In an increasingly mobile world, where professional and personal opportunities transcend borders, the crucial question of medical history can arise. Having adequate medical protection when going abroad becomes a major concern. And taking out international health insurance, despite your medical history, can be a real challenge.
What is a medical history or pre-existing condition?
Expatriate health insurers often categorize medical history as incidents, illnesses or conditions that predate your new policy.
A medical history or pre-existing condition may include :
- A disease that has been or is being treated, including convalescence or remission.
- Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, infarction, hypertension, stroke, hepatitis C, mental disorders, etc., are all on the rise.
- A disability requiring treatment, a rare or orphan disease.
- The consequences of an accident or illness, such as cancer treatment.
Is it necessary to declare existing medical conditions when taking out international health insurance?
Yes, this is imperative. When you fill in your medical questionnaire, you must answer truthfully and accurately. If you fail to declare certain illnesses, you run the risk of being refused reimbursement, or even of having your international health insurance policy cancelled.
In accordance witharticle L. 113-8 of the French Insurance Code, your membership is void in the event of intentional misrepresentation. Even if your omission or misrepresentation is unintentional, your reimbursement may be reduced in proportion to the amount of premiums paid compared with the amount of premiums that would have been due had the risks been correctly declared.
It’s essential to understand that transparency when declaring medical history is the key to benefiting from comprehensive cover and avoiding future disputes. By properly disclosing this information, you establish a relationship of trust with your insurer, reinforcing the reliability of your international health insurance policy.
What if I declared a medical history on my health questionnaire when I took out expatriate health insurance?
If you have correctly declared your medical history when taking out expatriate health insurance, the insurer will be able to accurately assess your risk profile. Following this assessment, there are four possible solutions:
- The insurer estimates that it is possible to insure you at no extra cost.
- Increasing your premium: Following a study of your profile, the insurer agrees to insure you, but at a higher rate than the basic international health insurance policy you were applying for. Of course, this will mean an increase in your health insurance budget, but all future medical expenses related to your pre-existing conditions will be reimbursed for as long as you remain a member of the policy. Consultations, pharmacy costs or hospitalization will be covered according to the amounts and ceilings stipulated in your contract.
Please note: if you decide to change insurance company, you will need to complete a new medical questionnaire. Another expatriate health insurance company may refuse to cover the risk or accept you as an underwriter. Be aware of these implications before deciding to change your insurance.
- Exclusion of pre-existing illness: The insurer may agree to cover you by excluding the declared pathology. In other words, all expenses related to this condition will be excluded. Be sure to clarify whether the consequences of this illness are also excluded. Your insurance may specifically exclude the risk of low back pain, but may accept to cover it if it is the result of a car accident, for example.
- Refusal of membership: Refusal of membership is an eventuality to be taken into account. This measure is often applied in cases of progressive pathologies, such as multiple sclerosis, or following a recent event that has not yet been consolidated.
Santexpat.fr helped a couple of customers minimize the additional premium.
Recently, a couple of customers wanted to take out insurance for their lives abroad. They had to complete a medical questionnaire. Both members of the couple have cardiovascular problems, resulting in an insurance proposal with a 200% surcharge. However, Santexpat.fr intervened with its insurance partners. After consulting another insurer, we were able to present them with an offer reduced to just 50%. Satisfied with this proposal, they chose to accept the alternative insurer’s offer. We opted for a CFE contract with a top-up, as it corresponded perfectly to their needs. This experience underlines the importance of comparing insurance offers and exploring different options to select the coverage that best suits your needs and budget.
Choosing expatriate insurance with a known medical history?
It’s essential not to wait until you’re faced with health problems before taking out international health insurance for your travels or expatriation. To make your choice of expatriate health insurance easier, Santexpat.fr provides you with an expatriate health insurance comparator. In just a few clicks, you can obtain personalized quotes based on your preferences and destination. Our international health experts are on hand to provide you with useful information.
We are able to offer you health insurance in addition to Caisse des Français de l’étranger (CFE) or at the first euro. If you have a known medical history, our advisors can guide you towards the offer best suited to your situation, while endeavoring to limit premium surcharges.
