Tried to get insurance whilst waiting for an endoscopy and they refused to cover me for medical at all! Had it done privately and was all clear but they still loaded my premium. I thought about not declaring I was waiting for the test but if any problem had arisen they wouldn't have paid out because I'd not declared it. Next time I travel I shall use a company that does health only.
Declare everything! Otherwise you run the risk of not being covered at all. I've had cover refused completely whilst waiting for an angiogram (which incidentally was clear) and had to cancel the planned holiday and claim back the cost. Also, same company wanted me to cancel a very recent holiday because I was waiting for the results of a chest xray following a chest infection - luckily my GP was happy to chase up the result (also clear!) And they agreed to cover the trip. So... if they refuse to cover before the trip, they would definitely refuse to cover if you travelled without giving them all your medical information. I'd say it's not worth the risk!
Dear Alicant I agree with Happy Rosie that you need to look at the policy documents but suspect that you will need to disclose or risk invalidating the cover and the disclosure may result in the insurer suspending any existing cover until you have the all clear from your doctor once you have the tests back. The problem getting cover without a settled diagnosis is that the insurers can’t price the risk. Once you have a diagnosis you can usually always get cover at a price. If you have booked something already on annual cover before you were told you need the tests my insurer will pay out any unrecoverable costs if I do not get the results before I am due to travel. My insurer always has to check with the underwriters and the insurer would not let me travel without the new tests. It is a real pain ( this has happened to me 3 times now) but you don’t want to end up without cover.
It's always a strange one is what to declare and when. You certainly run the risk of invalidating through non declaration if the worst happens whilst you're away. I've just recently had endoscopy for a pre existing condition, it's part and parcel of one of my declared illnesses so don't need to declare. It's a routine procedure for my condition. Same goes for my 6 monthly liver ultrasound. No need to declare as it's for declared pre existing. If it's for something completely new then yes, you must declare.
Just a thought, how do these insurance companies get hold of your medical records?
I assume that you have to give your GP permission to release them.....
What if your GP said "sorry, I'm busy dealing with patients I won't be writing letters to insurance companies"....what would happen to your claim then?
When I had to cancel my holiday my experience was that I had to get my GP to fill in a form and I had to send it to my insurer. I was fortunate enough that they paid out right away.
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