Diagnosis since taking out travel insurance

Diagnosis since taking out travel insurance

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Discussion

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

218 posts

231 months

Monday 18th March
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I've been undergoing various tests (urine tests, blood tests, ultrasound) for around 6 months now, without anything being diagnosed. I took out some travel insurance a few months ago and didn't declare anything, as nothing has been diagnosed.

However, since taking out the travel insurance I've been diagnosed with MGUS. Do I have to declare this with the travel insurance company before travelling?

Dingu

4,365 posts

37 months

Monday 18th March
quotequote all
Best check the policy wording. Certainly can be the case you need to.

omniflow

2,866 posts

158 months

Monday 18th March
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No idea what MGUS is or how serious it is / could be - hopefully it's "minor".

A few things spring to mind here:

Is it an annual policy?
The insurance company will have a list of conditions that are ok - is MGUS on there?
When I went through a few of the comparison sites to get quotes for travel insurance for more than 31 days, I was asked by all of them if I was undergoing tests for anything - I'm surprised you weren't at the time you took your policy out.

And finally, the Ts&Cs on the policy will tell you exactly what you do / don't need to do. I would advise reading them and then doing what they say.

Chromegrill

1,100 posts

93 months

Monday 18th March
quotequote all
Advice here:
https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/c...

It would be surprising to find any policy that didn't state that any change or new diagnosis to your health since taking out the policy wasn't notifiable, and I'd check the small print for the tests you have been undergoing as usually those would be declarable too at the point of taking out the policy if already in train whether or not a diagnosis had been made yet. Don't try to conjure up a story that doesn't accord with your records, as insurers will require access to your GP records in the event of a claim and they will be able to see exactly what happened when and will determine the validity of the claim accordingly.

g3org3y

21,107 posts

198 months

Monday 18th March
quotequote all
Powerkiter said:
I've been undergoing various tests (urine tests, blood tests, ultrasound) for around 6 months now, without anything being diagnosed. I took out some travel insurance a few months ago and didn't declare anything, as nothing has been diagnosed.

However, since taking out the travel insurance I've been diagnosed with MGUS. Do I have to declare this with the travel insurance company before travelling?
Yes.

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

218 posts

231 months

Tuesday 19th March
quotequote all
After reading the policy (should've done that really before posting here ;-)) I contacted the insurance company and they updated my policy. No increase in cost, which was good.

MGUS is monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. It is a non-cancerous condition where the body makes an abnormal protein, called a paraprotein. However, it can lead to a higher risk of some cancers. It now means that I'm going to have to have regular blood tests to make sure no changes.

I'd never heard of it, in fact, nobody that I know either has. No symptoms, no cure. Was detected whilst undergoing other tests which diagnosed a mild fatty liver. I'm just as surprised to have a fatty liver as my BMI is spot on, no diabetes, not a big drinker, relatively active, fairly healthy eater.

sparkyhx

4,193 posts

211 months

Tuesday 19th March
quotequote all
Powerkiter said:
After reading the policy (should've done that really before posting here ;-)) I contacted the insurance company and they updated my policy. No increase in cost, which was good.

MGUS is monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. It is a non-cancerous condition where the body makes an abnormal protein, called a paraprotein. However, it can lead to a higher risk of some cancers. It now means that I'm going to have to have regular blood tests to make sure no changes.

I'd never heard of it, in fact, nobody that I know either has. No symptoms, no cure. Was detected whilst undergoing other tests which diagnosed a mild fatty liver. I'm just as surprised to have a fatty liver as my BMI is spot on, no diabetes, not a big drinker, relatively active, fairly healthy eater.
Generally if its something that is unlikely to need treatment when on holiday, or wont suddenly kill you while on holiday they are not bothered.

e.g. Heart failure, they either wont cover any related claims or charge you more to cover you. Hovever sometimes its not quite as cut and dried as it may seem. Low blood pressure leading to dizzyness leading to a significant fall, if the heart failure is an exclusion then potentially you may face a demial of claim for the fall.

Tricky sometimes. But for you it sound like its not going to impact any holidays



Edited by sparkyhx on Wednesday 20th March 09:04

dobly

1,291 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th March
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Have you been prescribed any medication following your diagnosis, or advised against travelling?

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

218 posts

231 months

Wednesday 20th March
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It's okay to travel. There are no symptoms. There is no medication as it cannot be treated. There is a higher risk of myeloma (bone cancer) and I now have to go for regular blood tests for free light chains in my blood, which is an early indication of cancer.