Travel Insurance Help

[ChrisB]

I am trying to arrange our annual travel insurance. Due to my OH illness this year the subscriptions have shot up,in some cases to over £800. I have found a reasonable quote online with a company called "Insure for All" has anyone heard of, or have used this Company? Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks in anticipation.

[Andrea S]

ChrisB

That isn't isn't a company I have come across but we are in the same situation as yourself, sorting insurance for next year.

There has been helpful advice on here before so I hope someone can answer you and I will be watching with interest.
Our travel insurance is through our bank but this year we have had to pay £600 excess and the renewal which is due in January has been a verbal guidance of £1800 _ £3000 depending on the treatment of OH at that time.

We are away for at least 12 weeks of the year plus long weekends so this year has been ok but cruising and long haul may well have to go in the future.

[david63]

On-line insurance is not necessarily the best option if you are not seeking "normal" insurance. If the requirement is outside of the normal parameters then try looking at "bespoke" travel insurance - a Google search will reveal several companies. You will, invariably, have to speak over the phone about your requirements but, in my experience, you can get a better deal that is tailored to your specific requirements.

[Kenmo1]

We used a company called Holiday Extras under their pre existing medical section called Latitude and they insured my 71 year old husband and me (66) for annual worldwide insurance for £671. Age UK wanted £1000 !!! I did a dummy run on the internet and then rang Holiday Extras to do the actual buying of insurance so that I could talk to a human being. Hubby had heart attack and by pass 20 years ago and is on 3 blood pressure tablets, cholesterol tablet, beta blockers plus 2 others so 7 per day. At present I am OK (legs, ankles and fingers crossed). I found the person I spoke to very helpful.

So far have not had to claim from them so cannot advise on what happens when a problem occurs and I guess that is the real test of a decent insurance company.

Good luck as I know it is very frustrating trying to sort out insurance. As my husband always says, his problems are under control - I could be a walking medical disaster as I haven't seen a doctor for years.

Maureen

[Whynd1]

In the past I used all clear insurance as I have to speak to an advisor to declare my medical condition. I am 5 years down the line from my treatment but as I had to see my consultant this year and have a biopsy the price has shot up. I moved companies this year and have gone with staysure the price was not astronomical and it even covers me for cruises. Also the excesses are very high on some policies.



I have not heard of the company you mention but someone else on this forum might have.
Lindsey

[frintonite]

I have found World First to be good with pre existing conditions (well mine anyway)

[mavismumakrill]

I have used that company the last time we went on a cruise. They wouldn't insure Colin's Factor 5 Leidn Mutation which is a blood clotting disease but they insured everything else - my Multiple Sclerosis, Colin's Multiple System Atrophy and his Dementia. Can't remember how much they charged now but they were not extortionate. They were the only one we could find to insure his Multiple System Atrophy. We had no need for a claim or anything but there was no problem getting the insurance through them.

Not sure of your age but, if you are younger than us you may be able to use Chartwell Insurance. We had always used them with no problems even with a claim which was very easy but they were merged with another company and stopped insuring people over the age of 70.

Hope this is useful to you

Mavis x

[towny44]

We buy our annual Europe travel insurance through a corporate broker linked to my employer/pension provider, from a company called Millstream Underwriting and now that we have both just turned 70 we are paying approx. £320pa, which includes £180 to cover existing conditions, most of which are to cover my wifes atrial fibrulation and stroke disabilities, my blood pressure and cholesterol meds don't seem to attract any real excess.
From reading this thread it seems we have a very good deal, it may be different next year when we will need to have worldwide cover to allow for a roundtrip Caribbean cruise.

[Keechy]

This year, I arranged insurance with Planet Earth as suggested by Planet cruise. It was a single trip for two and cost me £109 and that included an amount for my OH who had a brain aneurysm about 20 years ago (!) and another amount for my pneumonia 4 years ago. (Quite why either of those are relevant now I don't know, but it made them a bit more money)

For an experiment, I set up a policy with Santander which worked out cheaper by about £20. The strange thing is that they didn't ask about medical history so I rang them. I was told they weren't interested!

As it happens, I didn't cancel the original policy - too lazy - but I know who'll be insuring us next time!

BTW we are 68 and 69.

