Travel insurance and health problems

[THE AMATUER]

Hi all

I tried to book travel insurance online for my holiday and answered all the normal questions, age, name, destination etc... When it got to the end it asked 'have you been diagnosed with any illness in the last 12 months or visited a doctor for tests, even if negative'

Being the honest person I am I said yes, because I went for a blood test at the hospital to check for diabetes, which was negative. When I clicked on the 'yes' option I was told they couldn't insure me. That was the same for others i checked.

Is that normal? How are you meant to get holiday insurance without lying and then having your policy voided if you tried to claim on it?

[Goody]

You'll need to speak to someone to sort it out but it shouldn't be an issue. Websites are designed to only accept people with a completely clear medical history so you will be "seen" as a bad risk by a website but when you explain this to an insurer or specialist travel insurance broker, you shouldn't have any problems.

[fencer90]

I have a number of medical issues including a QuadHeart Bypass and Diabetes/Hypertension and dodgy thyroid (Which caused it all in the first place)
I'm going on a cruise , all they want is to get some cash off you , I gave them 35 quid extra and miracle of miracles I am cured apparently and can go .....

[Goody]

Extra £35 is a bit of a bargain!

[nheather]

I think all the online insurance websites have problems if you want to declare an illness or disability. It's not that they won't insure just that they are not prepared to do it with an online system that can only ask limited unflexible questions.

I must admit some of the 'messages' they give are ill thought out and sometimes give the impression that you cannot be insured.

My son suffers from asperger's syndrome (a milder form of autism). When I tried to fill an online application with Direct Line I got the same sort of message - can't insure but gave a phone number.

I called and the operator picked up the application where we had got to and then looked up the 'condition' and confirmed that there was absolutely no problem and that it did not increase the cost of the premium.

It is good though because the insurance document we have lists that my son has aspergers syndrome so there is absolutely no way they can try and concoct a story that his condition negates a claim.

Had we lied on the online application, we would have still paid the same but would run the risk that they could use it to not pay out in the event of a problem.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Ian J]

Having a blood test for diabetes shouldn't represent a problem as I have type 2 diabetes and they just load my policy by a few quid.

It still only costs me about £65 for an annual policy covering my wife and son too