Confusion Over Terms

[keljimstock]

Hello. Travel Insurance. Again. Sorry. When applying and declaring my health condition I am always asked whether my heart problem is due to cardiomypathy. However, my cardiologist's report states that I suffered an inferior myocardial infarction. What do I declare on the form? I have investigated as to just what is cardiomypathy in relation to what my heart failure involved (that is, an occluded coronary artery) but I am little the wiser. Help please.

[Happyrosie]

cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle, and could cover many things.

You have had a myocardial infarction which is a specific condition. Heart failure is something else.

In my humble opinion, just declare a myocardial infarction which is what you had.

[keljimstock in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you.

[Shellac]

I would ring the insurance company and asked, make sure everything is covered

[keljimstock in reply to Shellac]

Yes. I am sure that you are right.Trouble is most of the call centre staff are unsure themselves,

[Shellac in reply to keljimstock]

Put everything down so your covered for it all. X

[Bingo88]

Good morning. I would personally ring the insurance company and explain over the phone to them. Because they have medical advisors who understand medical conditions. Brian

[keljimstock in reply to Bingo88]

Thanks Brian. The online forms are quite vague aren't they?

[Bingo88 in reply to keljimstock]

Some of the questions I find are missing leading and confusing. So I always ring up and explain things. Plus some companies are not concerned about some health issues that you have not had treatment or problems with for over 3 years like back or hip pain. Plus I like a paper copy of details and not online information. Brian

[fishonabike]

if you are asked if your "heart problem is due to cardiomypathy" you need to be clear about what you refered to as your "heart failure" - you say that your heart failure was due to an occluded artery, but heart failure can mean many things and it is often used by medics in reference to cardiomyopathy - so do you mean that your heart failed because of occlusion or were you told that you had a type of cardiomyopathy/heart failure?heart failure is not a medical term but cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarct are and the insurance company use medical terms (but most of the staff have no idea what they mean)

[keljimstock in reply to fishonabike]

Thanks for replying. On the online forms my specific condition is never listed as such and cardiomypathy is a broad term that doesn't seem to cover it either. I was told that the occlusion led to "heart failure" in layman's terms so I think that I need to have a chat with my GP after all.

[fishonabike in reply to keljimstock]

this article explains the difference between heart attack (Myocardial Infarct), heart failure and cardiac arrest - you might find it helpful:mountcarmelhealth.com/blog/...

[keljimstock in reply to fishonabike]

Hi. Yes and thanks it was useful. I think my problem lies in translating medical terms into laymans language and negotiating the vagueness in the questions asked by most insurance companies. In future I shall only deal with specialist firms who will actually talk to one on the 'phone.

[Happyrosie]

certainly on my online forms I had ‘myocardial infarction’ as a specific term.

[keljimstock in reply to Happyrosie]

Hello Happyrosie. Which insurance company were you with if I may ask?

[Happyrosie]

currently with U K Insurance via my bank Nationwide. From memory, using several others over the past 20 years since my husband first had hearts probs, they all ask more or less the same questions. Fairly new legislation says they must ask you the right questions so that they cannot slide out of payment when there’s a claim, so THEY must explain to YOU if unclear.