Health Insurance ,A warning

Andrew Prince · Post by **Andrew Prince** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:52 am

I am in my mid 50s and recently have had to start taking a pill a day to control raised blood pressure. I insure through Europ Assistance, using their unlimited World Traveller policy, and as a careful traveller I rang them to declare my medical condition.
They asked me among other questions whether I proposed to travel to North America.I asssured them I was going to Tobago,only to be told , that in Medical terms it is classified as North America as seriously ill holidaymakers in the Caribbean tend to be evacuated to the US for very expensive treatment.
The effect of this descision was to increase my worldwide policy loading from £7.50 to £176.50!I could have declined the cover but would not have been covered for any consequences of raised blood pressure and as this would include heart attack and stroke I decided to pay up the extra.
Three points come to mind. Do remember to declare any medical conditions to your insurer or you will not be covered,Make sure they are aware you are travelling to 'North America', and I would be grateful if anyone can advise of a reputable travel insurer who does not take such a draconian stance on surcharges.

Andy Roberts · Post by **Andy Roberts** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:41 pm

We have recently changed our Travel insurance from Direct Line (Annual Policy for worldwide travel) as my wife suffered clots on her lungs. We have renewed with Insureand go. Although we had to go through a medical screening no additional cost was added to the policy. The total for two adults and 4 children was £85.00 which included USA and Canada for the worldwide policy.

Richard Newitt · Post by **Richard Newitt** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:51 am

I had a similar experience last year when flying out to Barbados. I passed out a few times earlier in the year and was still undergoing tests and such to find out what had happened. When telling my insurance company the premium for that one trip went from £70 for me and my wife to £380.

Whilst planning for our trip to Tobago next year I have been searching for a cheaper cover but am struggling to find one thats any good. Although its easy enough to find a company who will provide me insurence at a resonable cost, after checking their small print it doesn't seem as if you are quite so well covered!

The search goes on....

Andrew Prince · Post by **Andrew Prince** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:04 pm

I have now had a chance to look around the market and have booked a worldwide annual insurance policy for myself and my wife with Norwich Union Direct. They are able to offer annual insurance without business travel cover for 117.38. They have made no additional charge for any declared conditions.You do have to ring them to declare any conditions but they do seem to offer a very competitive policy.These type of policies have a 10 day cooling off period and so I have been able to cancel my Europe Assistance policy. I will examine the smalll print carefully when it arrives!