Travel Insurance Grrrrrr!!!

[Cheryl]

I have just had a very unsatisfactory conversation with my traevl insuracne company on trying to renew my policy. The emdical screening questions were so poor that it was almost impossible to answer any of them. By way of background, I attend my local hosiptal for diabetes care (never my GP or practice nurse), am on a pump, fit & healthy.

The gems of the questions included:

Do you have any condition for which you receive regular monitoring from your GP practice? Do I answer yes or no to that? I have a condition for which I receive regular monitroing, but not at my GPs!


Have you ever suffered from Hyperglycemia? What do you define as hyperglycemia I asked? It doesn't say they replied. How can I answer a question for which they have no defintiion. I defy anyone to find a diabetic who hasn't been over 16mmol at some point. Particularly on a pump, it's easy to get a cannual failure & not realise until BG is 20+, but is that what they mean or do they mean a serious or prolonged episode requiring some outside intervention?

What is the name of oyur medication? Apidra I reply. What's that they ask? An insulin I reply. I'll just put insulin in here then they say. What is the point of asking for the name of a medication if they only want to know the type of medication!!

So I answer No to the first question, Yes to the second and my quote is £120 (up from £70 last year). That can't be right I exclaim. It has t be becasue I am answering your questions literally, rather than applying a reasonable interpretation to them. I only ask what's on the form they reply. I certainly won't be going back to them for renewal. I tell the oeprtor that she needs to feedback my concerns about the questions to her management and all she says is that she's not medically qualified. neither am I but I don't need to be to see the flaws in their questions!!!

Grrr!!! I am fit, healthy, love to travel, but need cover for my insulin, especially in "off the beaten track" countries. When I am treated so poorly by insurance companies I just have to have a rant!

 

[Dennis]

Do you have any condition for which you receive regular monitoring from your GP practice? Do I answer yes or no to that? I have a condition for which I receive regular monitroing, but not at my GPs!

Hi Cheryl,

I think I would have been inclined to answer yes to that one, on the basis that they are probably trying to establish whether you are monitored by a health professional (whether in a surgery or hospital clinic is immaterial). From what you have told us I would say that the company you tried has little or no experience of insuring people with ongoing conditions so you are wise to give them a wide berth.

No doubt you will be looking elsewhere but one thing you need to be aware of is whether the companies you get quotes from actually provide cover for your pre-existing condition. Many will claim that they cover you as a diabetic, but what they mean is that they will cover you but not necessarily your diabetes. If you were to make a claim because of a problem related to diabetes you may find in their small print that they exclude any problems relating to a pre-existing condition. The best insurers I have come across are Insure & Go (for under 65s) and Age UK (for over 65s). Both will cover pre-existing diabetes and ask sensible questions!

Dennis

 

[candyfloss]

I have had similar experiences Cheryl.

On a Which? article recommendation I contacted MRL Insurance and got a reasonable quote from them and cover for existing conditions for which, they claim, there is no increase in premium or higher excesses.

 

[IsabelCapella]

I wanted to know more Travel Insurance companies,who offers best services and helps favorably to claim our policy.Suggestions are welcome!!

 

[Dougal]

We use American Express for our annual travel insurance, they are very good and the policy states that it will only cover pre-existing conditions if they are declared in advance and agreed to on your policy. They ask alot of questions about whether or not you've suffered from leg ulcers though, I seem to recall.

We have only claimed twice, and both times they were extremely helpful and did more than necessary to ensure that we were well and not inconvenienced in anyway.

I cannot rate them highly enough, although they are not the cheapest.

 

[Dennis]

I agree that you won't go far wrong with Amex in terms of service. They are after all an American company and they do customer service really well. Unlike too many British insurers who's main aim seems to be finding more and more ingenious ways of ripping off their customers.

However, this comes at a price and Amex are pretty pricey compared with the few UK insurers who offer good service. I mentioned the two best ones I have come across in recent years for annual policies in an earlier post. I have also heard good reports about Tesco and Sainsburys for low cost insurance, but both of them come pretty near the bottom of the list when it comes to meeting claims - they just refuse to pay.

