Understanding Insurance Options for Aortic Dissection Patients and Families

For insuring an electric wheelchair in the UK, there are two main options. Firstly, it may be possible to add the wheelchair to your existing home insurance policy. You should contact your home insurance provider to arrange this addition. Secondly, you can obtain a standalone electric wheelchair insurance policy. Such policies are available through insurance brokers and are designed to cover mobility scooters, protecting against risks like accidental damage, fire, theft, and mechanical breakdown. For further assistance or to explore these options, contacting the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is recommended.

Under a longstanding agreement between the Association of British Insurers and the Department of Health and Social Care, insurers in the UK are not permitted to inquire about or consider the results of genetic testing for aortic disease when determining insurance premiums. This protection is specific to genetic testing. If any other diagnostic testing has been conducted, that information must be disclosed. Additionally, insurers may ask about family medical history, particularly if any immediate family members have had significant health issues or died before the age of 60 or 65.

Insuring someone with vascular EDS can be challenging, and it is advised to consult with a specialist broker, such as those available through BIBA. Many insurers are cautious about this condition, but options are available. Typically, life insurance cover might be limited to a 10-year term with a significantly higher premium—potentially 200% to 400% above the standard rate. Alternatively, guaranteed acceptance, whole-of-life plans (often marketed to over 50s) may be considered. These plans do not require medical underwriting but usually include a moratorium period where no death benefit is paid if the insured dies within the first 12 to 24 months. It’s also worth exploring occupational life insurance available through employment, which often provides cover under favourable terms and may include rapid payout options via trusts, bypassing probate. Individuals should ensure they understand the specific terms and potential benefits of such policies.

The insurance industry has largely transitioned from paper to online application forms over the past two decades, which has streamlined many processes. For individuals with specific conditions like aortic dissection, it is highly recommended to work with a financial advisor who can guide you through the application process. This is especially important as the underwriting process is now more dynamic, beginning with a few general questions to understand the applicant’s basic health and risk profile. Based on these initial responses, the system then generates more specific questions tailored to assess the individual’s particular risks more accurately.

For those not using a financial advisor, navigating this system can be daunting due to the potential complexity and the breadth of questions (up to 10,000 possible queries). If you find yourself unsure about how to answer a question or what information is required, seeking help from a specialist advisor can be invaluable. They can clarify what information is necessary and help ensure that your responses accurately reflect your situation.

This is a common issue, particularly post-pandemic, due to the backlog in medical consultations and tests. The challenge is for insurers to rate a risk without complete information. Typically, insurers are hesitant to provide cover under such uncertain conditions. However, there is a potential workaround: while insurers may not cover claims related to the undiagnosed condition once it is identified, they can still offer cover for all other declared conditions. This allows individuals to travel, provided they are willing to accept the risk that any claims connected to the undiagnosed condition might not be covered. This scenario forces a choice on whether the potential risk, given the severity and seriousness of the undiagnosed condition, is acceptable for travel. Essentially, while definitive cover for the undiagnosed condition is unlikely, other aspects can still be insured.

There seems to be a misconception regarding how insurance companies evaluate risk. The key aspect insurers assess is the stability of the condition, including what treatment has been applied (e.g., stents), how long ago treatment occurred, and whether there has been any recurrence. The aim is to understand the current status and ongoing risk associated with the condition. For example, the timing of the stent placement (whether it was several years ago or more recent) and its success in managing the condition are crucial factors.

Insurers do not automatically apply a premium loading just because a treatment like a stent insertion has occurred. Other factors, such as the destination of travel (e.g., the US versus Europe), can influence the cost of the premium more significantly. It’s important not to assume that each question regarding past treatments automatically leads to higher premiums. In fact, there have been instances where premiums were notably low for individuals whose AD had been successfully treated, indicating effective risk management from the insurer’s perspective. Additionally, insurers might inquire about related issues like blood pressure medication to comprehensively assess health status, but this does not necessarily mean an increase in premium. It’s crucial to differentiate between the insurers’ need to understand the medical history and the assumption that this will lead to higher costs.

It is essential to declare all significant medical conditions, including AD, regardless of whether they are listed on the insurer’s pre-existing conditions page. The absence of AD from this list does not imply that it should not be declared. Instead, it often indicates conditions that are not automatically covered without further assessment. Not declaring such conditions can lead to complications, especially if medical care is needed while abroad, potentially resulting in substantial costs and a detailed investigation into any undeclared conditions.

