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I have a Platinum Amex card and made a holiday cancellation claim that was rejected. My consultant advised Amex that the surgical procedure was not directly related to an issue I had in the 1990s. That made no difference. I was lucky that my loss was not material but could have been catastrophic had I needed surgery in the USA. Anyone on statins, high blood pressure meds will find that they are not covered for any event that can be remotely related to these conditions. 15 million people in the UK take statins and this is probably skewed to the Amex card demographic. I have spoken to several cardholders, some Centurion, and they were not aware that they are not covered.
I have a Platinum Amex card and made a holiday cancellation claim that was rejected. My consultant advised Amex that the surgical procedure was not directly related to an issue I had in the 1990s. That made no difference. I was lucky that my loss was not material but could have been catastrophic had I needed surgery in the USA. Anyone on statins, high blood pressure meds will find that they are not covered for any event that can be remotely related to these conditions. 15 million people in the UK take statins and this is probably skewed to the Amex card demographic. I have spoken to several cardholders, some Centurion, and they were not aware that they are not covered.
Welcome to HfP! This has actually been written about (in the forums at least) quite extensively. The Platinum insurance medical cover is poor in that it excludes a significant chunk of the population as you have identified. Over 40% of the adult male population (a bit less in females) is on hypertension medication and/or statins and are thus effectively excluded from cover by Amex. Plenty of other exclusions / pre-existing conditions not allowed affecting large numbers. The travel inconvenience section is also very poor. The best aspect is probably postponement cover which is relatively rare. Overall, it’s not a policy I would wish to rely upon as my sole travel insurance.
I’m a newbie and sadly I did rely on it but only needed it for a cancellation claim, and I was surprised at the low level of cover. Fortunately most of the hotels and airlines were accommodating. I won’t be letting it go, but I will be cancelling my Platinum card. The travel insurance was a big part of my financial assessment. Need to read the small print.
Over 40% of the adult male population (a bit less in females) is on hypertension medication and/or statins
That’s not right. Maybe you mean a different word/phrase to adult?
Over 40% of the adult male population (a bit less in females) is on hypertension medication and/or statins
That’s not right. Maybe you mean a different word/phrase to adult?
No, I did mean adults. Hypertension is relatively rare in children and children are not so commonly prescribed statins but we are in any event talking about Platinum cardholders.
No, I did mean adults.
You said 40% of adult males (I’m assuming 18+) use hypertension medication and / or statins. Is that really true? For clarity, I’m not saying you are wrong, but it sounds double what I would expect.
Lloyds Club silver / platinum cover high blood pressure i believe
No, I did mean adults.
You said 40% of adult males (I’m assuming 18+) use hypertension medication and / or statins. Is that really true? For clarity, I’m not saying you are wrong, but it sounds double what I would expect.
That IS wrong. JDB might be confusing the current situation with a 2023 NICE report that suggested that around 40% of the UK adult population might benefit from taking statins. This would mean an extra 15 million people taking them vs currently if it was actioned. Currently the proportion of the adult male population taking statins is under 20%.
No, I did mean adults.
You said 40% of adult males (I’m assuming 18+) use hypertension medication and / or statins. Is that really true? For clarity, I’m not saying you are wrong, but it sounds double what I would expect.
That IS wrong. JDB might be confusing the current situation with a 2023 NICE report that suggested that around 40% of the UK adult population might benefit from taking statins. This would mean an extra 15 million people taking them vs currently if it was actioned. Currently the proportion of the adult male population taking statins is under 20%.
@The Savage Squirrel – my comment did not refer to statins alone. It referred to the proportion of the population taking statins and/or hypertension medication. Even allowing for the fact that some will be taking both, you will get to about 40%. The key point of this thread is that a very significant number of people would not be covered (for the blood pressure/statins alone) by the Amex Platinum as the OP discovered. Think of all the other pre-existing conditions. That’s a pretty important thing for anyone to know.
I have a Platinum Amex card and made a holiday cancellation claim that was rejected. My consultant advised Amex that the surgical procedure was not directly related to an issue I had in the 1990s. That made no difference. I was lucky that my loss was not material but could have been catastrophic had I needed surgery in the USA. Anyone on statins, high blood pressure meds will find that they are not covered for any event that can be remotely related to these conditions. 15 million people in the UK take statins and this is probably skewed to the Amex card demographic. I have spoken to several cardholders, some Centurion, and they were not aware that they are not covered.
Welcome to HfP! This has actually been written about (in the forums at least) quite extensively.
@JDB – whilst you are correct, some ‘senior’ members of this forum have painted a false positive spin on AmEx insurance by saying things like ‘Amex aren’t going to deny your claim if you break your arm just because you are on blood pressure medication’.No, I did mean adults.
You said 40% of adult males (I’m assuming 18+) use hypertension medication and / or statins. Is that really true? For clarity, I’m not saying you are wrong, but it sounds double what I would expect.
