Travel Insurance Problem - Stroke (pre-existing condition)

[bickerss0]

Good Morning. I have an issue where my parents are coming to visit me in Colombia in September. My father already had insurance for the travel paid for, however had a stroke 3 weeks ago - and fully recovered. The insurance company now says they will not cover him for this on his trip. As he has been given the all clear, and we purchased the insurance before this happened, I fell that they should still be liable. I am sure there is a clause where they can get out of this, however has anyone else had this experience?

Additionally, we have been researching other companies. Out of a list of over 15, only two so far have stated they will insure him, and the costs are very high. The first company, Insure and Go, quoted 2,300 AUD. The second company EMB quotes 1,066 aud. Does anyone have any other options for a similar situation we can try? Basic details are the stroke was over a month ago – he has been given the all clear to return to work etc, 68 years of age, and the travel will commence more 3 months after the event and release from hospital. The doctors have said there is absolutely no issue as to why he cannot travel.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[bickerss0]

Here are the other ones we have tried:

World Care : will not cover anything to do with Cardiovascular!

Seniors Travel Insurance : won't cover for stroke if under 12 months!

Medibank Travel Insurance : no cover under three months NOT from date of
stroke BUT from date of enquiry!

Australia Post Travel Insutrance : same as for Medibank!

CoverMore Travel Insurance for Seniors : same as for Medibank and
Australia Post!

Virgin Money Travel Insurance : After assessment says they will not
cover!

youGo Travel Insurance for Seniors : same as for Medibank, Aust Post &
CoverMore!

NRMA Travel Insurance : after assessment was declined for both stroke

Columbus Direct

1Cover - told to download forms from website - to be filled in and sent
back to them.


Insure & Go Travel Insurance : after assessment will give top cover -
cost $2,321.75

APIA :

1Cover

 

[opusman]

Insurance is all about reducing risk, both for the policy holder and the insurance company.

If a health issue arises before the journey commences it's obviously less risky not to travel then it is to travel and hope nothing else happens.

So I would say that under the existing policy, your father would be covered for cancellation expenses (since the policy was purchased before the stroke occured) should he choose not to travel. Should he still choose to travel this would be at his own risk - he would not be covered for expenses incurred after travel commences that relate to the stroke.

Of course if he can find a new policy that agrees to cover him for his now pre-existing condition, the situation would be different.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF

There was a very similar query and thread on this not long ago. I will try to find it and direct you to it. Anyone else find it easily?

I recall there was a debate on when the policy was taken out, when the stroke/new medical condition occurred and what was advised to the insurer, then what the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) says. You must check out the PDS.

I have a feeling that if a condition manifests itself after the policy was taken out, but before the trip, some insurers can act on that condition. Not fair, but that's their rules. What does the PDS say?

Have they cancelled the policy and refunded premium?

 

[dajop]

Have you tried a company specialising only in medical travel insurance cover? An example might be BUPA, www.bupa-intl.com (use travel insurance link on this site). Your father should be still covered under original travel insurance for anything not related to medical condition (such as travel delays etc) - although should confirm with original insurer - so would only need medical cover.

 

[Pushka]

Is/has your parent on warfarin? Usually prescribed for stroke patients and it takes a few months to establish dosage. I wouldn't want to travel anyway until that was sorted. It is basically rat poison.

 

[bickerss0]

Thank you for your replies, and apologies for not responding earlier.

Yes, we can invoke the cancellation clause and claim for the flights refund, however we wish to continue with the travel.

Thanks for the note on the PDS - I will check that. They sent an initial letter stating that he could cancel, however if he travelled he would not be covered for anything relating to the stoke (they would cover other areas, not related to the stroke). I will also see if Bupa or other insurer will only cover the stroke portion and see if the combined two works out cheaper than a new full policy.

For medicine, he is on a blood thinner, though not sure exactly what one. The surgeon said to him there is no reason as to why he cannot continue with his trip to Colombia though.

Again, thank you all for your responses.

 

[Cynicor]

Warfarin is not given for strokes routinely, it's given for AF which is the cause of many strokes. If not warfarin with regular INRs, it's more likely to be anti-platelet like ticagrelor or clopidogrel