Factsheet Insurance

Getting life insurance or travel insurance can be  offer you a standard travel insurance policy a tricky issue for people with a pre-existing  exclude medical cover for certain pre- medical condition, such as porphyria. existing conditions Travel insurance  offer the insurance but at a higher price  refuse to insure you or impose certain Members often ask us who might cover them restrictions, exclusions, special terms or and the simple answer is that this depends on excess payments. each individual case. Some members have These particular price comparison websites reported success with Tesco, American Express, recognise porphyria and also AIP, CEP, EPP and Insure and Go and Freedom Insurance. HCP individually. Recently, however, we have also learned of two Life insurance useful price comparison websites that deal with travel cover for those with pre-existing Life insurance is occasionally more difficult. conditions. Using a comparison tool, you are Support your application with medical evidence able to compare travel insurance companies from your doctor/specialist explaining that that cover medical conditions as part of their while porphyria is a life-changing condition, policies. when controlled and monitored it should not Please see: shorten life expectancy.

 www.moneysupermarket.com/travel- You may need to appeal an initial refusal. If so, insurance/pre-existing-medical-conditions/ you will need to gather all the information  www.comparethemarket.com/travel- relevant to your individual case. Keep copies of insurance/with-medical-conditions/. all completed forms (photo, photocopy or scan). Once you have answered all the relevant questions there are a number of potential outcomes; companies may decide to:

REMEMBER: Failure to declare a medical condition to an insurer could result in any claim being rejected. It may be tempting to withhold certain information in order to obtain a cheaper premium, but in the event of a claim, the insurance company can access your medical records.

136 Devonshire Road, Durham, DH1 2BL www.porphyria.org.uk