The Fugitive

Not the case with Cigna Global. Immediately after you have answered their questions via telephone your application is referred to their underwriting team who confirm within a minute if your application has been successful and, if so, whether any exclusions apply. Another member has reported and kindly supplied screenshots in the last week to confirm that, after making his first payment, his policy documentation arrived clearly stating the commencement date and 'No exclusions'.

A friend, neighbour and self-employed plumber and central heating engineer went for his annual medical. Doctor told him; ‘I’d like to fit a stent. You are not at risk and might never be. However, certain places can become blocked and I believe in prevention rather than cure’. My friend agreed. He declared this to his health insurance company. His premiums tripled.

Very good information thanks! I simply carried a paper print-out of my annual European Travel Insurance when visiting European countries. I never thought to advise family in the UK.

That's the ideal Simon! Someone who hasn't been near a doctor all their lives, never had an annual medical, never been admitted to hospital has a completely clean sheet. An insurance company would gleefully cover them without any exclusions.

Agree. Surprising lack of questions! When I applied previously (to another company) I was told that any and all previous conditions would be excluded. According to Cigna Global if no recurrence and no medication prescribed since, no exclusions apply.

This is the Health Questionnaire kindly provided by Liverpool Lou; https://www.cignaglobal.com/dvc-pdfs/CLICE-EP19/en/CGHO Application Form Broker_EN_09_2020.pdf?elqTrackId=6a8f5f2511d44710b9f842a67a04a3f5&elqaid=804&elqat=2

Even their customers don't seem to know (or claim they don't) if they're licenced to ride motorcycles. They are speaking various languages. People always seem to find a way around restrictions.

Definitely. Cycling is regarded as a hazardous activity. If he had taken out travel insurance he would have needed to have specified what he intended to do whilst on holiday and paid extra premium to cover it.

If your job is 'sifting' claims for the purpose of denying them how else could your performance be measured?

Thanks for this. I see the date on the form is September 2020. I'm waiting for a 'phone call from Dubai from them. I can keep this on my screen and compare it with the questions as they ask them.

I worked with a lady who previously worked for a large UK Insurance company (the one that has it's roots in Rochdale). She told me her job was 'sifting' claims using a checklist. Staff received productivity bonuses.

UK NHS would refuse and tell you to go home. At least, that was my most recent experience!

Doubly tough! Paid his premiums and never claimed. There was no upper age limit when he took out the policy yet they've decided to sack him off because he's reached 80!

Agree on this. You see cycles overtaking motor cars. The speeds (and impact damage) can obviously be devastating. On the subject of insurance, if he was employed by a professional football club wouldn't he be insured by them as an employee? Maybe the cover doesn't extend to personal and/or activities deemed 'hazardous' when outside Eire?

I haven't even taken out my policy yet and you've got me worried! Is there a field or a panel anywhere on your documents that indicate exclusions? If there is and it's blank I would think it's safe to assume no exclusions apply.

Absolutely. I emailed Cigna Global requesting they attach a sample of their Health Questionnaire. Their answer was that the questionnaire is completed over the 'phone and only takes a few minutes!

Thanks for your honest report!

The insurance salesperson isn't going to tell you what you're not covered for. Once they do that they've lost a customer and their commission. It's absolutely not right but that's the way it is. The onus is on us as customers to disclose everything, provide our medical records (from home country and Thailand and wherever else) and then ensure that they state any exclusions in writing before we pay our first premiums.

From what I've heard she would have been paid a bonus for successfully denying claims.

Absolutely! Limits (above/below which treatment is recommended) change. You may have blood pressure readings upon your medical records that, at the time, were 'on the high side' but didn't warrant treatment. Today, an insurance company may deem those readings to be indicators of hypertension and a pre-existing condition which you failed to disclose.

Thank you for your information. Absolutely correct to ensure the answer comes from the correct source and you get it in writing. Up to you but I'd keep on trying. Cigna Global telephone and email me regularly asking whether I wish to proceed? I've told them yes, providing they confirm that neither my history of treatment for hypertension (normal with no medication since 1986) and collapse due to low blood glucose in 2018 (full blood count test normal) result in exclusions.

Many thanks, most helpful. I have online access to my UK NHS test results (including blood pressure readings) going back to 1986. I'm guessing prior to that would be available on paper at my GP's surgery. What isn't there is the description of treatment given, name of drug, dose and period it was prescribed for. As you say, I need to provide this, plus hospital notes of my collapse in Thailand. Once again, I appreciate your most helpful information.

Most helpful, thank you. I recently applied to Cigna Global and have exactly this fear. I have two pre-existing conditions; I emailed advising; 1) Treatment for raised blood pressure in 1986 (155mm/Hg - Sys, 100mm/Hg - Dia). Normal pressure since with no treatment being required. 2) A/E admission in 2018 for low blood glucose (42mg/dl equiv. 2.3mmol/L). Full blood count test normal. No repetition. Could you advise if exclusions would apply? Please would you attach a sample of your Medical Questionnaire? In reply Cigna Global says; 'Thank you for your email'. 'High blood pressure most of the time isn’t an issue if its well-controlled and for the low blood glucose level that would depend on the status of the condition itself'. 'We can complete the medical questionnaire over the phone it only takes 5 – 10 minutes'. Somehow I can't quite believe that with history relating to hypertension and diabetes even though in the past and with no current issues that exclusions wouldn't apply?

I believe if something works well then leave it alone. Especially if it doesn't belong to you. We have our more modern Samsung and LG air cons at home cleaned every six months by a local guy. Why the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries air con in our shop is quieter, faster cooling, seems to use hardly any electricity and doesn't appear to suffer from lack of cleaning is totally bizarre but I'm not complaining!

I've never been tempted by 'Duty Free' shops. They appear to sell luxury products that can be purchased elsewhere for considerably less. Last time I went home on Gulf Air via Singapore and Bahrain. The Singapore stop had only recently been added to the service. A Bahrainian guy ahead of me was 'doing his nut'. He had purchased duty free items going out of Bangkok. Although the bags remained sealed with receipts visible inside Singapore Airport security were having none of it. He had to open up the bags for inspection. Caught up with him when boarding for Singapore to Bahrain. He told me because he had shouted at them they became 'as awkward as hell' checking everything as slowly as possible!