New Travel Insurance discussion area

koru

TomsMom wrote: »

So to avoid any confusion with any insurance company it's best to declare all. I declare my hypothyroidism, which I've had for over 30 years, stable and treated with standard thyroxine, no hospital appointments and just an annual blood test, and have never been loaded for, yet it's still on the list of conditions when you go through a medical questionnaire.

With the Post Office policy, for instance, it is categorically clear that you would not have to declare your hypothyroidism and you would be covered for it. I like the fact that the wording is so clear, so I don't have to worry about whether there is anything I have forgotten to disclose or whether they are suddenly going to charge extra premium.

digime

If you're taking out a policy check the policy to wording to make sure you're covered for cancellation costs should the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) advise against travel to a country or region.

If you are covering a package I think the holiday company should compensate you for this eventuality but if you book things direct your insurance policy may well not cover you.

I've checked with a few companies (including Flexicover Direct as mentioned in Martin's article) and its not uncommon for this not to be covered. Not that this will be stated in plain English in the wording though - you have to deduce it from its absence from the "insurable reasons for cancellation" section.

To be clear: if you book fights/hotels directly to a destination that is safe at the time of booking but then something happens (flooding, hurricane, tsunami, political/civil unrest, coup, bombings, etc) and the FCO change their advice then you can't travel and, if you don't have cover, you'll lose all the money for anything prebooked.

Finally, don't believe anyone over the phone if they tell you that you are covered. Get it in writing.

v_m

trinibago_gal wrote: »

Can anyone help with details of a company that offer cheap annual travel insurance for a single individual under 40 with one existing stable medical condition with single trip duration of up to 45day please?

Trinibago, EHICPlus offers annuals with up to 45 days per trip at really low prices. the only downfall is that its only for europe not for anywhere else round the world!

koru

v_m wrote: »

Trinibago, EHICPlus offers annuals with up to 45 days per trip at really low prices. the only downfall is that its only for europe not for anywhere else round the world!

However, have a good look at their definition of pre-existing medical conditions. They are a perfect illustration of the fact that most policies leave huge wiggle room to refuse to pay up for many medical problems that you might suffer.

The definition includes any medical condition, defect or disease "of which you are aware or could reasonably be expected to be aware". In other words, this is anything in your entire medical history. When I queried this, they confirmed my interpretation.

Don't be fooled by the medical questions they ask when you make the application online. These are quite narrow and I was quite impressed when I started an application. However, I was not so impressed when I realised that the onus was on me to declare anything else in my medical history that might turn out to be linked to any problem that might befall me whilst on holiday. I can't remember everything, but you can be sure that if they were facing a £200,000 bill for, say, brain surgery they would comb through my medical records to find a headache that they could claim was an early symptom and that I "could reasonably be expected to be aware" of. Maybe they would not be that unfair, but I don't want to take the risk.

I am particularly unimpressed that this is hidden away, not stated clearly when you have completed the medical questions. I think most people would assume that if they ask you specific medical screening questions and say you are OK, then you are covered.

In contrast, the Post Office policy (to give one example of a fairer approach) poses five questions during your application and explicitly states that if you answer no to them all, you are fully covered. There are no other sneaky exclusions they can use.

Sorry to keep banging on about this, but I think it is a scandal the way most policies are worded. They are relying on the fact that few people bother to read the policy in detail. In fact, the more I think about it, I wonder if this is mis-selling, just like endowment mortages, for instance.

pamelab21

Hi all

I am looking for insurance for myself and ny hubby for 23 days for a trip to Florida next month. I am fine apart from controlled asthma, use inhaler very rarely. Hubby has no medical issues at all.
The cheapest I can find on the net is 62.00 with Karma insurance. Is this about the right price I can expect? Can anyone tell me if they have got theirs any cheaper?

Thanks

Baz_2

pamelab21 wrote: »

Hi all

I am looking for insurance for myself and ny hubby for 23 days for a trip to Florida next month. I am fine apart from controlled asthma, use inhaler very rarely. Hubby has no medical issues at all.
The cheapest I can find on the net is 62.00 with Karma insurance. Is this about the right price I can expect? Can anyone tell me if they have got theirs any cheaper?

Thanks

Try

http://www.travelinsuranceweb.com/

pamelab21

Baz wrote: »

Try

http://www.travelinsuranceweb.com/

thanks but they state on their site
For this reason we are unable to offer cover to customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

speedmaster_2

Hello

My husband and I are travelling to the Far East (Kuala Lumpar, Bangkok and Phuket) in November. I am going to be 22 weeks pregnant then, I also have a nut allergy. Can anyone suggest some reliable travel insurance companies who dont charge the earth

thanks in advance

Ms_Bird

Hello, please can someone shed some light on what sort of insurance is available for a single winter sport trip to France for 5 months? I'm going to be working in the Alps for the winter season and although medical insurance is included as part of my benefits I still need to insure my personal belongings. Any ideas? Thanks

Dazzathomp

im going on holiday to the maldives soon and taking about £2000 of photographic equipment with me.

Can any recommend a good company to cover this, in case of being damaged, stolen etec etc

Many Thanks