Furthermore, when applying for insurance, always provide complete and accurate information about your medical history. The underwriting process is tailored to assess individual risks based on the information provided. If AD or any other serious condition is relevant, it should be disclosed to ensure appropriate cover. Insurers are equipped to handle a wide array of medical conditions, and full disclosure allows them to offer the most accurate cover terms. If there is any uncertainty about what to declare, it is advisable to consult with a travel insurance specialist who can guide you through the process and help determine the best approach for cover. This ensures that all significant health issues are appropriately covered and can avoid potential issues with claims.

Routine medical monitoring as part of ongoing management for a condition like aortic dissection does not typically need to be declared unless there are specific changes in your condition or treatment that arise from these check-ups. Regular monitoring is considered a standard part of managing existing conditions and usually doesn’t impact insurance assessments unless it leads to a change, such as a new diagnosis or alteration in medication. However, if your monitoring reveals changes that affect your health status, these should indeed be declared. This ensures there is no ambiguity in your insurance cover, particularly in the event of a claim. Always keep your insurer informed about any significant changes in your health as part of your ongoing duty to provide accurate and up-to-date information.

It’s often advantageous to have a joint policy, especially when travelling with a partner who has a medical condition. Separate policies might not automatically cover situations where one partner needs to stay longer due to the other’s illness. A joint policy or adding a travel companion cover can eliminate ambiguity and ensure that both parties are adequately covered for such scenarios. This cover is particularly valuable if one traveller has a medical condition that could potentially disrupt the trip, as it addresses issues like cancellation and curtailment directly linked to the medical condition.

If your travel insurance is provided as a perk through a bank account or credit card, it’s crucial to confirm with your provider that you’re covered for travelling with someone who has a medical condition. Make sure that the policy does not exclude claims related to the partner’s medical issues, which might necessitate an extended stay or trip cancellation. Opting for a travel companion cover as an add-on is a small price for significant peace of mind, ensuring that both travellers are protected under one policy. This approach not only simplifies the claims process but also provides broader cover, making it a sensible choice for couples travelling together.

Declaring your full medical history, particularly for complex conditions like an intramural hematoma and surgical repairs of the aorta and arch, is crucial. However, being thorough in your declarations does not necessarily mean you will automatically be classified as higher risk. Insurers have sophisticated screening processes designed by medical professionals that take into account the specifics of each condition and its treatment outcomes.

If you’re unsure about how to declare your condition or the specific details required, it’s advisable to contact the insurance provider directly rather than relying solely on online forms. This approach allows you to discuss your specific medical scenario with someone who can guide you through the medical screening process.

This direct interaction helps ensure that your condition is accurately assessed and that you receive the appropriate cover. It also minimises the risk of miscommunication or underdeclaration that could affect claim processing. In cases like this, where the condition and its treatment are complex, speaking directly with a trained operator is strongly recommended to talk through any areas of uncertainty and to ensure all relevant medical information is correctly declared.

Yes, the distance of travel can significantly influence the cost of travel insurance, and this difference isn’t solely based on medical conditions. Longer journeys, especially long-haul flights, come with additional risks such as the cost of repatriation in case of medical emergencies. Longer flight durations, changes in temperature and humidity and significant time zone changes, can all have adverse effects on certain medical conditions and the frequency of claims.

Moreover, the geographic classification of ‘Europe’ in travel insurance terms includes not only European countries but also any country bordering the Mediterranean, which might incorporate some North African countries. This broad definition affects the calculation of travel distance and subsequently the insurance cost. Longer distances like trips to the Far East, America, or South America generally incur higher premiums due to various factors, including the absence of reciprocal health agreements like those in place with certain countries like Australia.

These geographical and logistical factors must be considered alongside personal health conditions when assessing travel insurance costs. The further away the destination, the higher the likelihood of increased insurance costs, which is crucial for travellers to understand when planning trips. Additionally, if you are applying for life insurance and intend to live outside the EU for any period, this must also be disclosed to your insurer as it can affect their underwriting decisions.

Insurability in such cases involves a highly individualised underwriting process, focusing on the specifics of the risk presented, the level and duration of cover required, and the nature of the sport involved. The key factors insurers consider is not just the surgery itself but also the decision to resume sporting activities post-surgery. The type of sport, its competitive level, and the environment in which it is played are all critical in assessing the risk.

For someone engaging in potentially high-risk sports activities post-surgery, it’s essential to discuss these details with an insurance advisor who may need to look for a specialist insurer equipped to handle such unique scenarios. The insurance industry has guidelines on what types of sports are generally insurable and those which are considered too risky.

Therefore, each case is assessed on its merits, and while prophylactic surgery might resolve a potential health issue, resuming high-risk sports could complicate the insurance assessment. It’s advisable to provide all relevant details to your insurer or broker so they can accurately evaluate the situation. Insurers aim to cover risks they fully understand, so thorough and honest disclosure is crucial to finding suitable cover.