Anyone got experience with premium back account travel insurance and pre-existing conditions?

dodgie

Hi,

My wife and I both have some pre existing medical conditions that mean any travel insurance quotes we get are regularly doubled. 

I read on the Which? guide for packaged back accounts that in some cases it may be cheaper to go down this route.

Does anyone have any experience of using the travel insurance included in packaged back accounts with pre existing medical conditions? I've tried to dig into some of the offerings (Halifax, Nationwide) but seem to be stuck in a catch-22 where I can't ask about pre-existing conditions without applying for the account first. It's after 5pm now but I'll try calling some in the morning but wondered if anyone had any experiences?

We're at the stage now with enough devices in the family that other bundled features like gadget cover could be useful too.

Rich

Brie

I got a bank account just for the PBA features which includes annual travel insurance and road side assistance.  I've never had to claim on the travel insurance but have used the road side assistance a few times.  

The travel insurance always states that you must advise them of any pre existing conditions - which we always have.  It's only the last year when my OH was seriously ill and hospitalised that when I updated them they said they would not cover him for the condition he had developed.  They would still cover if something happened that was completely unrelated to the condition like bags being stolen or something happening to me or OH breaking a leg but not his medical condition.  As a result we've taken out specialist cover.  The cover costs about twice as much for an annual policy compared to the PBA offering.  

SevenOfNine

We have the NW Flexplus purely for the worldwide cover. Used the breakdown part once a few years ago, not gadget part (yet) & the medical part was an absolute godsend in Jamaice 2019 on hols.

Day after arrival there I had to have a small operation, it had been cancelled TWICE by NHS in the months before we left but out of the blue became urgent! Ambulance, op & overnight stay cost $15,000 USD. Initially had to cover it with CC to get it done that night.

NW coughed up without a fuss because it was NOT a pre existing condition, it had initially manifested itself after we'd booked the hol & insurance already in place, & I'd also declared it anyway though I didn't need to.

We don't use our FlexPlus for anything at all, just keep enough in it to pay monthly requirement & get the insurance. Have to pay extra £65 for age & £56 to include husbands raised cholesterol, I exclude mine, both raised but not high! But NW ask "has a blood test EVER at any time shown your cholesterol level to be raised". Might see from that they'll want EVERYTHING declared & it will cost you.
 
NW insurance is underwritten by UK Insurance if that's any help, maybe you could get a direct quote & see if any of your health issues wouldn't be covered in any circumstances?

I recently got a quote from Staysure, just for comparison, but it came out more than we pay NW monthly fee + additions above.

noh

Have today spoken them to update my pre existing conditions.
We are both under 70 not by much though!
My wife is taking three different medications for two conditions, high blood pressure and thyroid. The extra premium for that is £44 PA
I previously declared high blood pressure with one medication for which there was no extra premium.
Now I have had to add high cholesteral with one medication and type 2 diabetis controlled by exercise and diet.
The extra premium for those three conditions is £60 PA

Neil49

As a guide, this is from my Lloyds Bank Club Platinum annual insurance policy. 

Shedman

Thats very interesting that Lloyds don't need Crohn's declared as pre-existing.  

It used to make little or no difference to premiums up until the point about 4 or 5 years ago insurers medical screening questions on Crohn's changed to include one about having regular injections or infusions for it.  Declaring that you do have them has bumped premiums up by £150-£400 for annual policy (depending on whether Europe or Worldwide incl US/Caribbean) vs saying you don't.  Really annoying thing is the infusions effectively reduce the risk to near zero.  I shall have to look at the Lloyds one (but not tell the wife otherwise she'll want another cruise 😅)
 

Edit : Quick look and see its to age 80 as well. That's very good (although luckily got a good few years to go yet but not so much to the usual 70 cut off age)

PloughmansLunch

This is the pre-accepted list from my freebie HSBC insurance, up to age 70. Going by the list below I can thankfully keep it to myself if I or any of my family have been bunged up.

DullGreyGuy

Have Barclay's with their travel pack, they cover all out pre-existing conditions without charge and were fairly reasonable when wanting to extend the maximum days away for a long trip.

pridehappy

The Virgin Money Club M account comes with a number you can ring before applying for the account and check for your exact medical conditions.

https://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/assets/pdf/Club-M-Insurance-Policy-Wording.Document.pdf

Gers

dodgie said:

Hi,

My wife and I both have some pre existing medical conditions that mean any travel insurance quotes we get are regularly doubled. 

I read on the Which? guide for packaged back accounts that in some cases it may be cheaper to go down this route.

Does anyone have any experience of using the travel insurance included in packaged back accounts with pre existing medical conditions? I've tried to dig into some of the offerings (Halifax, Nationwide) but seem to be stuck in a catch-22 where I can't ask about pre-existing conditions without applying for the account first. It's after 5pm now but I'll try calling some in the morning but wondered if anyone had any experiences?

We're at the stage now with enough devices in the family that other bundled features like gadget cover could be useful too.

Rich

Lloyds Platinum current account lists its 'no screen conditions' on page 46 of this document:

https://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/current-accounts/platinum_account_welcome_pack.pdf