Can insurers load premiums if you choose to have health screening?

silvercar

After a recent fracture I am considering having a test for osteoporosis. 

I am also about to renew my travel insurance (annual policy with my bank account), declaring the recent fracture, that does mean a premium excess, I was asked if I had osteoporosis. My answer "not as far as I know" was accepted. I am now concerned that if I go for a test, this could result in needing to be declared and an excess premium payable.

At the back of my mind was an insurance company agreement that people wouldn't be penalised for voluntary screening. This test would be voluntary and falls outside the NHS guidelines of 2 fractures if under 60. 

Aretnap

AIUI there's a general principle that you would not be penalised for having the test itself. In days of yore insurance companies would ask questions like "have you ever had an HIV test?", and assumed that the fact that you would want the test in the first place was a sign that you were in a "high risk group" for contacting HIV. Obviously this created a major barrier to encouraging people to get tested for HIV and was eventually recognised as a Bad Thing.

However if the test did find that you had osteoporosis then you would still have to declare the diagnosis in future - the fact that you took the test through an abundance of caution wouldn't negate the diagnosis.

OTOH if you DO have osteoporosis you are surely best to find out about it sooner rather than later, so you can get the best treatment. So if it were me, I would worry about protecting my health for the long term before worrying about next year's insurance premium.

silvercar

Aretnap said:

AIUI there's a general principle that you would not be penalised for having the test itself. In days of yore insurance companies would ask questions like "have you ever had an HIV test?", and assumed that the fact that you would want the test in the first place was a sign that you were in a "high risk group" for contacting HIV. Obviously this created a major barrier to encouraging people to get tested for HIV and was eventually recognised as a Bad Thing.

However if the test did find that you had osteoporosis then you would still have to declare the diagnosis in future - the fact that you took the test through an abundance of caution wouldn't negate the diagnosis.

OTOH if you DO have osteoporosis you are surely best to find out about it sooner rather than later, so you can get the best treatment. So if it were me, I would worry about protecting my health for the long term before worrying about next year's insurance premium.

Absolutely. It's just a question of the insurance renewing before the end of the month, so if it is going to make a big difference to the premium for next year, then it makes sense not to request a test until after renewal.