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hello again!, I am about to book some insurance, probably the annual policy from this site but I have a ongoing condition called colitus:(,is this likely to have a big bearing on the price of a policy or do I not even have to mention it since in effect it is there all the time like astma and the like. cheers mike
Hi, Mike!
Definitely DO mention this to whichever insurance company you use. Policies vary so from company to company and there have been nightmare stories in the Press about insurance companies not paying out on ANY claim, even it it wasn't related to the pre-existing condition, just because you didn't mention it.
You will find that many insurance companies cover this type of condition (I have Crohn's), if it is well managed and you haven't had more than a couple of check-ups or tests in, say, the past six months. Even if you have, there's other specialist companies that will cover you.
You might also like to bear in mind that your partner/spouse will quite likely need to mention your condition to their insurance company, in case they have to change their holiday plans because of your health.
I know it all sounds like a real pain but the US is not the place to get stuck with invalid health insurance! Better to be safe than sorry.:D
Kind regards
Sarah.[8D]
hi sarah thanks for the advice ,will do as you say.
btw I have Crohn's as well but call it colitus so more people have an idea what it is. thanks again mike
Mike,
we have got our insurance via nationwide. Like you, my wife has an existing medical condition. However it does fall onto their "covered" list.SO long as you have been diagnosed and treated for that condition for at least 6 months prior to purchase.
Our's was £90 for annual worldwide.
A quick shufti at their website shows that your condition is covered automatically.
Hi all
Wilfy is quite right, Nationwide has very good coverage of pre-existing conditions and do cover Crohn's within that price but I called them the other day and they wouldn't cover me because I'd had an appointment with my Surgeon and one with my Consultant and one blood test within the last six months. Luckily, I've still got the policy stipulations here (from my Mum's policy, issued in late September)and it states.......
"you're automatically covered, without any need to contact us provided, for that condition,
You are not on a waiting list for any tests, treatment or specialist referrals;
You are not awaiting a diagnosis or the results of any tests;
Your medication has not changed in the last six months."
Now, my appointments and blood tests were all just check-ups, with no action on their part and no outstanding tests or treatment but I thought I ought to check and was glad that I did. It's always worth double checking. You know how tight fisted insurance companies are, any excuse not to pay out![}:)]
Kind regards
Sarah.[8D]
I planned to take my parents out to my new home at the end of May this year, and paid for to upgrade their flights for the xmas present last year.
My dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer over two years ago and had been fine up until March. We had tried to get insurance for him but nobody would help (that we could find).
In the end I had to cancel his place but he insisted that my mother still come. We got her insured but a week before we were due to leave she decided that she couldn't go and leave him.
We fought with the insurance company to get the cost of the fly-Drive back for my mother, but they said as my father was diagnosed as terminally ill, she wasn't covered (or me!). This went on for 3 months. I eventually wrote to Virgin Holidays (who sold us the insurance after me telling them the whole situation and them saying it wouldn't be a problem), and they sent us a cheque straight away for the full amount.
Unfortunatley my father passed away in August, and the cheque arrived from Virgin the day before his funeral. Made my Mum really pleased that it was finally sorted out.
My niece at the time was away with her family and had to get am emergency flight home (over £2000 from spain!!) when she found out her grandpa had passed, and she is now having the same problem with her insurance in that as she knew he was terminally ill, she shouldn't have travelled.
These insurance companies, what are they like, if any of my family had read the small print, then we wouldn't have travelled since my father was originally diagnosed two years ago. To them, it seems, we shouldn't be travelling!!
Hi Matt
I was sorry to read about the loss of your father and your family's problems with the insurance company though I'm glad that you're mother finally received reimbursement for her ticket.
It never ceases to amaze me that Holiday companies continue to sell insurance policies that won't cover you, despite your informing the sales person of your pre-existing health issues..... and they never tell you that the rest of your family needs to have additional cover. Having worked within the legal profession, I've been privy to many such cases.
There are insurance companies out there that will cover you no matter how serious the illness but it takes a lot of effort to find them and the premium will be more expensive than your average policy, as I've found. However, the increased cost of premium is worth it for the peace of mind regarding the costs of health cover, airfare, alternative accommodation for family members etc. even in Europe.
I don't want to bang on about it but I agree with you entirely and hope others take heed and double-check those insurance policies!
Kind regards
Sarah.
steph_goodrum
21-10-2003, 02:51
Matt
I'm sorry to hear about your dad, I know the companies can be very harsh when deciding if they will pay out or not. When my niece and her fiance went on holiday they were called back after 48 hours because his mother who was terminally ill had taken a turn for the worse and was not expected to survive more than 48 hrs, they did get all their money paid back but I'm not sure who they were insured with.
I do have to offer a word of defence in terms of one insurance company, Preferential Insurance who have been mentioned on here. Apologies to those who've heard the story. In July my 18 year old nephew died suddenly , 2 hrs after arriving in Corfu with his mum, dad and 21yr old brother. Although at first it was thought he'd drowned,as he collapsed in the sea, later tests found it seems to be connected with epilepsy he'd had since he was 13, both he and his brother suffered from it and also asthma. The resort rep (they'd booked through Liberty travel in Hertfordshire) phoned the Insurance company who immediately faxed authorisation for payments to be billed to them direct and this was accepted by the Greek coroners office, Brittania (who were the only carriers licensed to carry coffins ) and all the legal dept. The only ones who insisted on payment that then had to be claimed back was Easyjet , and as they were the only ones who had flights within a couple of days and obviously the rest of the family just wanted to get home.
Had they not mentioned the pre existing conditions it would have cost them thousands of pounds to repatriate my nephew, not to mention the delay whilst it was all being sorted out.
Thanks guys.
That was my point about the insurance companies though, and for those taking out policy to check and double check that they have the correct cover depending on their circumstances.
Matt