A quote isn't accepted cover: what can still change

Key rules

• Quote: A quote is not accepted cover; the insurer can still change the price or terms, or refuse you.
• First premium: Cover takes effect only once the first premium has been paid, even if you have signed.
• Insurer's proposal: Once an insurer makes you a proposal, it is bound by it for 15 days.
• Questionnaire: Answer truthfully; inaccurate answers can cost you your cover.

A quote does not give you cover

A quote is only an estimate based on what you declared. It is not binding cover. Underwriting (the insurer's review of your health and risk), your declarations and your payment decide when cover starts and on what terms.

What the insurer can change after you apply

For an individual policy, the insurer first gives you a cuestionario de salud. It asks about your medical history, current conditions, treatments, medication, surgeries and hospital stays, and your height and weight. Some insurers also ask about smoking, alcohol and risky activities. Group policies often have no questionnaire.

After reviewing your answers, the insurer can:

• offer the policy exactly as quoted;
• raise the premium because of health risks;
• add exclusions for specific conditions;
• impose longer waiting periods;
• refuse your application.

The quote can also change if your age, location or the cover you ask for differs from what you first entered. The insurer usually tells you within days, before it issues the policy.

You are free to accept or reject a revised offer. Once an insurer makes you a proposal, it is bound by it for 15 days.

Answer the questionnaire truthfully

You must answer truthfully about everything you know that affects the risk. If the insurer never asked about something, you are not liable for leaving it out.

If your answers are inaccurate or hold back information, the insurer can cancel the contract within one month of finding out. If a claim comes up before it cancels, it can refuse the claim or pay only part of it, in proportion to the premium you actually paid. If it shows malice or serious fault on your side, the insurer can keep the premiums for the current period and refuse all cover.

Insurers often check your claims history. They can refuse claims for pre-existing conditions you did not declare.

When cover actually starts

The contract exists once the insurer issues the policy or a provisional cover note, or accepts your proposal. But cover takes effect only once the first premium has been paid, even if you have signed. If you miss the due date, the insurer can cancel the contract or demand payment. It is not liable for events before you pay.

In practice, cover starts on the date written in the policy, once it is accepted, signed and the first premium is paid. Check that the start date and terms match what you were quoted.

The timeline, documents and warnings below walk through the steps.

Timeline and deadlines

• The insurer reviews your answers and tells you whether it offers the policy as quoted, with changes, or refuses: usually within days

• Accept or reject any revised offer: while the insurer's proposal still binds it, which is 15 days

• Pay the first premium so cover can start: at the due date in your policy

• The insurer can cancel the contract if it finds inaccurate answers: within 1 month of learning about them

Documents you need

• Health questionnaire (cuestionario de salud), given to you by the insurer before an individual policy is issued. Answer it truthfully, covering medical history, current conditions, treatments, medication, surgeries, hospital stays, height and weight.

• Revised offer from the insurer, if underwriting changes the premium, exclusions or waiting periods from your quote. You can accept or reject it.

• The policy, or a provisional cover note, issued by the insurer. Check that the start date and terms match what you accepted.

What to watch out for

• Inaccurate questionnaire answers can cost you your cover: If you give wrong or incomplete answers, the insurer can cancel the contract within 1 month of finding out. If a claim comes first, it can refuse it or pay only in proportion to the premium paid. If you acted with malice or serious fault, it can keep the premiums and refuse all cover. Answer every question the insurer asks fully and truthfully, and list all past conditions, treatments, surgeries and medication.

• Insurers check your claims history: An undeclared pre-existing condition can lead to the insurer cancelling the policy or refusing claims later. Declare every pre-existing condition at the start, even if it seems minor or is now resolved.

• The final policy can differ from your quote: After review, the insurer may raise the premium, exclude specific conditions, add longer waiting periods or refuse the application. A different age, location or requested cover also changes the price. Read the revised offer before you accept. If the terms do not suit you, reject it and compare other insurers.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I leave something out of the health questionnaire?

The insurer can cancel the contract within one month of learning about the wrong or missing answer. If you make a claim before it cancels, it may refuse the claim or pay only a share, in proportion to the premium you actually paid. If you hid something on purpose or were seriously at fault, it may keep the premiums for the current period and refuse all cover.

Am I responsible for things the insurer never asked about?

No, if the insurer did not ask about something, you are not liable for leaving it out. You must answer truthfully on everything it did ask, including the circumstances you know of that affect the risk.

Can I turn down the revised offer after the insurer reviews my application?

Yes, you are free to accept or reject a revised offer, and nothing binds you until you do. The insurer may load the premium, add exclusions for specific conditions, impose longer waiting periods or refuse the application.