Travel Insurance question

We have annual insurance that runs out at the end of Feb. We have a holiday booked at Easter, three long haul flights and a weeks Hotel booked direct via the web. Unfortunately my Partner is ill and we don't know if she is going to get better in time. So here's the question. Do I renew and then claim or will I have to declare a precondition. Do I inform the existing company and talk it through with them and run the risk of them not renewing and ducking out the payment. I'm hoping that this will all be irrelevant but need to know now so that I can plan. Any help appreciated