Travel insurance query

bmth321

Bit confused.... I visited the docs a few months ago to discuss a recurring pain I've had over a few years.   Doesn't stop me from doing anything but thought i should get it checked out as it happened a few times. Having rarely seen a doc in the past they called out lots of tests,  bloods, endoscopy and ultrasound but nothing found. It's now been signed off as could have been muscular or diet related.  Quite reassured in some ways but this leaves me in a tricky place with insurance.   Because it is undiagnosed (or nothing found) my annual policy won't cover me if anything happens (nor quote me for upgrade) and it is found to have been a symptom. 

Not so worried about heading to Europe where there are reciprocal arrangements (albeit with limitations) but long haul does concern me and we were planning a four week trip (under 30 days). 

 Any ideas or comments? Am I worrying unnecessarily?  I am not expecting this to become a medical issue but don't want to be uninsured,  thought I was being responsible by getting it checked but now confused what to do about insurance.   

Be grateful for any informed thoughts,  many thanks.  

Brie

Sounds like you are going to need more specialist help going forward.  It's not necessarily going to be dreadfully expensive, just more than you've paid up to now.  And it will obviously depend on where you are going.  

We got good European cover after my OH was diagnosed with a heart condition and had kidney failure but with no known cause.  I've got a few issues as well.  Annual policy was a few hundred?  Staysure.  Needed to then go to Canada and that put the price waaaay up.  Our problem going forward is that OH won't be going anywhere but Europe for the next few years but I'll have to travel to Canada at least once for family stuff so I'll have to consider whether we drop the cover back to Europe only and I do short term add ons for Canada. 

TELLIT01

As tests didn't discover anything untoward, isn't the GPs statement that it is probably muscular or diet related the nearest you are going to get to a diagnosis?

luci

You may have to call an insurer rather than do it online. On the face of it, you don’t have an undiagnosed condition, which most insurers wouldn’t cover, you have a condition diagnosed as muscular or diet related.

I’ve had a few new conditions diagnosed in the past year. One is a brain condition that doesn’t need medication or monitoring, but it scares the bejesus out of insurers. I tried specialist medical insurers and none would even quote. After days of trying, I eventually found two that would quote me, AllClear and Insure&Go. I can only get insurance for Europe, and it is was almost £700 as a couple, but I was just relieved that I got insurance at all. You could try both of those online.

bmth321

Thanks all, useful to sound it out with others and get a perspective.  I think to some extent it is in the way I phrase the question.   I tried phoning a couple today but was put off when they said no.... sounds like it's worth keeping on trying though.   Fully appreciate will cost more,  we pay for upgrade for partner just had been struggling with this this one as it's not something specific.   If anything with the battery of tests they did they have ruled out tonnes of stuff I'd have never known about previously anyway and reassured that I'm quite healthy! Appreciate all the comments, thanks.  

luci

During medical screening by phone in a similar situation to yourself, I’ve usually been asked if the condition is fully resolved. Is it perhaps how you put it across during screening? You need to answer honestly and truthfully, but you only need to give them the information they ask for. Perhaps it would be easier for you to do the medical screening online, as you could take your time and make sure you only answer what’s being asked, without holding back anything relevant.

There are specialist medical insurers. Mainstream insurers usually give you details of how to find them if they can’t give you a quote. I can get the info for you, but it doesn’t sound as if you necessarily need a specialist insurer.

I was hospitalised in Tenerife for 2 weeks in January with respiratory failure and pneumonia, so I know the value of good insurance. A medic was flown out from the UK to accompany me home, as I needed oxygen on the flight. The insurance company accessed my medical records before they “took on” the case. They were probably checking that it wasn’t something I’d had in the past, but hadn’t declared. They covered the cost of everything, including another holiday I had to cancel as I wasn't deemed fit to travel for a couple of months.

TELLIT01

I had a lump on my cheek which involved having a biopsy and being given various treatments over about a 4 month period.  At the end of that period the biopsy confirmed it was 'nothing nasty' and that no further treatment or follow up was required.  I told my insurer that and got covered without any problems.

Maybe the OP needs to word his response to the insurer in a similar way.

bmth321

Thanks for most recent comments.   I think I will try a policy online and see what questions they ask,  I've got nothing to hide and would rather be upfront, just seems tricky to get computer to say yes.  I don't risk being without cover!  Thanks again for all your suggestions.  Helpful to talk it through  

luci

I had an issue investigated over a few months last year. I eventually got a normal blood test and the doctor no longer wanted blood test. That meant I didn’t have the issue they were investigating. I know that you have to declare any contact with medical professionals. However, I read the questions very carefully and there was no opportunity to mention it. Insurance companies now have to ask all questions they need answered. The onus is no longer on the customer to provide everything. You are only obliged to answer the questions they ask honestly and truthfully. I am pretty sure that’s the case, but @MyRealNameToo may chip in to confirm or otherwise.

MyRealNameToo

Most travel insurers as for you to declare anything you have suffered symptoms of, seen a medical professional about and/or taken medication for in the last X years plus then specific questions about other medical conditions no matter how long ago they were (cancer, stroke, heart attack etc). 

On the basis of you saying you've had the pain for a few years it sounds like you were technically running a risk anyway, though a modest risk if you hadn't mentioned it to a doctor before. Ultimately it all comes down to how your GP is going to fill in the forms in the event of a claim. They will declare the appointments and tests and they will have to say in their medical opinion what was wrong with you. 

I'm in a somewhat similar problem, I have a diagnosis of repeat stress injury to my foot. No doctor likes the diagnosis, they keep checking for gout and arthritis despite the MO being nothing like either but eventually after the next round of tests agree with the consultant that its just a repeating injury caused by mechanical issues. I do have an official diagnosis, which makes things easier, but it isnt something that ever appears on the drop down lists. 

For belts, braces and superglue speak to the GP and agree what it should be listed as. For a more risky approach put down that is a pulled muscle or whatever "muscular issue" they talked about.