Holiday insurance awaiting tests

junebaby

Hi

I would be grateful for some advice on whether I can cancel flights and get a refund. 

My husband recently suffered a TIA. He was sent for tests ECG, CT and MRI. Tests showed he has an irregular heartbeat and AF. He has been put on medication. Consultant has requested that he has a 24 hour monitor ECG and an echocardiogram. 

Managed to get a cancellation for the ECG but long waiting lists 10 to 12 weeks for the echocardiogram. This will take us well into next year. 

We are due to fly early in the new year so very unlikely that he will have completed both tests and seen consultant for results. 

I have insurance through our bank and have paid for an extension, before we knew all the above, as we were going for an extended period. 

I have not spoken to the insurance company yet as husband still wants to go and he thinks they will withdraw/cancel insurance. 

Not sure what to do and whether the fact he is waiting for test/results would qualify for a refund?  

Flugelhorn

you need to speak to the insurance company - they may be OK now that he is on treatment for his AF - on the other hand they may exclude some conditions - don't risk going without telling them

gwynlas

Even though your husband wishes to continue not declaring current situation is likely to invalidate insurance as it would be classed as a pre existing condition.

Dependent on available medical facilities where you are travelling I would be inclined to try and secure stand alone cover for this trip declaring situation in full. It will not be cheap but otherwise you could end up forgoing the holiday altogether.

Ayr_Rage

DO NOT cancel the trip until you have told you insurer all that has happened.

Be prepared to give them your husband's complete medical records and hopefully you have declared any previous conditions and medication.

If you are advised to cancel the trip on medical advice then you'll need to claim.

However, from personal experience, if there are ongoing conditions and you are still waiting on tests and/or hospital consultations but haven't been advised not to travel then the insurer will either not cover you at all or exclude all conditions under investigation.


 

junebaby

Thank you 

I would never go away without holiday insurance or declaring pre existing conditions. 

So if we are awaiting tests/results would my gp say that he is not fit to fly?  I think we won’t be going. 

elsien

You are meant to inform your insurer of any changes so they can decide whether they want to charge an extra premium or even continue to cover at all. 

Fit to fly is a decision for the GP or consultant to make depending on your husband’s specific medical condition

The problem is that someone can be awaiting tests but still be fit to travel. I was awaiting tests where my insurer then excluded that condition from my insurance, but I would have been perfectly safe to fly. 

TELLIT01

Medically there may be no reason not to travel so in that situation a GP will not issue a 'Not fit to fly' letter.  Insurers are risk averse and probably will not provide cover, or will not provide cover for anything associated with the recent medical episode.  The only way to know is to contact the insurer.  Under no circumstances travel without declaring this as the insurer would almost certainly refuse to payout in the event of any claim.

Marmaduke123

I would consider getting single trip insurance to cover your forthcoming holiday. Some insurers will cover you if you are on a waiting list, for an extra premium of course. Total Travel Protection covered me when I was waiting for a procedure, others do the same.

elsien

There is a difference though between waiting for a procedure If there is a clear diagnosis, and waiting for the results of test to clarify what the health condition may be.
Insurers don’t like uncertainty. Known risks that they can quantify they are more likely to be willing to cover. 

Flugelhorn

elsien said:

There is a difference though between waiting for a procedure If there is a clear diagnosis, and waiting for the results of test to clarify what the health condition may be.
Insurers don’t like uncertainty. Known risks that they can quantify they are more likely to be willing to cover. 

I think this is the thing - any uncertainty is just too much for them.
years back AF was diagnosed more readily and treatment started - now, it is diagnosed and some treatment started, it is investigated much more fully eg with the echo etc to see if there is an underlying cause 

interesting to know what the insurance company say about this one