Half of the over-50s within the study suffer from a medical condition, and 23 percent admit they fail to declare their medical conditions, which means they are not covered if they fall ill while on holiday.
The research by over-50s insurance and travel specialist Staysure also highlighted the most common misconceptions about insurance cover for medical conditions. More than 58 percent of Britons think they cannot get travel insurance cover if they have cancer, while four out of ten believe they will not find cover if they have had a stroke. One in five respondents said they had been prevented from fulfilling all their travel ambitions due medical conditions.
Chris Rolland, CEO of Staysure, said: ‘The fact that 23 percent of people who have pre-existing conditions fail to declare them when buying travel insurance is a truly shocking statistic, as it means people are putting themselves at risk of potentially extortionate medical bills should they fall ill abroad. They’re also spending money on a policy that won’t cover them for what they need – which is a false economy.
‘We urge holidaymakers to talk to their insurer and answer all questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge, declaring all conditions and any medication they’re taking. If their medical circumstances change before they travel, they should let their insurer know. While travelling with a medical condition might feel daunting, many of our customers love to achieve incredible things that they never thought possible, from climbing mountains to seeing the wonders of the world. There’s no reason for a medical condition to hold you back from achieving your travel dreams.’
Advice from Staysure on travelling with medical conditions:
1. If there is any doubt as to whether you are fit to travel, always take your doctor’s advice
2. Don't underestimate the value of a good travel insurance policy to cover your medical costs should you need treatment while you are away.
3. Declare all your pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. Claims directly arising from any pre-existing medical condition will not be covered unless you have declared all your medical history, hospital visits, and the medication you’re taking to your insurer at the point of purchase, and have them accepted by them in writing. It’s also important to tell your insurer if your medical history changes before you travel to ensure your policy is kept up to date, especially if you have annual cover.
4. You can get insured for cancellation, curtailment, and trip interruption cover which protects you against any unforeseen illness or accident that prevents you from travelling after you have booked your holiday.
5. You might need a licence for taking some medicines abroad (e.g. morphine-based pain killers). This can be obtained from your hospital, GP, or hospice. Rules vary from country to country, so you may need to contact the embassy for the country you are visiting to check.
6. Check that your insurer can help with replacing any lost medication or prescriptions while you are away.
7. Check with your doctor and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if your destination requires vaccinations.
8. If you’re travelling in Europe, most insurers will require that you carry an EHIC card as well as your travel insurance.
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
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