Travel insurance: Hello again. I... - British Heart Fou...

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Travel insurance

rimpac2012 profile image
15 Replies

Hello again.

I recently asked my Cardiologist how i should describe my condition with reference to travel insurance. He stated that heart failure would be sufficient. However i was informed that AF should be declared as a separate condition. This obviously increases the cost. Surely should it not be that heart failure in itself should be adequate a declaration in itself.

Anyone any ideas on this.

Would be grateful foe any advice.

Many thanks

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rimpac2012 profile image
rimpac2012
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15 Replies
Lezzers profile image
Lezzers

My advice would be to tell them everything, that way they can never say they didnt know & try & wriggle out of a claim. Better to pay a higher premium than to pay health costs if insurers decide they not gonna pay your claim. Have you tried All Clear, they usually very competitive.

walktheboston profile image
walktheboston in reply toLezzers

I had enormous difficulty getting travel insurance for my husband and the cost was prohibitively expense especially as we were going skiing in Canada(nearly £1000 for a 10 day trip.) I used the forum and a member said she had joined the women’s institute and they do not require you to declare illnesses (it’s a members only policy )The only proviso is that the doctor considers you fit to travel . It cost £310 for an annual worldwide with winter sports policy for both of us. I read the small print and could not see any difference between that and my old policy. Trying to find insurance was causing me a lot of stress and anxiety. We had a great holiday without any problems

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply towalktheboston

I've looked at the WI cover as well & I couldn't find any loopholes either, on the face of it it looks good. An insurance company is only as good as its claim service, would be interesting to know if anyone one here is insured with them & if they've made a claim. I'm a real coward when it comes to travel insurance!

walktheboston profile image
walktheboston in reply toLezzers

I spent a long time researching on the internet trying to find out .I didn’t uncover much in the way of reviews and nothing to put me off giving it a go. Like you say it’s only when you have to test the policy that you find out. Fingers crossed

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply towalktheboston

MichaeljH posted on the WI insurers about 9 months ago, very interesting post re existing medical conditions. Worth having a look at the post or maybe Michaeljh could repost it?

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toLezzers

Here's a link to it:-

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

walktheboston profile image
walktheboston in reply toLezzers

Thanks will have a look

rimpac2012 profile image
rimpac2012

Many thanks.

Will take your advice.

Thanks again

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

You must declare all medical conditions even though it may mean a premium increase. Many of us do not have genuine hypertension but because we have been put on ACE inhibitors and/or beta blockers to protect our hearts we are treated as if we do! I have posted about how not declaring a condition can go very, very wrong:-

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

Hanibil profile image
Hanibil

I recently used insure and escape told them I had heart failure AF left bundle block several other problems including being on a waiting list to have a CRT-D implant and they beat every one else on price, my Cardiologist didn’t think I would get insurance. Give them a try

Boharford profile image
Boharford

As I thought insure and escape are underwritten by TIF - as are many of the online insurers

There are a few other big companies operating in the same way. I did extensive searching - going to the about menu option on web pages - usually TIF behind it whose medical team make the decision. I have highly differing quotes from companies who use the same underwriter. TIF have extremely negative feed back about denying claims - the front end insurers is where the good reviews are. For me it means declare absolutely everything. even a chest infection, best way not to end up out of pocket. Also obviously claims are paid out by them so I do all I can to be in this section should I need it.

Interesting debate here

fairerfinance.com/insights/...

Hullensian profile image
Hullensian

Morning, Take the advice given by those bloggers that tell you to declare everything. Remember, the advice of our GP "Insurance companies are Risk Adverse". Much better to research feed-back blogs of insurance companies and pay more for a reliable company. Also, consider where claim-handling department is based. Lots are based in over-seas countries and this causes problems.

rimpac2012 profile image
rimpac2012 in reply toHullensian

Many thanks. My thinking was that some of my declared medical problems like underactive thyroid are unlikely to lead to a need for treatment abroad but still inflate the cost of cover. Seems really unfair to me.

Hullensian profile image
Hullensian

I agree, totally unfair. Our problems are heart / osteoporosis / cancer (which has just been diagnosed). The tumour has been removed and the prognosis is very good, but, as we are still being monitored, I haven't even approached insurance companies (we are taking a year off, at least, from holidays abroad). I don't suppose we would get insurance anyway, but there is no possibility that it could require treatment in the near future.

rimpac2012 profile image
rimpac2012 in reply toHullensian

Many thanks once again, and I wish you well. Take care.

All the best

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