A lot of people swear by their bank account package which often comes with "free" travel insurance. I certainly wouldn't rely on this as the banks have been very severely criticised for misleading customers about what is covered, providing lower cover than the industry standard and for refusing to pay even straightforward claims. So much so that this type of bundled package is now in the process of being banned.

I have tried the "specialist" diabetes insurers recommended by Diabetes UK and by this website, but both were ridiculously expensive, quoting respectively £960 and £1008 for an annual policy that I got elsewhere for £240.

Personally I think the best bet is to do an online cost comparison, make a shortlist of the ones that look best in terms of what cover they offer and cost, and then search for online reviews - you will soon learn which ones rip off their customers and which have a good reputation.

Dennis

 

[martwolves]

I have just had a very unsatisfactory conversation with my traevl insuracne company on trying to renew my policy. The emdical screening questions were so poor that it was almost impossible to answer any of them. By way of background, I attend my local hosiptal for diabetes care (never my GP or practice nurse), am on a pump, fit & healthy.

The gems of the questions included:

Do you have any condition for which you receive regular monitoring from your GP practice? Do I answer yes or no to that? I have a condition for which I receive regular monitroing, but not at my GPs!


Have you ever suffered from Hyperglycemia? What do you define as hyperglycemia I asked? It doesn't say they replied. How can I answer a question for which they have no defintiion. I defy anyone to find a diabetic who hasn't been over 16mmol at some point. Particularly on a pump, it's easy to get a cannual failure & not realise until BG is 20+, but is that what they mean or do they mean a serious or prolonged episode requiring some outside intervention?

What is the name of oyur medication? Apidra I reply. What's that they ask? An insulin I reply. I'll just put insulin in here then they say. What is the point of asking for the name of a medication if they only want to know the type of medication!!

So I answer No to the first question, Yes to the second and my quote is £120 (up from £70 last year). That can't be right I exclaim. It has t be becasue I am answering your questions literally, rather than applying a reasonable interpretation to them. I only ask what's on the form they reply. I certainly won't be going back to them for renewal. I tell the oeprtor that she needs to feedback my concerns about the questions to her management and all she says is that she's not medically qualified. neither am I but I don't need to be to see the flaws in their questions!!!

Grrr!!! I am fit, healthy, love to travel, but need cover for my insulin, especially in "off the beaten track" countries. When I am treated so poorly by insurance companies I just have to have a rant!

 

[mickey121]

Staysure seem to be quite good for insurance and cover a lot of medical conditions


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

My husband and I pay around £100 for the both of us with Directline. I rang Directline to tell them when I was first diagnosed and they only upped our insurance by a tenner. I asked what would have happened if I hadn't disclosed my diabetes and she informed me that I wouldn't be covered if an emergency happened that was caused by my diabetes.

 

[Neil Walters]

I am with Lloyds TSB Bank and the worldwide travel insurance for me and my whole family comes as a perk of the account for no additional fee with no screening questionnaire that I can recall - cover includes winter sports too.

With that sort of cover why would you ever contemplate anything else?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Anonymous]

I am with Lloyds TSB Bank and the worldwide travel insurance for me and my whole family comes as a perk of the account for no additional fee with no screening questionnaire that I can recall - cover includes winter sports too.

With that sort of cover why would you ever contemplate anything else?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Just looked at that policy ... how sad is that! There is a section which says

For any claims arising directly or indirectly from: a) Any medical condition which falls under either i) or ii) below unless you have consulted us on 0800 731 4044 or visited us at http://www.lloydstsb.com/travelinsurance and we have agreed, in writing, to cover you: ... blah blah .... Diabetes.

I trust that you have consulted and have agreement in writing? The fact that you received the insurance 'free' does not protect you from the conditions in the policy, as it is the latter which the Insurance Company will go by.

