Travel Insurance Issue

[Mongoose59]

I recently applied for travel insurance and declared Osteoporosis. Next question that came back was about medication so I entered my meds but it then flagged up, have you ever refused to take osteoporosis drugs?

Now that is an odd question because you could say the same for any medication but why specifically Osteoporosis drugs. For me this is ringing alarm bells. Why ask such a targeted question.

Any thoughts welcome? Has anyone else had this on an insurance form?

[Margo]

Sounds a bit sinister to me.

[Siamang]

I listed osteoporosis for travel insurance and didn’t get asked that but it did cost!

[Nottinghamryan2]

Hi Mongoose59,

It’s just a risk assessment process , I have been asked the same question for a number of years. Other conditions are assessed in a similar way when you apply online for travel insurance. I am also usually asked do you take statins ? followed by have you been offered but declined statins. I just answer honestly and continue to enjoy lots of holidays. Good luck with it.

[Mongoose59 in reply to Nottinghamryan2]

Yes it’s just another way for them to find a loop hole not to pay out. What’s next BMI number, units of alcohol, etc

[Dorsetlass2300]

I used to declare Osteoporosis on my travel insurance and was never asked that question by the main insurers for pre-existing medical conditions. It used to annoy me that I fell into the category of 1-3 broken bones when it was only 1 and that carried on for 5 years. Fortunately I have been able to pull myself out of osteoporosis into osteopenia which is less expensive. Hope you can find a solution.

[Mongoose59 in reply to Dorsetlass2300]

Thanks I hope my next DEXA will reveal an improvement.

[Raevyn59]

I rang my travel insurance and they said it wasn’t a problem I didn’t have to declare it !!!

[Ludovic4 in reply to Raevyn59]

What company were you applying to ? , I am in the same position.

[Ludovic4 in reply to Raevyn59]

Which company said it wasn't a problem?

[Raevyn59 in reply to Ludovic4]

Aviva , I actually rang them twice to double check as i go skiing and only recently been diagnosed

[Ludovic4 in reply to Raevyn59]

Many thanks.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Raevyn59]

I wouldn’t trust them - if they ask you for information I think it is always better to answer honestly because they are very likely to wriggle their way out of paying up if they get half a chance.

On the other hand if there is no mention of osteoporosis or ‘have you ever refused X or Y drug? (which I think is very sinister) then as long as you have listed any or all of your medical conditions then I imagine you’d be ok.

[JennaMax]

I was asked which drug I took for osteoporosis and I'm on Denosumab the first time I rang they said they wouldn't insure me, rang back and they then said they would and it would cost just £14 extra so worth declaring. It seemed the first person hadn't got a clue what she was talking about when I checked with the 2nd person!

[Mongoose59 in reply to JennaMax]

Hi JennaMax thanks for the reply. Unfortunately this is often the case. I prefer to fill out the online form as then it’s recorded on you quote. I did a bit more searching about the insurance asking if I had refused medication as I had not declared any drug. The reason for this is I am on a so called ‘drug holiday’ from Ibandronic acid as I had been on it 7 years. Of course on the form it asks if you have osteoporosis and what drug do you take. So guess computer said no. I do feel its their business so they should know what questions to ask (due diligence) but I worry they will wriggle if at all possible.

[Jaynesh]

This is a worry for me as my nhs dexa recorded Osteoporosis despite also saying can’t be verified due to some mild spondylitis. The osteoporosis is now on my records. I’ve had two Rems scans both in the Osteopenia range. Unfortunately I had an accident and ended up with a broken tibia and a couple minor untreated chips in elbow and arm. These were traumatic fractures that would have happened to even the fittest athlete or a younger person . I thought about changing the response the next year to osteopenia but it still asked the number of fractures since diagnosis. It’s very annoying as to lie you could end up in covered yet there’s no way you can explain your answers. Osteopenia shouldn’t even be on the forms as it’s a normal aging process and the vast majority are unaware of their scores anyway!

I ended up leaving the nhs mid diagnosis of osteoporosis plus three fractures as I just couldn’t imagine the hassle if needed and the insurance company write to the NHS anyway. Yes it’s cost me a lot more.