Its not just pre existing conditions they need to know but any recent visits to an A&E or an Out Patient Department.They also need to know about any recent X Rays and scans.
One of our friends had a scan last year which was clear so didnt inform his Insurance company.
He became seriously ill when on holiday in October and because he hadnt disclosed the scan he was landed with a bill of £7,800!
It seems they need to know everything!

Some years ago my niece was traveling to work when she was in collision with a car driving on the wrong side of the road. Her car was a write off after she was cut out of it. She was off work for around a year. She needed reconstructive surgery on her knee as part of her treatment.
Forward a while and her claim for compensation came up. The driver of the other car had already been prosecuted for dangerous driving and been found guilty by this time. The police report cleared her of any blame as there were witnesses to the incident.
The insurance company disputed part of her claim. She had lost her job as a nurse with the prison service as they could not be sure she would not be in danger due to her knee injury in case of a riot.
The insurance company disputed the extent of her disability based on a visit to the doctor when aged 7 years - she was 40 when she had the accident - when she was complaining her knee hurt.
She and her mother could not even recall the visit to the doctor. How many times as a kid did your Mum take you after your latest escapade only for the doctor to send you off with a bit of sticking plaster and told to be a bit more careful?
So if anyone doubts that the insurance company will not find even the remotest excuse not to pay out let my little tale be a warning.
My house insurance gives me free travel cover but when you read the (very) small print it is only for people under 65. I also know that they will not cover me for a heart attack (I do not have a heart condition) as I am on statins and type 2 Diabetes which is why my travel insurance is not with them..
Might cost a bit more but tell them it could be a lot cheaper than finding they will not pay out when you have a claim.

fwh

Jay Trip wrote:

Its not just pre existing conditions they need to know but any recent visits to an A&E or an Out Patient Department.They also need to know about any recent X Rays and scans.
One of our friends had a scan last year which was clear so didnt inform his Insurance company.
He became seriously ill when on holiday in October and because he hadnt disclosed the scan he was landed with a bill of £7,800!
It seems they need to know everything!

I think this is a case that they should refer to the insurance ombudsman.

One insurance company said they didn't need to be told if a condition is "fully resolved". However in the next breath childhood asthma, which has never been a problem since, and back pain from over 20 years ago had to be declared. When I queried this I was told that both conditions are never fully resolved.

For anyone who has had cancer and is now clear but the 5 years is not yet up, I have found an annual family policy that will include me !! This is a mine field and alot of companies lump all cancers in the same category which is unfair as certain cancers like mine (papillary thyroid cancer) are "easy" to treat and have an excellent prognosis. In the beginning, finding travel insurance for myself meant that I could only purchase single trip policies with the rest of the family on an annual policy together.The same company has consistently covered me for only a slightly increased premium.
This time (3 years down the line) they will cover me on the annual policy so I am a very happy bunny. Infact Mr hbrac has to pay more for his pre existings than me They seem good for not loading you excessively on the medical screenings so for anyone looking give them a try.Obviously everyone's circumstances are different but try Insure and Go on 0800 083 8333. Funnily enough the specialist cancer insurer much publicised was the most expensive of all those I tried.

Just checked with Insure & Go, their price was half the price I'm paying now. I'm going with them nex time.

It's worth getting a quote Carol.It is important that you tell them all about pre existing medical conditions and medications however trivial. Mr Hbrac's heartburn meds didn't count they said .I told them about the medication that two of my children are on and they said that there was no extra charge so it's not all doom and gloom .They were the only ones who would cover me initially after my op. I tried Aviva this time for an annual policy and as soon as I mentioned that I had had cancer in 2010 he said I couldn't go on the annual family policy and that I could only buy a single trip policy.

We (myself, wife, daughter and 4yr old g/daughter) were supposed to be going to Cal D'or on the 7th June for a week, our daughter felt ill a couple of weeks before, we thought we'd see how she felt later. A week before we should have gone, she deteriorated so I phoned InsureandGo to see would they change the names to our son, his partner and two kids.

I was informed they'd get back in touch within 72 hours, that was last Monday, nothing, zilch, nada so we lost the money and our son used the Post Office to insure themselves (£45 for a one up to 9 day trip. I feel so angry and our daughter lying in hospital with meningitis etc.

I have just been on the phone to them and was told it was a part time operator that dealt with me, still lost our money but I am more annoyed that they never got back to me.

