Will your travel insurance pay out?
Discover how many of you jeopardise your travel insurance – a mistake that could cost you thousands.
According to Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance, more than 500,000 travellers risked invalidating their insurance policies in the last 12 months by failing to disclose a pre-existing medical condition to their insurer.
More shockingly, 8 per cent of holidaymakers with medical conditions are thought to have gone abroad without any travel insurance.
Reasons for not coming clean include embarrassment, a fear of higher premiums and not believing the condition has any bearing on the application.
Just how big a risk are these people taking?
Know the dangers
Although those with health problems may face higher premiums or in extreme cases be unable to secure a policy through certain providers, the risks of withholding this information are far greater.
Should you be taken ill abroad in relation to a medical condition you have concealed from your insurer, the company would be within its right to refuse to pay your medical expenses.
In this case, your omission could cost you thousands of pounds if you require a lengthy hospital stay, an operation or need to reschedule flights back to the UK.
Further, the company could invalidate your whole policy – including coverage not related to your health. This means your insurance company could refuse to compensate you for lost luggage if it discovers you have lied about a heart condition.
What do I need to reveal?
The safest bet is to disclose the details of every health problem you have. If you’re not sure whether your insurance company needs to know about a medical condition, you should provide this information nevertheless.
Remember, insurance companies may also need to know about medical conditions you have had in the past even if you have fully recovered.
Additionally, you may have to produce evidence from a doctor stating you are fit to travel. As this could take some time, it’s a wise move to purchase your travel insurance as far in advance as possible.
Bear in mind there are certain times when you are unlikely to receive cover such as the final stages of pregnancy or when you have been advised not to fly by a doctor.
Consider specialist cover
If you do have a serious health problem, it could be worth buying your policy from a specialist provider that caters for people with your condition.
These companies will have a more in-depth understanding of your medical concerns and be able to price your premiums accordingly. Additionally, staff should be trained to deal compassionately with customers’ health issues.
You could try contacting the Association of British Insurers if you are seeking a specialist provider.
Be careful with the EHIC
Regardless of your health, you should never assume the European Health Insurance Card replaces travel insurance.
All this card does is entitle you to state-provided care but will not cover you against costs such as damaged possessions or rescheduled flights to the UK.
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
