The following are notes from personal experiences in trying, and finally succeeding, in getting full annual World Wide cover after first being denied any cover whatsoever. Personal situations vary and so do insurers criteria. Many of the big names frequently change their underwriters, thus what maybe the case this year can change next.

The most important point to remember is keep trying, someone out their will insure you at reasonable cost.

Many local travel shops are not interested in arranging cover for any pre-existing condition. E.g. In 2003, two of the UK's major package tour operators were quite blunt about this.  An independent travel shop produced a printed A4 sheet saying they could not give cover if the answer to any of the listed questions were yes. Most importantly was the question: Have you been in hospital or have you seen a hospital consultant within the last 6 months?

2. Most telephone and internet companies are happy to take your money via an impatient commission hungry operator. It is not until you receive and read the policy documents you find that you are effectively not covered.

3. Many insurance companies will not give cover if you have been hospitalised or have seen a consultant within the last 6 months, or if you have had an operation within the last 2 years.

4. Most policies now contain a clause " We will not pay….. regarding any pre-existing condition whether diagnosed or not unless we have agreed in writing to cover before your trip. It is, therefore, vital that all known pre-existing conditions are declared.

5. Some companies will allow certain medical conditions to be excluded (i.e. you to take the risk of those) so that other parts of the policy are covered. E.g. theft of baggage or cancellation by others etc. but not all will do this.   For example: A major insurance company's gold service cover is all or nothing: If you don't declare some minor problem, they have a prime reason not to pay out for anything. Further, an insurance company was advised (after a holiday deposit had been paid) that hospital treatment would be now be necessary. They promptly cancelled all cover with immediate effect, referring to a clause which stated they could (unilaterally) cancel at any time.

6. Time can be saved by not giving the young lady on the phone (who is looking at a simple list of medical conditions) the opportunity to say no, by stating that you have a pre-existing condition and asking for their medical screening line immediately. This often results in your speaking to people who are properly trained and who ask relevant questions – thus giving you confidence. (Medical Screeners usually underwrite several, if not dozens, of individual insurance companies and may be prepared to point you to the one most likely to give cover). Often the screener will ask you simply answer yes or no to the questions asked … do this accurately, cover all points …but don't lay it on too thick.