Travel insurance - Aviva (Nationwide FlexPlus), pre-existing conditions

grumpy_codger

Pre-existing medical conditions you need to tell us about

This travel insurance is designed to cover the costs of cancellation, emergency medical treatment abroad and getting home, if any insured person becomes suddenly and unexpectedly ill or injured, due to a new illness, injury or disease.

Medical conditions that an insured person already has or had, are not all covered automatically, and a pre-existing conditions upgrade may be needed.

Is my understanding correct that if I fail to declare some pre-existing conditions and don't upgrade the cover for them, I remain covered for everything else, unrelated to these conditions, e.g. delays, lost baggage, unrelated injuries etc.?

Also, with Aviva, if I declare them and the cost of upgrade is higher than I expect, can I still chose not to upgrade and keep the basic cover?

I cannot find a phone number to ask them directly, their chat is dead. I did send them an online request, but don't hold my breath.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6680149/travel-insurance-aviva-nationwide-flexplus-pre-existing-conditions

not necessarily, would need to see more of the materials. If you are asked to declare all your conditions then they could in theory decline any claim under CIDRE if they deemed the non-disclosure was intentional or reckless. If the materials just tell you to inform them if you want to be covered for them then there would be no grounds for declining a claim for not declaring as long as its not relevant to the claim.

There is also the reality, if you claim for a lost suitcase they arent going to ask for consent to approach your GP for your medical history so even if you hadnt declared something a non-medical claim is unlikely to be declained

Exodi

My understanding is the opposite, that failing to declare a pre-existing medical condition will invalidate the entire travel insurance policy - even for seemingly unrelated claims.

I think the 'proper' way to to do things would be to declare all relevant pre-existing conditions, and then choose not to pay the Aviva upgrade charge, effectively causing the pre-existed conditions to be disclosed, but excluded.

Of course, pragmatically one might well argue that if you were to fail to disclose a pre-existing condition, and then lost your baggage, it's unlikely they'd ask if you if you had a bad back you forgot to mention, or you might divulge that information.

Nonetheless, better to be safe than sorry in my opinion - particularly when there is no cost impact to you.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6680149/travel-insurance-aviva-nationwide-flexplus-pre-existing-conditions

Ring Nationwide, they should be able to direct your call to them, or at least give you a number.

heatherw_01

You need to disclose the conditions.

They can invalidate the ENTIRE policy for failing to do so.

grumpy_codger

Well, I found the phone number and the agent told me that my understanding was correct - upgrades for pre-existing conditions are optional and the policy remains valid if I don't accept the quoted price for the upgrade.

The only important condition is that it's either ALL pre-existing conditions or none. You cannot chose which ones to get covered and which not to. So, you have to be very careful with declaring everything.

Exodi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82106828#Comment_82106828

But that's not what the original post asked or what people responded to…

You asked about not declaring the conditions… which is different to declaring them but not paying the upgrade cost (meaning they are considered as excluded conditions).

Nonetheless, glad you got your answer.

NoodleDoodleMan

"I cannot find a phone number to ask them directly, their chat is dead."

Aviva appropriate general enquiries is 0800 0512 532.

Mon.- Fri. 8am to 8pm

Sat. 8am to 6pm

Sun. and Bank Holidays 10am to 4pm

Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day.

grumpy_codger

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82106920#Comment_82106920

I can be wrong, but I don't see any real difference between not declaring and declaring and rejecting an upgrade (or accepting the fact that these pre-existing conditions can't be covered at all).

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82107111#Comment_82107111

For the record, yes, that's the number that I called.

And their chatbot started working, but was absolutely useless.

NoodleDoodleMan

Perhaps 0800 046 2558 - I chanced upon this number a few years ago, no idea it it's in service.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82107145#Comment_82107145

You are wrong, choosing not to cover is materially different to failing to declare. An insurer may have certain red flag conditions that cause the policy to be declined automatically irrespective of if the insured wants it covered or not.

Dealing with claims and complaints takes both time and money even if the the result is a decline. There are some things just not worth covering and by not declaring them you would deprive them of the opportunity to decline.