When does a pre existing condition cease?

[Ian2006]

I had a double bypass 2 years ago - everything stable and no problems since the operation. So a few months ago I started looking to see if I had to mention it on travel insurance?

I know I have to mention the statins I am taking and a couple of other tablets to keep cholesterol levels down but I did find an article that from memory said “once something has been under control for 18 months it does not have to be referred to as a pre existing condition or listed on your application” it also said it was not publicised greatly as insurance companies prefer you to keep putting something down - even if it was 20 years ago and hadn’t been a problem since - as they got better premiums from you! ( no surprise there).

So, does anyone that had a bypass more than 2 years ago that is stable - ever leave it off their statement of “pre existing conditions” ???

[Chappychap]

The pre-existing condition was heart disease (atherosclerosis) and possibly other conditions such as high blood pressure. Heart disease is for life, the bypass operation only tackles the angina like symptoms, it can't cure the underlying disease. Therefore my understanding is that you have keep detailing your heart history or else your travel insurance won't be valid.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I list everything, and will continue to do so. I knew someone who had a serious health issue while in the US and their insurance company, because of what they innocently left off their details declined to cover their medical costs. It's bad enough if you're taken ill while away from home without the additional worry of whether your insurance cover will be OK.

[Hidden]

What you read is incorrect, if not in factual terms, then certainly in practical ones. As I understand it, there’s no industry wide rule on how far back someone has to go, and some insurers will only ask questions like ‘in the last 5 years’, but I’ve yet to meet any insurer that doesn’t do their damndest to wriggle out of paying wherever possible, and failing to declare a pre-existing condition is one of the most common excuses when it comes to travel insurance refusing to pay up. The advice I was given by a broker is that you should declare any medical condition at all - even hayfever - that you’ve sought advice, or had tests or treatment for in the last 2 years, along with anything stable you’re having ongoing treatment for even if you haven’t sought new advice in that time, or anything that lead to the current treatment (which would cover declaring your bypass in relation to taking statins), in addition to any major health problem you’ve ever had. What’s meant by major is quite woolly, but can be taken to mean anything generally considered serious such as heart attack, stroke, cancer etc., anything requiring any major surgery other than broken bones, anything requiring prolonged or continuous treatment, and includes acute mental health problems. The wording of the question is also really important: if a question specifies a time period, or asks if you’ve ever had something, you need to answer appropriately to the wording. If it asks ever, then that childhood asthma you had 40 years ago? Needs including. You have to bear in mind that even if an incident is unrelated, if they can even hypothetically link a health event or accident occurring on holiday to an undeclared medical condition, or if that undeclared medical condition increases the cost or the complexity of the treatment required, they’ll treat the claim as void and refuse to pay.

[Midgeymoo17]

Never. However, age can matter in some conditions. I have congenital heart disease and fainted in 2013. I have to declare that each time I get insurance. In the first five years I had to pay an additional premium as a result of the fainting episode. As it has not happened since, I notice that the premium has returned to just that for my underlying congenital defect.

[firstlight40]

As others have said, it's worth declaring everything according to the precise instructions in the medical section of the insurance form. You can see if a year makes a significant difference in cost by getting a quote with everything pushed back a year. For me, the annual cost of worldwide travel insurance has just gone up by 2 1/2 times due to my recent HA - but then I'd not want to be needing medical care in the USA without rock solid insurance cover for > $10M medical costs. There are some BHF recommended insurers if you look at their website.

[Cruise1]

My insurer charged me additional premium after I had my gall bladder removed but it came off at the 12 month anniversary of surgery. Currently I have had 2 stents done in January and renewed my annual policy with my bank account last month with an additional £151 for the condition. I also pay an additional £75 per annum as I am over 70. Covers me worldwide for trips up to 31 days including cruising with £10 million medical cover, had to pay £70 extra for my wife as she had hip replacement surgery last September and prior to it had to pay a similar sum as she was awaiting surgery. She had a date but it was later cancelled and rescheduled due to Covid.

[Bingo88]

Hello Ian 2006. I always find its best ringing up and speaking to someone in medical assistance for the insurance company and then there's nothing misunderstood. And I would also ask for a copy of your medical history from your gp. Because I was admitted urgently from my surgery and I found medical problems on there that I don't remember being told about. Brian