Preliminary medical assessment
When someone with a chronic condition travels abroad, there is not usually any need to change the person’s insurance cover, as the risk of illness during the trip is only marginally higher. In some cases, however, the risk is sufficiently great that travelling abroad could put a major financial strain on the insurance company.
With a preliminary assessment, the medical risk can be assessed prior to travel. This way, the insurance company can minimise its risk while making sure that the policyholder gets a fair, individual, expert assessment of his or her insurance cover.
A preliminary assessment may also be relevant in connection with a transitory illness, a recent injury or convalescence after an operation.
Quick and easy
Communication between the policyholder and SOS is quick, easy and personal. The policyholder consults SOS’ website to check whether there is any actual need for a preliminary medical assessment. If there is, the policyholder phones SOS direct.
Assessment of the policyholder’s state of health and the resultant medical risk is based mainly on information provided by the policyholder. There may also be a need for information from the person’s own doctor, currently treating the person.
SOS alone determines whether a policyholder with a chronic condition should be insured on normal terms; with limitations; or whether it is advisable not to provide cover. The doctor’s recommendation is given to both the policyholder and the insurance company.
Three good reasons to choose SOS preliminary medical assessment
SOS has a team of specialists in travel medicine and other fields of medicine. Based on many years of providing assistance service in connection with travel insurance, we have documented and factual knowledge of the risks of illness abroad, and we can draw on this in conducting our preliminary medical assessments.
Each year, we conduct approximately 15.000 assessments on behalf of a large number of insurance companies and the Danish tourist health insurance scheme (den Offentlige Rejsesygesikring i Danmark).
As a neutral third party, SOS is able to provide a fair and reliable assessment that does not place a strain on relations between the insurance company and the policyholder, thus avoiding unpleasant “situations”.