| Most people taking out a new travel insurance policy | | | | insurance medical cover does have in its favour |
| are confused by the term pre-existing medical | | | | though is the wide network of specialist medical |
| condition. And it's not surprising when medical | | | | assistance companies to call in when an emergency |
| conditions tend to be technically expressed, not always | | | | does occur. |
| explained well and, if the condition is cured or controlled, | | | | The big question will always be will I be covered if I |
| often forgotten about over time. But this is just the | | | | have a medical history and what does that mean |
| area where holidaymakers get caught out because all | | | | exactly? All policies have similar interpretations but |
| policies will have clauses on whether certain medical | | | | you should read the medical section of a policy before |
| conditions need to be declared before cover can be | | | | taking out that travel insurance. A medical history of |
| given. This is so easily overlooked at the time of | | | | heart, kidney, respiratory conditions or cancer should |
| purchase, more so for those who have free annual | | | | be always declared and this may very well be |
| insurance through premium bank accounts. | | | | expanded to the medical history of close family |
| Travel insurance companies argue that the medical | | | | members and travelling companions. The reason for |
| cover provided by a travel insurance policy is there for | | | | this is to allow the insurance company to see what the |
| emergency cover and is not a substitute for private | | | | potential risk is of you cancelling or curtailing your trip or |
| medical insurance and all that travel insurance is | | | | falling ill whilst abroad. An insurance provider may well |
| covering for is the unforeseen medical emergency | | | | decline you insurance at this point or may offer to |
| that might occur whilst on holiday and provide for | | | | cover you for an additional premium or may even |
| hospital care in country and repatriation if required. | | | | insure you but void any subsequent claims if related to |
| Once back in the UK, patients can then use the NHS | | | | the declared condition. |
| or individual private health care plan they may have in | | | | Certainly you will not be covered if you travel against |
| place. This allows travel insurance policies to have | | | | the medical advice of your doctor. So do you need to |
| lower premiums than their private medical insurance | | | | declare? Yes you do, though not all declarations will |
| equivalent though these premiums do vary | | | | result in a higher premium but, provided you have done |
| considerably by area visited and the much higher | | | | so and the insurer has provided you cover, then it will |
| medical costs in the USA will see North American | | | | greatly simplify the process if you ever have to make |
| destinations more costly than elsewhere. What travel | | | | a claim. |