The Fugitive

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!

Confirm. Very useful for geo-blocked websites. Enables me to view my bills and other things in United Kingdom.

Odd how Government hospitals are provided/located. Population is an obvious factor but there must be other considerations too? Our local community hospital has been inadequate for years, patients in beds along both sides of corridors being the norm. A sizeable extension was completed last year and another is now in progress. In the next larger town it wasn't possible to extend the hospital due to it's town centre location. Another, much larger hospital was built, out of town. The original hospital has been retained, with each having 24 hour A/E departments.

If they weigh your hand luggage at check-in they now affix a label. Previously I had asked if hand luggage requires any sort of label and was told not. Probably this is so the boarding gate staff can easily spot unweighed items.

Sorry no. Only travel internally, hence duty free doesn't apply. However, when we travel with hand luggage only, we each take a 'cabin' case and, of course, the ladies also have hand/shoulder bags. Cabin cases/bags must go in the overhead bins and hand/shoulder bags underneath the seat in front. The cabin crew are actually very keen on this. When weighed at main check-in the agent has asked for ALL hand baggage to be placed upon the scales.

Very interesting thanks! Presumably, based upon your findings, porting your existing mobile number would enable you to receive 2FA (one time passcodes) via SMS using 'VYKE'. Renting a mobile number (only available for Canada, United Kingdom and United States) is only $16 USD per ANNUM. You would then need to contact 'VYKE' customer services to port your existing mobile phone number.

Felt quite amused the other evening. Thai lady married to a Japanese guy living next door sent my Mrs a message on 'LINE' asking us to turn down the Karaoke! We could have replied; 'it's your husband's fault, Japs invented it'. Perhaps best we didn't!

And it isn't even mine. Came with the shop the Mrs rents. Thank the Chinese family who own it for me.

I fly internally usually VietJet or AirAsia every few weeks. If you check in hold luggage the check-in desk will weigh your hand luggage also (aggregated between the passengers upon your booking). We were overweight once and had to pay to check one bag into the hold. If you travel with hand luggage only and check-in online or at the airport totems you can go directly to the departure gate. However, there is a sizing frame and scales at the departure gate. I have personally seen hand luggage being sized and weighed at the departure gate and passengers being sent away (presumably to pay for it as hold luggage and to check it into the hold).

According to a Travel Insurance site I was looking at (can't remember which one) a broken arm is considered to be something very minor which nobody need worry about insuring for as they could pay 'out of pocket'! It would be a stroke, heart attack or an accident rendering you unconscious and/or immobile that would be of concern. The option of whether to include medical evacuation (MedEvac) pushes up the premium. MedEvac cover would obviously be most advantageous for those of us entitled to free medical treatment in our home country. Something to check for are exclusions for 'hazardous activities'. Claims can (and do) get refused where someone was intoxicated. As a yardstick, blood alcohol above the drink-drive limit would preclude a claim. Hire of motorcycles is often a very bad idea, especially for people who don't hold motorcycle licences in their home country.

Yes. I've already received a telephone call plus email from; Adam Iskander at his office in Dubai. I'm about to send him an email asking for a sample of the medical questionnaire before I do anything else. Unfortunately, I have history of treatment for raised blood pressure in 1986 (although normal since with no treatment being required) and minor surgeries. More recently I passed out due to low blood glucose. I have previously been told that raised blood pressure is an definite exclusion (no matter how long ago) as is low blood glucose (A/E admission in Thailand).

You didn't see this? 12th July 2024Plan start date The Current Quote price shown above is based only on the information you have currently provided and benefits you have selected. If you proceed, you will be required to complete a medical questionnaire for yourself and all other persons to be covered by this policy. Cover will be considered by our medical underwriting team and shall be subject to the policy terms and conditions.

I've just obtained a quote myself. It is, as you state, very easy. No questions about pre-existing conditions. Have you received, completed and returned the medical questionnaire they mention?

I recently applied for a Health Plan. I specifically mentioned two pre-existing conditions. They quoted for the original advertised price, no mention of my pre-existing conditions, or whether they would be excluded or not. I considered this too good to be true. I emailed back reiterating my two pre-existing conditions. The broker said he'd have to ask the company and he'd get back. The answer was that my pre-existing conditions would be excluded. I wasn't happy that he hadn't asked first time around. I didn't proceed with the policy.