Danzante, I'm confused by your post. Did you mean that instead of claiming the full amount for cancelling the holiday, you asked InsureandGo if they would pay for the change of names on the holiday? Because if that is the case, I'm not sure why you didn't just claim the cost of the holiday in full from them? A serious illness such as your daughter's meningitis that could not have been predicted would usually be covered. But if you meant that you asked if InsureandGo would transfer the insurance policy itself to your son and his family then I'm surprised that they didn't just say no right away because the policy would have been running from the day you took it out - that's the way it runs, it doesn't just become active from your departure date.

SM

The insurance wouldn't pay for name changes on a booking. They don't cover amendments, only cancellations. You would have had to cancel everyone and claim back the cost. If you mean you wanted the insurance policy names to be changed, well then the immediate answer should have been no anyway. You've had use of the policy from the day you took it out. You can't transfer insurance policies from one name to another.
Try contacting the holiday company now, and asking for a no show invoice, so you can still hopefully claim from the insurers.

Hi

Its been a while since I posted but has anyone bought there travel insurance through barclays? We are thinking of using them for our travel insurance as its £100 cheaper than the TA and its a good policy, just wanted anyones opinions on the company if any

Travel agents are always more expensive than buying it direct from the company.
Many people use the comparison websites but the cheapest isnt always the best.
Check who the underwriter is and what the excess is as this varys a lot from company to company.

Would we need to inform ins co that husband had been on antibiotics for a week does. Not need return docs

I need some information, on cancelling my holiday, for summer 2014, under the assumptions I fall ill

I looking to take out insurance, just for the cancellation bit, don't need to be covered because of pre-existing medical condition, although the reason I want the cancellation is because of a medical condition, and would be looking to take out the insurance , before I start to make payments for my holidays, and I want it all in the one place

I hoping in summer 2014, I will be able to go away on holiday, but April 2013 I had issues with my heart, which now seemed to have gone away, but the hospital is going to keep a close watch on this, now if something was to happen May 2014, and this meant and operation, so my holiday would have to be cancelled

Will any insurance company allow me to take out insurance, and would I need to declare all pre-existing conditions, based on all I'm looking for is cancellation, and no other cover

My main holiday insurance will be taken out, when it time to go away on holiday

It is a condition of the TO that you have adequate/correct travel insurance before you travel. That insurance should also cover you in case of cancellation. Any pre-existing conditions MUST be disclosed when taking out the insurance, failure to do so would invalidate the policy.
You are making the whole thing complicated by talking about taking a separate policy out should you take the holiday, in addition you cannot legally take out two separate policies for the same cover doing so could invalidate both.
If you wish you could consider taking out an annual policy which would cover you whenever you get round to deciding to book a holiday rather than deciding/booking the holiday now..

fwh

fwh wrote:

It is a condition of the TO that you have adequate/correct travel insurance before you travel. That insurance should also cover you in case of cancellation. Any pre-existing conditions MUST be disclosed when taking out the insurance, failure to do so would invalidate the policy.
You are making the whole thing complicated by talking about taking a separate policy out should you take the holiday, in addition you cannot legally take out two separate policies for the same cover doing so could invalidate both.
If you wish you could consider taking out an annual policy which would cover you whenever you get round to deciding to book a holiday rather than deciding/booking the holiday now..

fwh

Not using a TO, traveling DIY

Before I start booking flight, hotels, I need insurance in place, in case I have to go through an operation, and this would be made known to the insurance company, as back April 2013 I ended up in hospital, and the discussed the need to operate, had they done this, I would have lost my holiday, as I hadn't taken out any insurance yet

But having an annual policy in place would have covered you should they have needed to operate.

fwh

fwh wrote:

But having an annual policy in place would have covered you should they have needed to operate.

fwh

Thanks I will look at all options

Expect to pay a premium to get your current condition covered. You are still under the care of the hospital and as such are a higher risk for cancellation, and also of ending up running up medical bills, (or worst case scenario repatriation), whilst you're away.

Sunaddict wrote:

Expect to pay a premium to get your current condition covered. You are still under the care of the hospital and as such are a higher risk for cancellation, and also of ending up running up medical bills, (or worst case scenario repatriation), whilst you're away.

I already pay a lot to words my holiday insurance, to cover my condition, but seeing I'm not out of the uk until next summer 2014, I don't need cover to return to the uk, or cover medical bill

My condition is know to my insurance company, there no risk of running up medical bills, as what I'm looking for is a cancellation policy, in the case I have to cancel my holiday, as I would still be in the uk