Travelers with health problems sometimes unintentionally or even deliberately fail to declare pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing travel insurance. For those new to travel insurance, it is a very important matter and worth taking the time to research and understand.
When purchasing travel insurance, which is often done online these days, you are asked to declare any pre-existing medical issues. Obviously, serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer should be indicated. However, it may or may not be apparent that pre-existing medical problems also include many more common ailments and conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as recent investigations, diagnoses, or hospitalizations.
Younger people going on a gap year adventure or traveling the world may not think this section applies to them because they are young and in good health. However, no matter how old the traveler is, the rules are the same. Declaring pre-existing medical conditions applies to everyone, regardless of how healthy they are at the time of booking travel and purchasing insurance. A good basic backpacker policy should also cover medical expenses, air ambulance and medical repatriation – but any pre-existing conditions should be declared.
The bottom line is that if you fail to declare a medical condition and then experience a medical problem related to that condition while abroad, your insurance company will very likely refuse to cover your claim – and this can get very expensive indeed. Some people may decide not to specify a term when taking out insurance because they are afraid that it will make the premium too expensive, but this is false frugality.
In some cases there may be an increase in premium to purchase travel insurance to cover a pre-existing medical condition, but it is better to be honest and pay a little more than face hospital treatment abroad if the worst should happen . Paying a little more for your policy and having the peace of mind of knowing you’re covered is critical and can save you a ton of money if you run into a problem. Wouldn’t it also be nice to know that with insurance you have a lifeline to call if disaster strikes, and a helpful voice to reassure and guide you.
It is vital that you report all pre-existing conditions, not just the ones you think are more serious. Less serious medical conditions may not seem important, but sometimes when present in conjunction with other conditions an insurer deems the risk greater and additional payment may be required.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and are traveling to another EU country, you may mistakenly believe that travel insurance is not necessary, or that the embassy will pay your bills. While a valid EHIC should cover most hospital costs, this may vary from country to country and the EHIC does not cover treatment for non-urgent or ongoing treatment, nor medical repatriation.
If you become seriously ill or go skiing abroad and suffer an injury, such as a broken leg, your return home may be delayed or you may need medical repatriation, for example an extra seat on the plane and a medical escort to purchase. The EHIC does not cover these types of costs, but a good travel insurance policy will. If it turns out that your medical problem is related to a previous illness or condition that you did not declare, you run the risk of claims against your insurance being rejected. Attempting to hide or ignore pre-existing medical conditions simply isn’t worth it.
Before you are tempted to buy a very cheap travel insurance policy, or choose the first policy that appears on a comparison site, or any policy for that matter, always check that it offers adequate coverage for medical expenses and includes air ambulance and medical expenses. repatriation.
Check the policy conditions carefully to see whether all your planned activities are covered. If you are unsure or confused about any aspect of the insurance, it is best to contact the company for clarification rather than leaving things to chance.
Your travel destination should be taken into consideration, especially if you are traveling to an undeveloped country or remote area where medical facilities may be limited or inadequate. It is always possible that you need to be transported by trauma helicopter to a neighboring country for treatment. Of course, this would come at a huge cost and without travel insurance, you or your family would be left alone to foot the bill.
If you’re not sure whether to declare a medical condition, it’s always best to state it – or ask for advice. Don’t leave this important matter to chance or luck and risk ruining your trip. It can be a costly and unnecessary mistake.
Travel insurance: reminder to report all health
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