Annual travel insurance - updating every GP visit?

Grannaby Although we travel very rarely these days (due to work and financial constraints) My DH and I have always struggled to get TI, (I have MS and my DH had a serious illness in the past) We had planned a short trip earlier this year that we were forced to cancel due to the single trip travel insurance we had taken being cancelled after he suffered a stroke back in March. His consultant told him in May that a short holiday would do him the world of good (we have a lot of workplace stress) but when I informed the TI company of the stroke, they said they would not cover him for this and no longer cover him for a previously declared totally unconnected condition either. I don't want to give too much info on an open forum but the 2 conditions have zero connection and they were happy to cover him previously. They went on to say that they would not refund the cost of cancelling the trip or the cost of the policy as they were not cancelling my part (it was in the tiny terms and conditions) and as far as they were concerned I could still travel without my DH. Yeah right.

That short trip would have done us both the world of good, but it wasn't mean to be.

I have a lack of trust in most insurances (travel and car seem to be the worst for not paying out) but always think that honesty is the best policy otherwise you might have paid out for something that wouldn't cover you when you really need it.

Oh I am so sorry to hear of your missed holiday Gillybob how infuriating. I thought that was why you took out holiday insurance as soon as it was booked. I have lost faith in insurance companies completely now having read your story. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't either way they win every time.

Take out your insurance as soon as you book a holiday. Always inform the TI company of any GP visits or changes of meds. They will use every possible way to get out of paying.

I have just been on holiday for the first time in 6 years and the first trip abroad for nine.
When booking the holiday
I took the standard insurance for someone of my age and was given a number to ring for medical screening. When I rang I didn't have all the details they required to hand but the girl hinted that if I was not concerned about anything I should just leave it.
I stress she didn't say that just made a suggestion.
I have never claimed on travel insurance once in many years and took the risk. Everything was fine but I don't know if it was sensible.
Not much help to you I'm afraid.

We took the TI on the same day as we booked our trip (with a so called reputable company too) ginny. we went through the usual medical screening and it was only when I rang to inform them of my DH's stroke they cancelled his part of the policy. They cleverly left mine in place, so the small print got them out of paying out.

You took a heck of a risk there annsixty . If you had needed to claim they would have refused to pay out on the grounds that you did not inform them of any medical conditions etc.

We use the travel and health insurance provided by my bank. They are quite specific about only wanting to know what your current medical status and medication is. Dh pays an annual supplement.

How ever it only covers Europe. Fine,for us, almost all our travel is to our home in France and as we are just over an hour from a ferry port, generally reckon that except in real emergencies we can just head for the ferry port and get to the UK before medical treatment is required.

We use Saga but have in the past used Staysure. DH has numerous health problems and we are concerned this may stop us travelling at some point.

M0nica I gave our current medical status plus and medication and the last 12 months GP surgery consultations. But I was then told I need to keep them updated for EVERY further GP consultation. I don't remember having to do this before with Saga.

20 years ago my FIL died on board a cruise and was flown home thanks to his insurance so I would never risk not having any, I am just anxious not to invalidate it. (I don't think FIL would be covered these days as he was awaiting surgery.)

I just wanted to hear from anyone who has updated them with run of the mill consultations and what the outcome was. I can see us keeping well away from the surgery however ill we are feeling.

When we buy our annual travel insurance we just have to advise them of any changes. If they feel our needs have changed they phone for an in depth conversation and then make a decision on that. Its both gone up and down.

I don't tend to go with any particular travel insurance company.
When we are due to travel I just ring round lots of companies to see who offer the best deal for whatever trip we are on which includes health cover.
Annual usually restricts time away but you can sometimes extend it depends on the company.
Single trip insurance tends to be best for longer periods.
They all have health questions which you need to be honest about, visits to the hospital but not visits to the GP not heard of that.
Strangely enough for our next trip in November the annual insurance with an extension on worked out better for us this time because we'll manage to get two trips in the year and it covers up to 45 days away and it was cheaper incredibly than the single trip insurance.

The problems rose for us after we had bought the TI though. When we declared a new condition .

Just been round this loop trying to renew dh’s insurance for business trips. The insurance with our bank account covers me but won’t accept dh who had heart attack 12 years ago and suffers from PVD. He’s actually in very good health and is never at GP, nor is he under any consultant care. It’s been a nightmare trying to insure him this year-one well known company quoted £384 whilst another equally well known firm specialising in medical insurance would only offer single trip cover. He’s away every three weeks app so that would have worked out at £2k per annum! We finally got reasonably priced cover - which will also include next year’s cruise - after using Martin Lewis’ site. I’m the one with all the health issues who’s practically got a reserved seat at docs but I’m more insurable?