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

SevenOfNine

After having a FlexPlus multi trip, worldwide cover for many years, latterly 'declaring' medical issues, when Nationwide switched to Aviva as their travel insurance provider things changed.

At renewal in Oct 2025 I had 2 new things to add to existing declarations & Aviva FLATLY REFUSED to cover ANY of my medical declarations, not even the existing ones previously covered, NONE.

If I was run over by a bus while abroad I'd be covered for that unforeseen circumstance, UNLESS they could tie it in with being, even slightly, connected to one of the medical conditions, then I wouldn't be covered for any injuries caused by the accident either.

Aviva would NOT allow EXCLUSIONS of named conditions AT ALL, & they simply wouldn't even quote for 'declarations'. Though I'd be covered for all travel related things.

Another thing with Aviva, it should be noted that some questions say "have you EVER", so you're not just declaring past 1, 2 or 3 years etc, but for some things it's "EVER".

For 2 holidays this year I had to take individual trip policies, & used SAGA. I've lined up multi trip, fully worldwide, annual policy to start late September ready for next year & used Tesco Insurance with all medical declarations included…….some as 'standard' & some with a fee.

My word of warning would be 2 things.

1) If you've been given information by phone, note operatives name, the number you called, date & time. Then if there's a 'fight' over anything later, you can pinpoint their recording of the conversation for them EXACTLY.

2) A few years ago I'd declared a minor 'new' thing, back then I hadn't had to as it was a 'new' condition & my annual travel insurance policy was already in force (when N/W's previous provider was SO MUCH BETTER than Aviva), I just thought it best to 'declare' anyway & was reassured that though I definitely didn't have to, they'd just note that I had.

Good job, because the day after we arrived in Jamaica for 2 weeks, my little non emergency thing, became an emergency!!! The bill for a small operation I needed cost USD $14,000 with a further $3,000 for the ambulance. All covered.

NoodleDoodleMan

"If you've been given information by phone, note operatives name, the
number you called, date & time. Then if there's a 'fight' over
anything later, you can pinpoint their recording of the conversation for
them EXACTLY. "

Don't you get an annual letter from your travel insurer listing which declared conditions are covered for the 12 months of the policy ?

We each received one from Co-op and then from Aviva after we switched.

SevenOfNine

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82112775#Comment_82112775

Yes, AFTER a policy is taken out! But if that's been done with info you were given over the phone, that doesn't turn out to be 100% accurate when making a claim later (tucked away in the small print), there's a relevance to exactly the impression you've been given during a call, with a call centre operative.

Each to their own choices though.

NoodleDoodleMan

We each have common pre-existing conditions which were declared by 'phone when discussing cover with Co-op and Aviva BEFORE taking out their respective policies, the agents were clear on details, as was I - and the subsequent confirmation letters listed these specifically.

Their online descriptions of recognised medical conditions were clear when looking in detail

So, short of having a full transcript of the call(s) I'm not sure where a customer can go in the event of dispute.

Bigphil1474

We have a similar policy with Barclays. Last year they started requiring you to declare any pre-existing conditions for which there was an additional fee. For me it was £30 for the year so I paid it, but my OH would have been an extra £180 for 12 months, so they now get their own cover. Bearing in mind it's half of a travel pack, so about £100 a year already, £130 is pretty good, £310 isn't so much. My OH paid about £60 last year for for 2 single trip policies instead.

SevenOfNine

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82115835#Comment_82115835

You are able to refer them to THEIR recording of your call. But like I said EACH TO THEIR OWN CHOICE, mine is to know who I spoke to, when & on what number when I'm taking out a policy, not just read that it's all correct once I've paid for it (cancellation would most likely apply, an inconvenience to ME).

I once had an operative who managed to get my policy quote a bit lower, good, except he didn't tell me it was because he'd raised my excess!

But like I keep saying, if you're happy with what you do, fine. Go & bicker with someone else.

NoodleDoodleMan

No comment.