Insurance for People With Medical Conditions
Existing medical conditions affect travel insurance, life insurance and income protection, and the temptation to under-declare is where cover fails.
The declaration obligation
Travel policies typically require declaration of any condition diagnosed, treated, or under investigation within a look-back period, and of anything for which medication has changed.
This includes conditions people consider routine — controlled blood pressure, managed diabetes, treated thyroid conditions, asthma.
Non-declaration means claims relating to that condition, and frequently anything connected to it, are refused. Given that medical claims abroad are the expensive ones, that is the cover you were buying.
Medical screening
Insurers use screening questionnaires that ask specific questions about diagnosis, medication, hospital admissions and stability.
Answer precisely. Approximation causes problems later, and where you are unsure of a date or a medication, check rather than estimate.
The additional premium for a stable, well-controlled condition is frequently smaller than people expect. For conditions that are unstable or recently treated, it can be substantial or cover may be declined.
Specialist providers
Mainstream insurers price medical conditions cautiously or decline them. Specialist providers underwrite them properly and are frequently considerably cheaper for the same declaration.
Medical condition comparison services exist in several markets specifically to route enquiries to insurers who will cover a given condition.
A broker is worth using where the position is complex.
Life insurance and income protection
Underwriting is more detailed, frequently involving a medical report from your doctor or a examination.
Conditions may result in a higher premium, an exclusion for that condition, a deferred decision, or a decline.
Applying and being declined is recorded and must be disclosed on subsequent applications, which is a reason to take advice before applying rather than making speculative applications.
Practical points
Get quotes in writing showing exactly what was declared, and keep them.
Re-declare at each renewal, since conditions change and cover is based on the position at the time.
Carry a summary of conditions, medications and emergency contacts when travelling, along with the insurer's assistance number.
This article is general information and not medical or insurance advice.
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