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[Blot]

Hi ladies. Hope you can advise and calm my nerves.
Going on hols to Spain in a week or so and just checking our travel insurance which we get with our bank account.
DH has had an X-ray and a doctors appointment for intermittent pain and swelling in his hands which he’s had for years and only decided to get checked out now. It’s not arthritis apparently. So he’s got another appointment with doc to discuss further as he would obviously like this sorting out.
So technically it’s an undiagnosed condition (or just old age as one previous doc suggested)
How do we declare it to the insurance if we don’t know what it is? Will they not even touch us?

[Jules]

I was waiting for a hysteroscopy and couldn't get insurance other than with one insurer and they wouldn't cover anything related to that issue. It's the undiagnosed bit, they can't cover something that they don't know the nature or extent of. If you already have insurance,  they may deal with it differently

[Blot]

Thank you.
It’s difficult because we don’t know what the issue is so how do they know what’s connected to it? 

[CLKD]

Ask the Consultant or at the X-ray Dept., they may have knowledge of the possible condition and how travel insurance might be affected. 

Do make sure that your Cover is enough in case you require emergency travel home due to accident etc.; there have been high media profiles in recent weeks where several people have found that they aren't covered for air lift with support for example.

[CLKD]

As an orthopaedic secretary it's surprising how much knowledge 'we' have regarding different issues outside our specialities ;-).  MayB ask .......

[Blot]

But until he’s diagnosed it won’t help.

[ElkWarning]

Surely, if it's undiagnosed, and it's been around a while (so normal), then he doesn't actually have anything for you to declare???

[CLKD]

Let us know.  U R not over thinking this at all.

[sheila99]

They'll try to wriggle out of it if they can. Do you have whatever replaced the ehic? Best to check yourself but I think that gives you the same treatment as a native.

[Blot]

Yes we’ve got the ehic cards so that’s something at least. You can get free treatment at the public hospitals I understand.

[Jules]

Mine was in April. I likely had a cervical polyp. It made no difference.  They can't cover health when they don't know the issue. Medical secretaries can't advise on travel insurers policies. Last year I had to cancel my holiday as I was waiting for endoscopy. Nobody would cover me except one but nothing relating to my stomach and I didn't want to go without it as I needed it. My gastric consultant was clueless, I had to explain that if you're awaiting a diagnostic test you struggle to get insurance. I think if you have annual insurance that is renewed there may be different terms.  By the time I was going in April I'd had the hysteroscopy so could confirm diagnosis and get full cover. I'd be wary without cover, if you fall and need bringing back they can claim its related to your problem.  The European health card doesn't cover everything. Best to ask your insurer.

[Blot]

The insurance is included with our bank account. So will wait to see what they say and also what doc says tomorrow.
I only thought about it because I saw something on another site. Otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered.
Apparently 1 in 5 don’t bother informing their insurance and it’s only if they have to claim that they realise. And many don’t get insurance at all 😳
The GHIC covers emergency treatment I believe.

[Jules]

Yes there will be lots who don't get adequate insurance or none at all. They may think they'll be ok, they may have health stuff that is too expensive to cover or they may not know enough about it.  Its up to you if you want to chance it and it depends where youre travelling.   I was once in hospital in New York.  UTI. If I'd not had insurance I'd have been absolutely scuppered.

[Ayesha]

Your question is far too complex to ask on a forum and best answered by your insurance company, peace of mind is everything!