Health Insurance - your experience of pre-existing conditions

jen_79 · 8 April 2018 at 1:44PM

Hope someone can help!

I went to the GP in August last year with a few weird symptoms in my arm. It got a bit worse so I went to the GP again a few weeks later who referred me to Neurology but there was a 12 month waiting list. As such, no diagnosis was provided.

The symptoms went away a few months later and I've not thought about it since. I took out health insurance (moratorium underwriting) when someone in work talked about it in November. Something to do with an Apple Watch but I'm not interested lol

The symptoms have been back over the last month so I thought I'd pay for a private consultation and when they asked me how I'd be paying I suddenly remembered I had health insurance!

Anyway, I called the insurers up but they won't support me as based on me taking the policy out after the GP visits, it counts as a pre-existing condition.

Is this fair? I guess the timing is correct but I'm not a medical expert so I don't know what condition it is I have that pre-exists the policy.

Just wanted a quick 2nd opinion as I don't know anyone else with insurance. The guy in work has never claimed.

Thanks :j

csgohan4 · 8 April 2018 at 3:31PM

what did your terms and condition say when you took out the insurance and there will always be questions like 'are you waiting for investigations/ specialist follow up.' Did you remember these when you took out the insurance.

jen_79 · 8 April 2018 at 3:52PM

Yes I kept the terms. It actually has two examples that seem like they might apply:

1. A heart condition diagnosed by routine GP visit after the start of the plan. It is covered if you weren't aware of the symptoms before the plan started.

2. You suspect you have a condition because of a lump that you have before the plan starts. The plan starts. You then get a diagnosis and treatment starts. It's excluded for the first 2 years of the plan because you were aware of the condition in the 5 years before the plan started.

I have no idea what I've got, though I do know I have symptoms. A lump on your breast seems more of an obvious concern than my arm which has very confusing symptoms.

I could get a proper answer by making a claim but I'd rather avoid it if it's just going to be obviously declined to keep my record clean and hopefully the premiums down.

I'm leaning towards not covered though it would be handy if it was and tests and imaging will be required as I'm sure I won't be able to afford them. Or I could just wait for the NHS!

sheramber · 8 April 2018 at 4:09PM

A pre exisitng condition is usually anything that showed symptoms before taking out the plan. It doesn't need to have a diagnosis.

Your healthplan will have a time - or moratonium- for any pre existng conditions. Any conditoin that arose in that time will be excluded either permanently or for a set period time depending on the plan.

jen_79 · 8 April 2018 at 4:31PM

Thanks, think I suspected as much so just wanted to be sure. Really appreciate your help.

Health Insurance - your experience of pre-existing conditions

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