travel insurance

[hashihol]

hi there, just tried to renew my travel insurance policy and apparently I hadn’t let them know of my thyroid condition previously. This has meant my policy has increased from £63 per year to £221. Does anyone know of any insurance companies who won’t penalise me for having a thyroid condition?

[SueLizJ]

You may have to pay more for the condition but it is very worthwhile checking a comparison website like moneysupermarket.com - and click on Travel Insurance.

[jimh111]

Most companies don't charge more for hypothyroidism because it doesn't carry extra risk of medical treatment or curtailment.

[hashihol in reply to jimh111]

well that’s what I thought. I don’t understand why they think I’m a risk. I mean worst case scenario I forget to take my levothyroxine on holiday with me?!? So strange. But will check out some comparison sites. Thanks ☺️

[Charlie-Farley in reply to hashihol]

I don’t think they do think you’re a risk - they are just seeing an excuse to charge more. Bunch of merchants.

Scour the market. Hubby does insurance and ends up going with a different company every time. They may well be underwritten by the same banks but that is no concern as long as the cover is good. He noticed this year the brands with a good reputation are trying to use that to inflate premiums too.

[HandS in reply to jimh111]

I was refused a diving trip by the company organising it because i was taking levothyroxine. Didn’t want my money.

[hashihol in reply to HandS]

😱 that’s crazy!

[HandS in reply to hashihol]

Many firms are risk averse. Didn’t even allow me to sign a waiver

[arTistapple]

Insurance seems to be a law unto itself. The main thing is telling them everything. I don’t know about you but I have had a number of issues (usually at the GP end of things). They don’t always tell you, you have a condition! I had this problem with Chronic Kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and even hypothyroidism (tests taken about five years before and not being told). I feel this is incredibly remiss of GPs. Negligent actually but hey ho, they get away with everything. If we don’t ask (and even when we do) they don’t tell. This is the standard of service we are being forced to deal with. The problem for us is our travel insurance is null and void if they are not told about whatever. It’s ironic too that all my conditions - now I know- are all related to hypothyroidism.

[hashihol in reply to arTistapple]

Yes, it’s ridiculous. I’m pretty sure I have lupus too but have not been diagnosed so am certainly not going to tell the insurers that one as well!

[arTistapple]

Exactly Hashilol. It’s insidious at every turn. I had a heart attack over twenty years ago. I take no actual medication for that. Does anybody wonder why I have survived this long post heart attack? No! No curiosity. However (IMHO) surprise, surprise it’s most likely been undiagnosed hypothyroidism all along. It’s a nightmare dealing with all things medical but especially it seems, if you have thyroid issues. After all it so easy to treat. Hah!

[Popscicle in reply to arTistapple]

I suspect you’re right. Your heart attack was probably a ‘non-heart attack’ as otherwise surely you would Hv angina type symptoms particularly if you were never on heart medication.

[arTistapple in reply to Popscicle]

Unfortunately I have continued to have angina, unresponsive to GTN, for twenty plus years but arteries were known to be clear at the time of heart attack. They have a name for it now. MINOCCA. Myocardial Infarction No Occlusion of Coronary Arteries - Ithink. It’s rare but I hear of more people with it. We have an ‘expert’ in our local but world famous Heart Hospital. I am trying to be referred. Only thing that has touched the pain was starting levo. However it was short lived.

[Popscicle in reply to arTistapple]

Ah - that’s is something that’s recognised more and more these days in women. It is a real heart attack but its caused by coronary artery spasm rather than atherosclerotic occlusion. Poor you to still be suffering.

[arTistapple in reply to Popscicle]

Spot on.

[Milkyway88]

I haven’t travelled abroad since 2018. When searching for travel insurance at the time, I declared I was hypo and also added several more conditions to the list. I thought I’d be rinsed or refused, but I’ve just managed to find the old email (really need to delete my inbox!!) and it was just under £30. Obviously it will have increased post Brexit. That was with Get Going - and they still seem to be around.

[BenLabrador]

Why tell them? It’s very unlikely to lead to a health problem that would lead to a claim. I assume it’s irrelevant for insurance purposes, like my athlete’s foot.

[helvella Administrator in reply to BenLabrador]

Because of the Doctrine of Utmost Good Faith.

Leaving aside morals, ethics and the usual provisions of contract law, the consequences can be serious.

If you do NOT declare, they can withdraw insurance without warning. Or claim back anything they have paid out in respect of that insurance. Furthermore, they might well be able to refuse to refund any premium paid.

And that applies even if the issue is entirely irrelevant to any claims.

Some of this has been changed by the 2015 Insurance Act but failure to declare a material fact could still result in very unpleasant results.

[BenLabrador in reply to helvella]

I agree, but query whether hypothyroidism is a material fact.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to BenLabrador]

Isn't the question posed "do you have a pre-existing medical condition"?

[BenLabrador in reply to TiggerMe]

Best check if hypothyroidism counts as such. Where do we stop in listing medical conditions?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to BenLabrador]

Years since I've travelled, this seemed a useful site... hellosafe.co.uk/travel-insu...

Always surprises me how cheap it is!

[BenLabrador in reply to TiggerMe]

OK thanks!

[hashihol in reply to BenLabrador]

it’s because they asked if I take any regular medication so I thought I couldn’t really get away without declaring that…

[BenLabrador in reply to hashihol]

As they asked you did the right thing however they sound ignorant about hypothyroidism. I used Staysure.

[helvella Administrator in reply to BenLabrador]

It is material to the validity of the insurance contract if not to any specific attempt at a claim.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to BenLabrador]

It doesn't really matter if it leads to the problem that you claim for, say for instance a fall and broken bone, much like if you modify your car and don't disclose it, then someone runs in the back of you, it gives them the excuse they need to invalidate your policy... that's how insurance works... withhold information at your peril... your as good as uninsured

[Hashihope in reply to BenLabrador]

This actually is not true. Any claim whatsoever whether related to hypothyroidism or not can be denied if they discover that you didn't disclose any medical condition. They are always searching for any reason to deny a claim.

[Yoga54]

unbelievable rip off, I travel back and forth to Cyprus every few months and I have Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) I have a yearly policy with Staysure insurance that covers my medical condition and I only pay £ 22 a year, I did loads of research beforehand so the price you have been quoted is ridiculous, always declare all medical conditions as it’s not worth the risk but there’s much cheaper insurance out there, hope this helps.

[GHHR]

Coverwise are reasonable for travel insurance too - I have hypothyroidism - but believe don’t insure once you hit 65..

[Andie222]

I am with Staysure. I declare my condition and I don't remember paying an increased premium. No idea about customer service as I bought the policy online and I haven't needed to claim.

[Billyboy2u]

wow, odd that, as mine remained the same. I'd do a comparison site job before making a commitment to that price.

[BenLabrador]

Dear All, I stand corrected.

[wightmouse]

I've used thus comparison company several times for pre existing conditions and found them very reasonably priced. Haven't used since Brexit though.Just travel insurance.