Travel insurance following cervical injury of the spine

[squeeze72]

Can anybody point me in the direction of Travel Insurance for spinal injury?

My son has been discharged from needing to see the neurosurgeons anymore and has a widening between C5 & C6 which doesn't require surgery but will always be there.

He can walk, exercise, work, drive just as before.

He's 19. He can't not ever go overseas again. I don't mind paying a premium but has anybody else managed to get travel insurance following a spinal diagnosis? I realise you can't recommend places but experiences of similar would be welcomed.

 

[Pushka]

I had neurosurgery at 32 for a ruptured disc at L5 and S1. I have no disc at this point in my spine. Back then I was able to get cover but in recent years this issue has been automatically excluded from cover so something changed in Insurance conditions. However with time I have fully recovered and do not expect to need to claim for anything related to this.

I have other issues now and insure with insureandgo. I don't ask to be insured for the spinal issue just the medical stuff I've recently developed. I pay a higher premium but am covered. Maybe they are worth a try.

I expect once your son has stabilised for a couple of years he will know if there are likely to be ongoing issues and then he can decide his risk.

 

[Danger]

Presumably you're looking for a cover that would include an issue overseas that arises because of his spine. You seem to indicate that he's really actually fine so it would sound like the chances of that happening are slim. If that's the case I don't think there's necessarily a need to find a policy that includes your son's circumstances. My reading of policies suggests that pre-existing only applies to the event being claimed. So, for example, if you're claiming for a dislocated shoulder caused by a skiing injury, presumably the fact the dislocation occurred was not informed by the previous spine injury. It's not a case of post hoc ergo propter hoc. Delayed luggage, missed connection etc. are, similarly, events that would occur irrespective of a pre-existing spinal injury.

So if the concern is not so much covering a potential issue related to the spinal injury but just getting cover, I don't think you'll need to long far at all. If you're still concerned email the insurance company (as I have done with QBE) using a different email address (one that doesn't link it to you in case you're worried) and get a response in writing.

If, however, your concern is getting a cover for an issue developing from the spine, I would suggest asking some of the major companies to provide a quote that includes recognition of the pre-existing condition which shouldn't be an issue. My guess is that they do that every day.

 

[Cynicor]

Everything Danger said. If there is no disability resulting from the spinal injury, and you are happy to have it excluded, then just buy any old policy.
If you want cover for the c-spine, then Insureandgo are your best bet.