Travelling is an exciting adventure and a chance to escape cold winters that many people look forward to. However, when it comes to travelling, it’s essential to take precautions, and one of them is to have travel insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions. Having the right coverage for your pre-existing conditions protects you against unforeseen events that could ruin your trip or worse still, put you in financial trouble. In order to get the right coverage, your travel insurance broker will need to get a full medical history including all medications and any changes to treatment.
The importance of disclosing your medical history when purchasing travel insurance cannot be overstated, particularly if there have been any recent medication changes. A recent case about a denied claim in Saskatchewan highlights the importance of disclosing medical history to travel insurance brokers.
An example ripped from the headlines about what could go wrong:
Recently, a client of Saskatchewan Blue Cross had a $500,000 claim denied because he failed to disclose a change in cholesterol medication he had been taking. Fortunately, the decision was eventually reversed, but it serves as a wake-up call for snowbirds and other travellers. Even if it’s just a change in dosage, it can have important ramifications for travel insurance.
It’s important to note that the medical history you disclose when purchasing travel insurance isn’t scrutinized until a claim is made. This means that any discrepancies between the medical history you provided and your actual medical records could lead to a denied claim. The consequences of not disclosing medical conditions could be severe, including a large medical bill.
Your broker’s advice is only as good as the accuracy of the information you provide
As travel insurance brokers, we sometimes hear from clients about a medication that isn’t on their file. We come to learn that they have taken the medication for many years but forgot to tell us about it. It’s not just pills; puffers, procedures, or any medical treatment must be disclosed when buying travel insurance. Clients sometimes forget about these things, but they could be critical in determining the payability of a claim.
Whether you forget to share information to get a better deal or just accidentally leave it out, it has the same impact. It’s worth taking some extra time and maybe even spending a little more money to make sure you have top-notch coverage with all your bases covered. When you have the right coverage, you won’t have to worry about whether your claim will be paid or not.
Updating your medical history ensures you get the right coverage so you can travel worry-free
At Medi-Quote, we educate you about the importance of disclosing your medical history accurately. We encourage you to update us whenever you have a change in your medication or other medical conditions. We offer a client portal, where you can log in and view or update your medical history. It’s not necessary to wait until you purchase your insurance to update your medical history; you can do it year-round.
The most important thing we can do as travel insurance brokers is to ensure you get the right insurance, so you don’t have issues with claims. But, we can only do this if you tell us everything about your medical history. Therefore, let’s work together to ensure all your medical history is up-to-date and accurate, so you can enjoy worry-free travel.