 

[Neil Walters]

Sounds like some letter writing is called for although as a type II tablet controlled I have never really been concerned about my condition ever being the cause of a claim so it has never concerned me enough to read the detail. I am grateful to you as I now will do that and follow the point up with them.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like some letter writing is called for although as a type II tablet controlled I have never really been concerned about my condition ever being the cause of a claim so it has never concerned me enough to read the detail. I am grateful to you as I now will do that and follow the point up with them.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Sounds a good idea. It doesn't matter if your diabetes was the cause of a claim or not, it's just about whether you have the condition or not and have their agreement, which is different. After many years of 'training' with Ts & Cs in IBM, I am very cynical and wonder how many people read & understand these policies in full, or any small-print for that matter!! Let us know the outcome.

By the way, the policy is that produced post-December 2012 and the section is entitled 'Important conditions relating to health'. You may want to read this section ... it's only a page. If they do lift the premium remember all the companies are the same!

 

[linsay]

The problem with this is everything is connected to your diabetes. Eg: your on holiday and break your leg..... Nothing to do with being diabetic but then they keep you in hosp for a week. Thats the prob as then u start to need insulin and all other things. Best yo be insured properly declaring the condition. Someone already said staysure are good also insure and go.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Anonymous]

The problem with this is everything is connected to your diabetes. Eg: your on holiday and break your leg..... Nothing to do with being diabetic but then they keep you in hosp for a week. Thats the prob as then u start to need insulin and all other things. Best yo be insured properly declaring the condition. Someone already said staysure are good also insure and go.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

It's even more basic than that. If you don't follow all the instructions (in this case written approval for a diabetic) you are not covered for anything in the policy. In effect you haven't met the terms & conditions and therefore the insurance company can refuse to pay out for anything (cancellation, loss of luggage etc. etc.)

 

[cally]

Re: LLoydstsb travel insurance that comes with your bank account. Diabetes is one of the conditions that are automatically covered so no extra premiums payable.
I always use it.
Of course if you have any other conditions that may or may not be caused by your diabetes you need to declare them. But they have a long list of conditions covered automatically if you look in the account booklet.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: LLoydstsb travel insurance that comes with your bank account. Diabetes is one of the conditions that are automatically covered so no extra premiums payable.
I always use it.
Of course if you have any other conditions that may or may not be caused by your diabetes you need to declare them. But they have a long list of conditions covered automatically if you look in the account booklet.

Here's the relevant section (I've highlighted the dodgy bits). Being automatically covered is not the same as receiving written confirmation as instructed. If you trust the company, then do nothing. Personally, I would follow the instructions and be squeaky clean.

This insurance policy is designed to cover
you for unforeseen accidents and illnesses
occurring during the period of Insurance.
You must comply with the following conditions
to have the full protection of your policy. If you
do not comply we may at our option cancel
the policy or refuse to deal with your claim or
reduce the amount of any claim payment.
Unless you have been given our written
agreement, you will not be covered under:
• section A – Cancellation or curtailment
charges,
• section B – Emergency medical and
other expenses,
• section C – Hospital benefit and
• section D – Personal accident
For any claims arising directly or indirectly
from:
a) Any medical condition which falls under
either i) or ii) below unless you have
consulted us on 0800 731 4044 or visited us
at http://www.lloydstsb.com/travelinsurance and
we have agreed, in writing, to cover you:
i) Any medical condition which falls into
any of the following categories which
you have, or have had, at the time of
purchasing this insurance and for which
you have ever received, or are waiting
to receive, treatment (including surgery,
tests or investigations):
• Cardiovascular condition (any
condition relating to the heart,
arteries, veins or blood pressure)
• Respiratory condition (any condition
relating to the lungs or breathing)
• Stroke
• Cancer
• High cholesterol
•Diabetes

 

[hanadr]

Diabetes UK have a lot of stuff on travel insurance. So far we've had no problems through the bank and a couple of years ago T1 husband had a foot infection on a cruise which cost about £1000 and they paid up promptly.
Hana

 

[cally]

I always ring them before we go and and ask them to confirm that I am covered. Then they generally send a letter confirming this.
But I have never had to make a claim yet

 

[Anonymous]

I always ring them before we go and and ask them to confirm that I am covered. Then they generally send a letter confirming this.
But I have never had to make a claim yet

That sounds very sensible.