That IS wrong. JDB might be confusing the current situation with a 2023 NICE report that suggested that around 40% of the UK adult population might benefit from taking statins. This would mean an extra 15 million people taking them vs currently if it was actioned. Currently the proportion of the adult male population taking statins is under 20%.
@The Savage Squirrel – my comment did not refer to statins alone. It referred to the proportion of the population taking statins and/or hypertension medication. Even allowing for the fact that some will be taking both, you will get to about 40%. The key point of this thread is that a very significant number of people would not be covered (for the blood pressure/statins alone) by the Amex Platinum as the OP discovered. Think of all the other pre-existing conditions. That’s a pretty important thing for anyone to know.
Potentially 40% of adults over 65/70 years of age. Quite clearly not 40% of all adults are taking these medications. Very Daily Mail of you.
@StanTheMan – the figure for over 65s would be nearer 60% for hypertension alone. Yes, blood pressure tends to increase with age (often for lifestyle reasons as much as anything else) but to suggest it doesn’t affect a huge (and growing) proportion of younger people, many of whom have a genetic predisposition, is absurd. Statins are being taken by increasingly younger people at potential risk.
What are you suggesting is the correct number for say people 45-50 taking one or both types of meducation?
I would be accused of shilling for Amex if I made these various comments trying to cover up the problems of its Plat medical cover.
@StanTheMan – the figure for over 65s would be nearer 60% for hypertension alone. Yes, blood pressure tends to increase with age (often for lifestyle reasons as much as anything else) but to suggest it doesn’t affect a huge (and growing) proportion of younger people, many of whom have a genetic predisposition, is absurd. Statins are being taken by increasingly younger people at potential risk.
What are you suggesting is the correct number for say people 45-50 taking one or both types of meducation?
I would be accused of shilling for Amex if I made these various comments trying to cover up the problems of its Plat medical cover.
I think you are confusing people who are eligible/beneficial to take these meds, with actual people taking them.
https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2022-072584
BMJ, 11.2% of the population taking Statins, I would be interested in statistical proof for the above claim @JDB. The BMJ article states 7.5m, even with overlap to hypertension it would be difficult to take that number beyond 10m which would be about 20% of the adult population.
@strickers – Far more people are on hypertension medications than take statins but you are quoting statistics only for statins.
It also doesn’t greatly matter what the precise statistic is – I endorsed the OPs first comment because he was an unfortunate victim of a poor product. It is highly unusual to have an apparently ‘premium’ insurance policy that excludes a very large number with two very basic pre-existing conditions which are particularly important because they relate to the cardiovascular system so could easily and successfully be used by the insurer to wriggle out of payment for a very wide range of incidents, often ones of a particularly high cost. It is also highly unusual, to the point of being irregular, not to allow ‘buy out’ of such big exclusions. One can add in plenty of other fairly common relatively harmless conditions that might affect a family member hoping to be covered under the policy.
Whether that affects 32%, 42%, 52% or more isn’t the point. Obviously people should read the policy if they intend to rely upon it, but it seems many don’t and the high blood pressure or statins exclusion might come as a nasty surprise, so it’s as well to be aware of it.
@strickers
It also doesn’t greatly matter what the precise statistic is…Yet you continue to labour the point. I read your 40% claim and thought “that can’t possibly be right”, and quickly found that it wasn’t!
FWIW, I’ve always thought Amex travel insurance was not something to be relied on, even when I had the Platinum card.
A few years out of date but PHE estimated that 26.2% of the adult population suffers from hypertension. The stats towards the end of the documents show the average registered at around 10-18%.
Not that it matters too much, 99% of statistics are made up anyway.
I also agree that Amex Plat health insurance is a poor product.
https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2022-072584
BMJ, 11.2% of the population taking Statins, I would be interested in statistical proof for the above claim @JDB. The BMJ article states 7.5m, even with overlap to hypertension it would be difficult to take that number beyond 10m which would be about 20% of the adult population.
Far more people are on hypertension medications than take statins but you are quoting statistics only for statins.
It also doesn’t greatly matter what the precise statistic is – I endorsed the OPs first comment because he was an unfortunate victim of a poor product. It is highly unusual to have an apparently ‘premium’ insurance policy that excludes a very large number with two very basic pre-existing conditions which are particularly important because they relate to the cardiovascular system so could easily and successfully be used by the insurer to wriggle out of payment for a very wide range of incidents, often ones of a particularly high cost. It is also highly unusual, to the point of being irregular, not to allow ‘buy out’ of such big exclusions. One can add in plenty of other fairly common relatively harmless conditions that might affect a family member hoping to be covered under the policy.
Whether that affects 32%, 42%, 52% or more isn’t the point. Obviously people should read the policy if they intend to rely upon it, but it seems many don’t and the high blood pressure or statins exclusion might come as a nasty surprise, so it’s as well to be aware of it.
