Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

It's that time of year again !! Last year we booked a holiday for a week in Spain for June this year.
Last year we went on a cruise and of course I had to ensure I was fully covered for my existing medical condition. I answered all the questions put to me over the phone fully and honestly as far as I was able to and was quoted a figure to cover me in the event of being taken ill whilst on holiday.
(£235). Made me gulp rather as prior to this my insurance cover had always been free with my bank account. But... better to be sure.

This time I phoned the same company and again I was asked a list of questions regarding my health etc. One of the questions I was asked was how many medicines, including inhalers,did I have? I answered truthfully two, one that I take once in the mornings and the other that I take twice a day.
The second question was ..Was I ever prescribed Oxygen other than when in hospital.. I answered No.

The third question was ...did I have any appointment for treatment etc that could effect the insurance cover?
I answered no as I didn't believe that the usual check with a consultant up 6 months after leaving hospital counted as treatment etc.

They accepted my cover and quoted me £144 which thankfully is a lot lower than previously for the same cover.

Now my worries (I have three) are as follows.

When I left hospital last year in June, the Doctor prescribed a Reliever Inhaler in case of emergency, which I have never used but always carry with me in case..

Prior to that, when I was first admitted to hospital in January 2013 the hospital arranged for Oxygen to be placed in my home after my discharge in the event of my having need of it. I never used it and after a couple of months I asked my Doctor if he would please arrange for it to be removed, which he did so.

Finally, I have just been to see the Respiratory Consultant at our Hospital who is so pleased with my progress that he is going to discharge me from the Hospital and back to my Doctors Surgery.

Yesterday I watched a programme with Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julie Sommerville talking about a large Insurance company whom when the person involved was taken very ill with respiratory problems whilst on holiday in Spain was taken to a private hospital. Her husband who didnt speak a word of Spanish, was so worried he handed over all of her medicines and inhalers to the hospital along with the insurance documents. The hospital must have phoned the insurance company because when the poor husband phoned to let the insurance company know that his wife was in a coma in a Spanish hospital, they informed him they were refusing to pay out because his wife had an extra inhaler with her (one more than she had stated) and it was a emergency inhaler.

Apparently she recovered enough to return home and they received the hospital bill of £30,000 pounds !!!!!
and again, the inhaler turned out to be their daughter who had the same illness as mum. It was only when the programme got involved that the Insurance Company gave in and agreed to pay the hospital bill.

Now I am probably going to worry for the next five months whether I am going to be covered or will they use any excuse not to cover me, cynic that I am.
Does anyone have any advice please. Should I contact the Insurance company knowing they could hike the price?
It does state on my terms and conditions that if I don't divulge any information that they deem admissable they could refuse to cover me in the event of being taken ill on holiday. But... if I phone them and tell them the three points above they will then have the right to charge me more for changing the paperwork or not covering me at all !!

Help! any advice appreciated. sorry this topic so long.

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Its always best to tell them every thing you can as an Insurance company will try any trick in the book to get out of paying large amounts,It may cost you a few hundred more but much better than thousands.

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

I think you need to call insurance company and clear things , it's not worth the terrible worry or consequences .

My ex husband went to new York , he forgot to mention to the insurance company that he had had a gall bladder attack the year previously and not followed up a specialist appointment . While in new York was taken into hospital and had to pay £20,000 bill to the hospital as insurance checked with his doctor for his past illness and missing a specialist appointment.

Yes it may cost you more , but you will sleep better knowing your safely covered .

Just go over the questions and answers again and read the contract through when received . I saw the proramme on TV this week too . Good luck

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Hi and thank you both for your valued responses to my worries.
Well, I did as you suggested and which I was in mind to do anyway and telephoned my insurer. Thank goodness I took your advice !!

They said the emergency inhaler would have to be included.

I then informed her that I was fretting about the answer I had given regarding the following question and whether I had given the correct answer.

"Have you ever been prescribed Oxygen other than when you were in hospital?"

I told them that I had answered "No" because I thought as I was lying in a hospital bed when they suggested it may be a good idea to have an oxygen cylinder installed at home before they discharged me I was covered by the "other than when you were in hospital" bit, but apparently I was not !
and even though after a couple of months of complete non-use where I asked my Doctor to arrange for it to be taken away (which he did) the Insurance company informed me this morning that it didn't matter and that the underwriter would just see it as something that I hadn't declared and would refuse the insurance payout !!
She then went on to say that because of having the oxygen installed at home that put me in a higher risk and they could not cover my condition !!!!!!!!!!

So...here I am again with my money being refunded and without medical travel insurance. Still it is better than being taken ill and not being covered. It's such a minefield out there isn't it?
I even told them that I had personally requested a routine fitness to fly test (which is just a routine test due to pulminory embolism 12 months ago) a week before I fly because It will be the first time I have flown and just wanted peace of mind and she pounced on that too !!

Anyway, thank you both so much for not letting me waste my hard earned money and especially not even being covered if anything had happened. xx

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Yoy are totally in the hands of the insurances companies. All you can do is be totally honest and see what they come up with. However different insurance companies have different ideas about possible health problems while abroad, so worth ringing around to get the best deal that suits you

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Thanks Realspeed, I will do that but it won't stop me worrying whether I have missed something even though I honestly believe I have disclosed everything fully and as truthfully as I can and still at risk of being refused payment should something happen.

It doesn't help that these Insurance Companies always show thousands of reviews of people whom have taken medical insurance out with them but I can never ever see any of what action was given when one became ill. Its all very well giving great reviews of the nice lady on the end of the phone whilst taking the insurance out, I am sure most people would like to see how many were helped with a insurance payout or how many were refused and why!!!

Oh well, I will keep searching...........

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Don't forget to read the small print and terms and conditions etc etc. That is where they hide the "get out" clauses

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Try Staysure. I always use these for the USA and will again for Spain in April ...

A lot of people recommend Euro Tunnel Ins for pre-existing conditions. Its best to phone those though and based on what you've said in the above, I'm sure they will give you the best quote.

I go to America often and belong to a travel forum where this question comes up often.

Those two are the most recommended ...

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

SG, have you got your EHIC card? Spain is covered anyway have a look on this link it maybe of help to you.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...-the-ehic.aspx

Re: Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.

Hi Silbee . unfortunately it was Staysure that insured me and is now refunding me as they won't cover one of my medical conditions COPD because I had oxygen cylinder placed at home even though I never used it and requested it to be removed which it was.
I will certainly try the other one you suggest though thank you very much