Knee ligament injury - what do I need to tell the travel insurer?

Mason

Hello.  My son has recently ruptured his cruciate ligament.  He is due to go on a world trip early next month and the physio who saw him said this should be ok from his perspective and wait for the operation when he returns home in about 7 months if the surgeon thinks he needs one. He has an appointment with the specialist 2 days before he flies out.

When applying for insurance the question is asked if he has a pre-existing injury and he puts in "knee ligament".  It then asks if he has pain, needs crutches, wears a brace.  He could put "no" to all these questions though it does hurt when it "gives way" which is about a once a week event and the pain soon dissipates.  He is also asked if "future treatment" is planned.  This is also tricky because he could live with the tear (plenty do, including me) or have an operation.

Anyway, if he does state that he is expecting "future treatment" then the comparison sites state that they cannot find an insurer.

I'm not really sure what my question is aside from if anyone has any advice on this or had similar things to think about.

Thanks for reading.

MyRealNameToo

Mason said:

Hello.  My son has recently ruptured his cruciate ligament.  He is due to go on a world trip early next month and the physio who saw him said this should be ok from his perspective and wait for the operation when he returns home in about 7 months if the surgeon thinks he needs one. He has an appointment with the specialist 2 days before he flies out.

When applying for insurance the question is asked if he has a pre-existing injury and he puts in "knee ligament".  It then asks if he has pain, needs crutches, wears a brace.  He could put "no" to all these questions though it does hurt when it "gives way" which is about a once a week event and the pain soon dissipates.  He is also asked if "future treatment" is planned.  This is also tricky because he could live with the tear (plenty do, including me) or have an operation.

Anyway, if he does state that he is expecting "future treatment" then the comparison sites state that they cannot find an insurer.

I'm not really sure what my question is aside from if anyone has any advice on this or had similar things to think about.

Thanks for reading.

Read the terms of the policy, it will tell you if you need to inform them of new conditions before travelling. If it's an annual trip policy you almost certainly do. There are some single trip ones that you dont. 

Thanks to CIDRA any failure to disclose can give rise to the insurer being able to void the policy and avoid the claim even if its unrelated to the claim... that said if he claims for his luggage being stolen its unlikely they'll ask for his medical records to check he disclosed appropriately. 

gwynlas

Whilst you do neeed to inform  them of any pre existing condition you can state that no further treatment applicable at this time if it is not scheduled to happen.

Andyjflet

Its a serious injury, you need to tell them of this or its fraudulent, if you are hoping that perhaps he can get flown home should it get worse then perhaps he shouldn't be going. 

TELLIT01

As gwynlas says, he must inform the insurer but stress that no further treatment is planned at present.

elsien

gwynlas said:

Whilst you do neeed to inform  them of any pre existing condition you can state that no further treatment applicable at this time if it is not scheduled to happen.

I would query that given that the OP mentions an operation if he still needs one. If may not be scheduled but it’s still very much on the cards as a possibility. If he has a fall  while he is away and needs surgery I strongly suspect that would be considered a very relevant factor.