For those interested in high blood pressure / hypertension stats – lots of referenced figures here – https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/media-centre/blood-pressure-facts-and-figures/
In terms of the OP’s original comment, just goes to highlight how important it is to carefully read insurance terms. Especially if considering travel which could result in large claims – which are probably the ones insurers will do their upmost to wriggle out of paying. For context of this site, also worth checking for ‘air miles’ exclusions that are present with a number of the main underwriters.
For those interested in high blood pressure / hypertension stats – lots of referenced figures here – https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/media-centre/blood-pressure-facts-and-figures/
In terms of the OP’s original comment, just goes to highlight how important it is to carefully read insurance terms. Especially if considering travel which could result in large claims – which are probably the ones insurers will do their upmost to wriggle out of paying. For context of this site, also worth checking for ‘air miles’ exclusions that are present with a number of the main underwriters.
just before jdb jumps on my post, I’m guessing statins can be prescribed to people for reasons other than hypertension.
For those interested in high blood pressure / hypertension stats – lots of referenced figures here – https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/media-centre/blood-pressure-facts-and-figures/
In terms of the OP’s original comment, just goes to highlight how important it is to carefully read insurance terms. Especially if considering travel which could result in large claims – which are probably the ones insurers will do their upmost to wriggle out of paying. For context of this site, also worth checking for ‘air miles’ exclusions that are present with a number of the main underwriters.
Re the air miles exclusions now affecting Nationwide for example, my understanding is that flight cancellation costs would not be covered but other provisions eg medical that are not related to reimbursement of cost of services purchased with miles ARE covered.
@ed_fly – yes, statins are very frequently prescribed to patients without hypertension. There will be a certain number of people who take both but the category of patient is neither mutually inclusive or exclusive. There’s quite a range of people who might take either for unexplained or lifestyle or hereditary reasons. While it’s not relevant to your point, perhaps the biggest problem with hypertension is that it is undiagnosed in so many patients; hopefully it is diagnosed at a check up rather than in crisis but remarkably few people have check ups even when offered free on the NHS from ? age 40. Those people would be covered but in principle are at greater risk, but others whose condition is diagnosed, managed and has been controlled for years are not.
@HampshireHog – yes, medical is entirely unaffected on Nationwide policies, but unlike Amex Plat or HSBC Premier, you are required to disclose pre-existing conditions which they will then agree to cover for free or at a cost or decline to cover while preserving your overall cover. The issue of miles/Avios etc not being covered is very complex, but I wouldn’t read it literally and I wouldn’t wish to proffer any advice but I am very relaxed personally about being able to claim successfully in the very narrow window they claim is excluded.For those interested in high blood pressure / hypertension stats – lots of referenced figures here – https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/media-centre/blood-pressure-facts-and-figures/
In terms of the OP’s original comment, just goes to highlight how important it is to carefully read insurance terms. Especially if considering travel which could result in large claims – which are probably the ones insurers will do their upmost to wriggle out of paying. For context of this site, also worth checking for ‘air miles’ exclusions that are present with a number of the main underwriters.
just before jdb jumps on my post, I’m guessing statins can be prescribed to people for reasons other than hypertension.
Statins are not prescribed for hypertension.
@ed_fly – yes, statins are very frequently prescribed to patients without hypertension. There will be a certain number of people who take both but the category of patient is neither mutually inclusive or exclusive. There’s quite a range of people who might take either for unexplained or lifestyle or hereditary reasons. While it’s not relevant to your point, perhaps the biggest problem with hypertension is that it is undiagnosed in so many patients; hopefully it is diagnosed at a check up rather than in crisis but remarkably few people have check ups even when offered free on the NHS from ? age 40. Those people would be covered but in principle are at greater risk, but others whose condition is diagnosed, managed and has been controlled for years are not.
@HampshireHog – yes, medical is entirely unaffected on Nationwide policies, but unlike Amex Plat or HSBC Premier, you are required to disclose pre-existing conditions which they will then agree to cover for free or at a cost or decline to cover while preserving your overall cover. The issue of miles/Avios etc not being covered is very complex, but I wouldn’t read it literally and I wouldn’t wish to proffer any advice but I am very relaxed personally about being able to claim successfully in the very narrow window they claim is excluded.I’m no expert with regard to insurance, but does seem odd that two people with the same condition, one effectively monitored and managed is excluded from an insurance policy, the other simply unaware is covered.
Lots of people will have medical conditions they’re as yet unaware of; the only way to discover everything would be for insurers to insist everyone have exhaustive health checks before they’ll cover them, but that’s not really realistic.
The main takeaway from this is how important it is to ensure that your policy covers what you need it to. Otherwise you risk ending up in the same position as someone who’s had a botched boob job in Turkey and has to resort to crowd funding to pay the bill and get home, and then expects the NHS to sort out the rest!
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