Travel Insurance AFTER surgery and treatment

[twojoes]

Hi,

I haven't been away on holiday for a number of years, but in the meantime I had my aortic value replaced. I also previously had high blood pressure which was being treated. But basically with the OP and the ongoing medication, I'm fortunate to be fairly healthy as a result. However when it comes to travel insurance I am wondering how to answer all the medical questions - eg. Do I have high blood pressure... Well I did, but now no, because I am taking medication, do I have heart decease, well do I? my heart now has a new valve for a couple of years and I'm monitored etc, but am I at any more risk than anyone else? (I hope not! lol) . I don't want to answer these questions wrongly and risk not being covered if something happens, but equally I don't want to overly stung if my medical history is (for the moment) just history... If you see what I mean.

I was going to go thru comparison sites, but wondering if I should simply accept likely higher costs and go with a company I can actually talk to. Any thoughts / comments?

Thanks

[Hanibil]

Hi I had an aortic valve and aorta repair,in 2005 at age 48. I also have heart failure, and in 2019 had a CRT-D implant. I tried most insurance company’s including those advertised on tv and comparison sites. The cheapest that covered all my problems was Avanti insurance

[twojoes in reply to Hanibil]

Thanks I may try them, if I can get thru to speak to a human . lol

[Hidden]

Hi, In my experience going back to the mid-90s I'd suggest that you disclose everything. The two questions you have posed on High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease would need to be disclosed as you on meds for the former and had Valve Replacement so do have a form of Valvular Heart Disease, however, that doesn't mean that you should be stung unnecessarily.

One thing to bear in mind, is that the Comparison Sites/Insurance Companies use the same template for questions, so it can be very useful to go through the questions, answer them honestly. If you do this first and get a feel for the questions, then speak with someone its much better (have the questions up on a screen when you're going through the quotation).

My insurance is with my Bank, underwritten by Aviva and I am covered for multiple heart related issues at NIL additional cost. I have a call with them annually to discuss any changes and to date its never been a problem. I'm covered for (a) Cardiac Valve Disease 3x OHS with multiple AV & MV, (b) Arrhythmia, includes complete Heart Block, AF, Pacemaker (c) Heart Murmur (d) Heart Failure, covers a multitude of sins (e) Gastrointestinal Bleed, (f) Angiodysplasia, (g) Anaemia.

I'm on Warfarin so I make sure that's included within answer for (a), not for any other question. For example if they ask the question on High Blood Pressure, if you on a Blood Thinner/Anti-Coagulant the answer would be no, for this particular question.

I get what you mean by Medical History being just history, and that's how I see it. I receive a letter confirming my acceptances, but, I spend a good hour plus on the call making sure both parties are happy with my disclosures.

I can't stress more, that you need to know the questions before the call.

Best Regards

[twojoes in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I guess it is a case of going thru the questions as yes - these are some generic templates etc. I absolutely want to disclose any history, it was just how some questions are phrased with simple yes / no answers where its not clear. But will have a go.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

My experience of talking to insurance company representatives is that they use the same or very similar questionnaire to the one that you fill in online. I suggest you go to a price comparison site for travel insurance with pre existing conditions fill in the questionnaire then when you get the results select say three and talk to them. And just because one person finds cover with one company that they are comfortable with doesnt mean the next person will . We are all different, age, gender, medical history, where we are going etc etc so as far as an insurance company is concerned everyone's risk is different. The other alternative is to talk to a local broker who will be incentivised to get a good deal for you.

[Petitlady]

I have just booked a single trip with staysure. I booked it all online. There is a drop down menu which includes aortic valve replacement. When I selected this it asked a few more questions about current issues (luckily I don’t have them). It doesn’t ask if you have high blood pressure, it it asks if you have ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure, how many meds you are taking for it and about recent changes to medications. The questions are clearly designed to deal with the sort of grey areas you are flagging up and it would be difficult to answer accurately without maximum disclosure! Cost was about 1/3 more than I paid last year, when I was more at risk simply because at that time I was unaware that I had aortic stenosis!

[Shellac]

Hi try medical compare, you are better off ringing the companies and they will go through the questions with you,

[Still_Breathing]

Hi, I also have had a new aortic valve fitted.With the insurance I suggest to answer truthfully. They will get your health records and check in the event they have to pay out..

When answering their questions myself I found out according to them that I have high blood pressure! I don't I have never been told once I have high blood pressure, but I am taking medication for it as a precaution.....

Their software also makes assumptions which cannot be avoided because of your answers.

At the end of the day hopefully the cost will be dead money but if its not then a bit extra now will be worth it to cover any expenses abroad.

I used Civil service travel insurance for last year, they are now open to anyone.

[Petitlady in reply to Still_Breathing]

I agree absolutely. I am grateful that I am still here and fit enough to enjoy a holiday. Insurance has always worked on the principle of absolute honesty from the customer, I remember learning that back on a law course back in the seventies! Hopefully I’ll never need to claim, but the press is full of stories about people who haven’t got insurance, fallen ill or had accidents and left their family with a huge financial problem.

[Dino40]

Be very honest as they do and can check your medical records in the event of a claim. I'd missed something (wasn't even a big thing) many many years ago and they got out of paying.

Anything you take a prescription for declare it. I even declare hayfever as one of my family members has a prescribed nasal spray for it.

It's also worth speaking to companies if you're still under Consultant care as that can count as awaiting outpatient appointments.

They really have cracked down this year. I'm awaiting tests for my asthma and asked Staysure to remove it from the policy as they wouldn't obviously cover it and they wouldn't it and they then said wouldn't cover my other conditions because of it and that was just for the UK.

[Noodlesalad in reply to Dino40]

Travel insurance more of a rip off than car insurance and home insurance. Sadly if we want a holiday we need it but I think the majority of people who take out insurance do so because we know it's safer to have it. I just wish they weren't so judgie and expensive by the time you finish the questions you end up paying for close to the cost of another holiday.

[Noodlesalad]

My experience of travel insurance has been directly from the company I got it from. Basically he said you need to tell us everything that is on your medical records especially anything that resulted in a hospital visit or treatment and especially any surgery or waiting list record.My advice is don't leave anything out that way if something does go wrong they cannot deny your claim. I have never claimed on holiday insurance praise the Lord but each time I read about these people on holiday who have no insurance or huge bills I feel so sorry for them and think yes tell them everything and they should tell you if they think it's not relevant.

Good luck.

[Leonardo1]

I’m with staysure I had AvR in 2021 I said I had aortic stenosis and then it asks if you’ve had the

Surgery , also the same for hypertension it asks are you taking medication . So although you had the conditions you haven’t now but you now taking or had treatment for them . I took annual travel insurance which was actually reasonable .

Good luck

Ch

[Weemonkey1]

Hi - I also had aortic valve replaced. I don’t have heart disease as such, just unfortunate to have had faulty valve. My experience of getting travel insurance this year was yes/no answers, if yes then agent delved deeper., eg, in the last 5 years have you had or suffered from questions. I was expecting my insurance to cost hundreds of pounds so was pleasantly surprised when it was less than £100. Hope this helps.

[Petitlady in reply to Weemonkey1]

Pretty much the same experience on line to be honest. I was surprised (and pleased) when the online application covered replaced valve. I’m paying £75 for a week’s European travel but this covers myself and my husband who also takes medication for high blood pressure. We are both in our mid sixties

[Vrouse]

My partner has high BP but treated with meds, we answer yes to the question even though the tablets work. He also has had an aortic valve replacement which is an option to select on travel insurance sites. Be as open and as honest as you can, my partners insurance is good as he has no history of a heart attack or angina which weight the cost of insurance.