An expat suffers a car accident in 2000 and sustains multiple fractures. He last receives physiotherapy in 2001 and he suffers no pain nor requires any treatment or check-ups for his injuries after 2004.

He takes out a moratorium policy in September 2008. Provided he continues
to be treatment and symptom free for the period September 2008 to September 2010, he will be eligible to claim for treatment of his injuries should he, say, develop arthritis after September 2010.

Had he taken out a fully underwritten policy, we would have placed a permanent exclusion on any future treatment of the injuries, which would also have excluded the treatment of any related condition such as arthritis.

This case example illustrates a pre-existing condition that would be covered after the moratorium period has elapsed. However, it is important to point out that many pre-existing conditions will never be covered by a moratorium policy, such as:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension (raised blood pressure)
• Hyperlipideamia (raised cholesterol levels)
• Ischemic heart disease
• Cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Auto-immune disorders
• Arthritis

All these conditions require regular check-ups and will never be covered
under a moratorium policy. Also claims for conditions that are related to
a pre-existing condition will never be covered by a moratorium policy.

For example, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels are related to heart disease and stroke. If you have suffered from high blood pressure or high cholesterol before your date of entry to the plan, you will never be covered for cardiac problems or strokes.
 

The Global Health plans do not cover the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and related conditions.

A pre-existing medical condition means any disease, illness or injury for which you have received medication, advice or treatment, or for which you have experienced symptoms, whether the condition has been diagnosed or not, at any time before the date on which your Global Health plan starts.

A related condition is any disease, illness or injury that is caused by a pre-existing condition or results from the same underlying cause as a pre-existing condition.