Insurance gurus are sounding the alarm: correctly filling out your travel insurance form is crucial, defending against potentially gargantuan medical expenses. With gripes about travel turmoil at an all-time high since the pandemic’s heyday, the Financial Ombudsman Service has been deluged with more than 4,400 complaints in the fiscal year 2023/2024.
Holiday-goers are up in arms, facing down delayed flights, vanished bags and sub-par aid during medical mishaps abroad. Beware the pitfalls of omitting medical history on your travel insurance application, as it can spell financial disaster and undue fretting.
So, brush up on your knowledge about overseas health insurance to avert holiday headaches.
Should you shell out for travel insurance?
Dishing out a bit more dough for travel insurance could be a safety net, saving you a fortune if a medical calamity strikes while you’re soaking up new cultures, reports Bristol Live.
“A tailored travel insurance policy should be one of your holiday essentials, no matter where you’re going, or for how long,” insists Simon McCulloch, from Staysure Insurance. “It provides cover for unexpected events such as medical emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage and more.”
“The main two areas you need cover for is for cancellation and medical emergencies,” McCulloch explains. “The cost of a medical emergency abroad and repatriation to the UK can be substantial, so travel insurance is there to offer travellers peace of mind and protection against financial loss for unforeseen situations.”
Alice Lawson, associate director for insurance at Holiday Extras, concurs, adding: “In the rare circumstances where something goes wrong, it can be either dangerous or expensive not to have the right travel insurance. The largest costs holidaymakers face if something goes wrong overseas are often medical bills or medical repatriation – a special plane or helicopter for transporting people who are still undergoing medical treatment, plus the trained medical professionals to travel with them.
“Medical repatriation alone, just from Europe, can cost between £30,000 and £60,000, so the financial risk of travelling without the right insurance can be high.”
What sort of conditions should I be declaring?
“It’s important to declare all pre-existing medical conditions to your insurer to get a tailored policy specifically for your needs,” McCulloch advises. “This includes long-term or chronic conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease), recent or ongoing medical treatments, major health conditions such as cancer or any condition for which you have seen a doctor, undergone surgery, or taken medication for.”
Alex Cross, insurance director at Tesco Bank, has a crucial message for holidaymakers: “Honesty really is the best policy when it comes to travel insurance, as failure to declare conditions can invalidate a policy. Full disclosure is essential in every scenario as saving a few pounds on your travel insurance premium is more than offset by the cost of high medical bills overseas if you’re not covered.”
Lawson echoes this sentiment, reminding travellers that even seemingly minor ailments must be disclosed. “Asthma is a pre-existing chronic condition, even if you consider it mild, this will need to be declared to your insurance provider,” Lawson insists.
What if I’m in good health at the moment?
For those who believe their clean bill of health exempts them from disclosures, McCulloch sets the record straight: “Even if you are in good health or your symptoms are well-managed, it is important to declare any past or current medical conditions,” she advises. Insurance companies require this information to gauge risk and tailor coverage accordingly.
But I won’t be doing anything risky on my trip – do I still need to declare?
And for the cautious traveller who thinks a low-key holiday means they can skip mentioning their medical history, think again. Even a tranquil Mediterranean retreat warrants full transparency on your insurance form.
“Your travel insurance is intended to provide reassurance and support if something goes wrong, and not all of the things that can go wrong are a result of risky activities, so you absolutely need to declare everything,” insists Lawson. “If you don’t declare a relevant condition to your insurer, your insurance may be invalid.”
What about surgeries and injuries?
On the matter of surgeries and past injuries, Lawson advises: “If you’re waiting for surgery, you will need to declare that. If you have previously had surgery, you may need to declare that – it will depend on when it was and what it was for. If you’re not sure, check with your insurance provider.”
Should I get specialist insurance for certain conditions?
Regarding whether one should opt for specialist insurance in case of certain conditions, McCulloch recommends: “For certain medical conditions, it may be beneficial to seek specialist travel insurance that offers more comprehensive cover tailored to your specific needs.”