Travel insurance

[am94]

Hello 👋🏻

I am travelling to America in December as my sister is having a baby and didn’t even think about the fact that my investigations would cause problems with travel insurance. I took out a policy earlier this year before I was referred for suspected endometriosis so I have one already. If I had been diagnosed I think I would be able to telephone and tell them I now have a medical condition but it’s the fact I’m still under investigation that’s the problem as my insurers don’t provide cover for undiagnosed conditions. Anyone know of a good insurer who would? Part of me thinks it’s too much effort to change as I won’t have a period while I’m away and that’s usually when I experience problems, but I don’t want to get caught out.

Help would be appreciated! x

[dawntildusk]

You could try Diamond insurance but I think you may be right that as you dont have a diagnosis they may not cover you.

[am94 in reply to dawntildusk]

Thank you. I haven’t but will have a look. Most likely I will just risk it and hope that the only reason I’d need to use travel insurance would be unrelated to my current symptoms! Just another worry to add to everything though 🙈 xx

[dawntildusk in reply to am94]

Diamond were the only ones that would insure me. The only other thing would be if they wont is to see if u can have the 'travel' part of the insurance and not the 'health' part.

[Rachel1million]

Could you just declare that you have endometriosis? I have travel insurance through my nationwide bank account and my endometriosis made no difference to the policy terms or price. Although I guess if it is undiagnosed there is nothing for you to declare yet in some ways because you don’t know... hope you enjoy your trip to America x

[am94 in reply to Rachel1million]

I think it’s different as I haven’t actually been diagnosed so I don’t want to declare something I may not have? It’s a tricky one! Thank you for the help though. I never knew you could get travel insurance through a bank?! x

[GrittyReads]

If you read all the small print on the Travel Insurance agreement/policy, I'm sure that you will find that it says - somewhere - that an undeclared medical condition / situation, will invalidate the whole policy, even if you are taken ill with something else, entirely, and the condition (in your case the undeclared 'pending treatment' for Endo) is not an issue while you are away.

I know it sounds harsh - Draconian, even - but that is how these companies work: how they make their money.

Travel Insurance companies are the business group that is referred to the Ombudsman, the most frequently - by the public - for unfair and hidden catches. However, if you do read the pages of detail in their endless policies, usually all this is spelled out.

It's horrible, but that is how it is … again, it is how they make their money.

I would have a read of it all, and then when you feel clear about the policy, phone them up, and tell them about the pending treatment. Make sure you read their terms, and stick to them. Some companies want to know everything we've ever had wrong - ever; some only ask about the last few years; and some ask a series of questions … but you still have to check the small print. You may be able to ask that they leave the whole Endo issue out of consideration - but cover all other likely sickness - some companies will do this.

From my experience, you have to declare everything, and it usually states - somewhere - that any undeclared illnesses will invalidate the whole policy, even if you have to be treated for something else: I believe they can access medical files - or at least get our GPs to tell them everything, and any pending treatment is a 'no-no', which if undeclared, can invalidate treatment for anything else.

I'm so sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but, I still feel sick with panic at the memory of how many years I was risking everything I own, by travelling with issues/conditions that I didn't even know were 'condtions' that I was supposed to declare: endometriosis being one of them.

Again, sorry to be such a wet blanket, but I had a nasty awakening, and possibly a very narrow escape from penury.

[am94 in reply to GrittyReads]

Hello! Thank you for all the advice. I do completely understand where you’re coming from but my insurer doesn’t allow undiagnosed medical conditions so I don’t think I’d be able to tell them and keep insurance regardless of whether it was for that or not. My policy states: “we can refuse a claim which is in any way connected with a pre-existing medical condition or a new medical condition or changes to your health (as described above) that you failed to tell us about and we never agreed to cover” so I suppose that as long as it’s not related? I know it is an incredibly difficult situation and it’s just a case of do you risk it but also is that worth it?! xx