Travel Insurance for Existing Medical Conditions.
It's that time of year again !! Last year we booked a holiday for a week in Spain for June this year.
Last year we went on a cruise and of course I had to ensure I was fully covered for my existing medical condition. I answered all the questions put to me over the phone fully and honestly as far as I was able to and was quoted a figure to cover me in the event of being taken ill whilst on holiday.
(£235). Made me gulp rather as prior to this my insurance cover had always been free with my bank account. But... better to be sure.
This time I phoned the same company and again I was asked a list of questions regarding my health etc. One of the questions I was asked was how many medicines, including inhalers,did I have? I answered truthfully two, one that I take once in the mornings and the other that I take twice a day.
The second question was ..Was I ever prescribed Oxygen other than when in hospital.. I answered No.
The third question was ...did I have any appointment for treatment etc that could effect the insurance cover?
I answered no as I didn't believe that the usual check with a consultant up 6 months after leaving hospital counted as treatment etc.
They accepted my cover and quoted me £144 which thankfully is a lot lower than previously for the same cover.
Now my worries (I have three) are as follows.
When I left hospital last year in June, the Doctor prescribed a Reliever Inhaler in case of emergency, which I have never used but always carry with me in case..
Prior to that, when I was first admitted to hospital in January 2013 the hospital arranged for Oxygen to be placed in my home after my discharge in the event of my having need of it. I never used it and after a couple of months I asked my Doctor if he would please arrange for it to be removed, which he did so.
Finally, I have just been to see the Respiratory Consultant at our Hospital who is so pleased with my progress that he is going to discharge me from the Hospital and back to my Doctors Surgery.
Yesterday I watched a programme with Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julie Sommerville talking about a large Insurance company whom when the person involved was taken very ill with respiratory problems whilst on holiday in Spain was taken to a private hospital. Her husband who didnt speak a word of Spanish, was so worried he handed over all of her medicines and inhalers to the hospital along with the insurance documents. The hospital must have phoned the insurance company because when the poor husband phoned to let the insurance company know that his wife was in a coma in a Spanish hospital, they informed him they were refusing to pay out because his wife had an extra inhaler with her (one more than she had stated) and it was a emergency inhaler.
Apparently she recovered enough to return home and they received the hospital bill of £30,000 pounds !!!!!
and again, the inhaler turned out to be their daughter who had the same illness as mum. It was only when the programme got involved that the Insurance Company gave in and agreed to pay the hospital bill.
Now I am probably going to worry for the next five months whether I am going to be covered or will they use any excuse not to cover me, cynic that I am.
Does anyone have any advice please. Should I contact the Insurance company knowing they could hike the price?
It does state on my terms and conditions that if I don't divulge any information that they deem admissable they could refuse to cover me in the event of being taken ill on holiday. But... if I phone them and tell them the three points above they will then have the right to charge me more for changing the paperwork or not covering me at all !!
Help! any advice appreciated. sorry this topic so long.