that would be required on your travel insurance policy in relation to this condition.

As all of these medical circumstances can affect the cover on your policy, our underwriters take an 'all in' or 'all out' approach in order to ensure that our customers fully understand what is and is not covered on their travel insurance.

We do understand it is frustrating, especially if you feel that the procedure/tests you are awaiting is a minor one.