Question 1

What counts as a pre-existing condition on travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Broadly, **any medical condition you have had before buying the policy** — and the definition is far wider than most travellers assume, which is why this is the leading cause of declined travel claims.

**What typically counts:**

Any condition for which you have received **treatment, medication, tests or consultation**, commonly within the last two to five years depending on the insurer's wording.

Any condition you are **waiting to investigate** — awaiting test results or a specialist appointment counts, even without a diagnosis.

**Controlled conditions still count.** Well-managed asthma, high blood pressure controlled by medication, or diabetes in good control are all pre-existing conditions requiring declaration. People routinely assume "under control" means "not relevant", and it does not.

**Past conditions**, sometimes including ones resolved years ago, depending on wording.

**Conditions of someone else** in some circumstances — a relative not travelling whose illness might cause you to cancel, and whose condition may need declaring for cancellation cover.

**Why this matters so much.** Undeclared conditions can void the entire policy or lead to a refused claim, and **the claim need not relate to the condition** in some wordings. Medical treatment abroad, particularly in the United States, and repatriation can run to six figures. This is the single largest financial risk in ordinary travel.

**How declaration works.** Most insurers run a **medical screening** process, online or by phone, asking structured questions. The outcome is usually one of: covered at standard price, covered with an additional premium, covered with that condition excluded, or declined.

**Being excluded is not always fatal** — cover for everything else remains — but understand what is excluded before travelling.

**Practical points:** declare everything and let the insurer decide relevance; if a condition changes or you are diagnosed after buying, **tell them**, since policies require notification; and specialist insurers exist for serious conditions where mainstream providers decline.

**Check whether an EHIC/GHIC applies** — it is not a substitute for insurance.

Question 2

What is the difference between a warranty and a condition in an insurance policy?

Accepted Answer

The distinction determines what happens when you get something wrong — and in insurance these words carry technical meanings quite different from everyday use. Warranty. A promise by the policyholder

Question 3

What happens if my insurance company goes bust?

Accepted Answer

In the UK, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) exists for exactly this, and insurance is among the better-protected products — but the level of protection depends on the type of cover.

Question 4

What is typically excluded from a home insurance policy?

Accepted Answer

Exclusions are where most disputed claims originate, and the recurring theme is that insurance covers sudden, unforeseen events — not deterioration, maintenance or predictable consequences. Wear and

Question 5

What happens if an uninsured driver hits you?

Accepted Answer

You are not left with nothing, but which route you use depends on your own cover, and the consequences differ. If you have comprehensive insurance. Your own insurer will handle the repair or

Question 6

What does medical repatriation on travel insurance actually cover?

Accepted Answer

It covers getting you home, or to appropriate treatment, when you cannot travel normally — and it is the single most expensive thing travel insurance does, which is why the rest of the policy exists

Question 7

What are moral hazard and adverse selection?

Accepted Answer

Two distinct problems created by information being unequally held between insurer and insured — and almost every feature of how insurance is designed and priced is a response to one or the other.

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