[royalprincess]

Money saving expert has a good article on travel insurance - maybe take a look at that for insurance. The royal family gets their insurance through our bank account with the Nationwide and all they want to know about pre-existing is what medication you have taken in the last year. Have never heard anything bad about them regarding claims. We've tried most of the travel insurance companies over the years and have found American Express very easy to use - health screening on line and quite reasonable for the over 60's.

[Keechy]

BTW we are 68 and 69.

No we're not - we're both 68!

[Manoverboard]

BTW we are 68 and 69.

No we're not - we're both 68!

Are you twins ?

[JoanneB]

No idea if it's any use but there was a tiny article in the paper about a comparison site if you have pre-existing conditions Allclearcruise.co.uk.

[Keechy]

BTW we are 68 and 69.

No we're not - we're both 68!

Are you twins ?

I don't know! I was quite chuffed when I realised I was younger than I first thought.

[Anne D]

Two friends of ours are going on a fly cruise with RC in the next couple of weeks. The husband has had two serious illnesses in the last 18 months. Prostate Cancer and Guillaime Syndrome [ I think that's how it is spelt] which is a rare tropical illness. For both he is still having regular check ups and is receiving medication .

They have told me that although they have taken out a holiday insurance they have not declared the above. Their reason being that the trip is only nine days and what can happen re these illnesses in that time.!!! I was speechless.

As far as I am aware if by any chance they have to make a claim even if it is not related to the above then that insurance policy becomes null and void as the existing illnesses were not declared. Can anyone tell me if that is correct.

Anne

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think you're right Anne. Insurance companies will use anything to wriggle out of paying and I'm sure the T's and C's will say you have to answer every question honestly and if not the policy is invalid. In those circumstances surely better to declare them and if necessary have them excluded from the policy, in which case there should be no additional premium. That's what we did a few years ago when one of us had recently had an operation which we were confident would have no future impact.

[Stephen]

Two friends of ours are going on a fly cruise with RC in the next couple of weeks. The husband has had two serious illnesses in the last 18 months. Prostate Cancer and Guillaime Syndrome [ I think that's how it is spelt] which is a rare tropical illness. For both he is still having regular check ups and is receiving medication .

They have told me that although they have taken out a holiday insurance they have not declared the above. Their reason being that the trip is only nine days and what can happen re these illnesses in that time.!!! I was speechless.

As far as I am aware if by any chance they have to make a claim even if it is not related to the above then that insurance policy becomes null and void as the existing illnesses were not declared. Can anyone tell me if that is correct.

Anne

I agree Anne. I may be wrong, but I doubt very much if the husband with those conditions would have been able to get insurance anyway. In that situation I think if you can afford it you just have to be prepared to cover the costs if anything happens, and if you can't don't risk it and don't go. I certainly couldn't afford what could easily turn into thousands of pounds for medical and possible repatriation costs.

[Meg 50]

we're taking our car to Eire for 3 weeks later this year.
the car insurance will be ok - once we've told the insurer, but I'm not sure what to do about the rest.

OH reckons we don't need any...

We were covered by our bank for donkey's years, but they no longer do it.

Haven't the foggiest what to do. we're 62 and 63, and only on low dose BP tabs which our previous insurers weren't interested in.

any ideas/advice?

[Dancing Queen]

Two friends of ours are going on a fly cruise with RC in the next couple of weeks. The husband has had two serious illnesses in the last 18 months. Prostate Cancer and Guillaime Syndrome [ I think that's how it is spelt] which is a rare tropical illness. For both he is still having regular check ups and is receiving medication .

They have told me that although they have taken out a holiday insurance they have not declared the above. Their reason being that the trip is only nine days and what can happen re these illnesses in that time.!!! I was speechless.

As far as I am aware if by any chance they have to make a claim even if it is not related to the above then that insurance policy becomes null and void as the existing illnesses were not declared. Can anyone tell me if that is correct.

Anne

I had no idea what Guillain Syndrome was so I have just googled it, personally I think it is very foolish of your friends not to declare this as it appears an awful lot could could happen in 9 days hopefully it won't but do urge them to at least discuss it with the insurers.

I'm not sure if a policy does become null and void if something is not declared even if it is unrelated however I took a policy out 5 months after my husband had broken his ankle and I didn't mention it, this wasn't deliberate I just didn't think it would be an issue then when I did think about it I rang the insurers to check, apparently they had a 6 month limit on broken bones and promptly loaded the policy with an additional £80 it seemed a little harsh at the time but as my husband has another pre existing illness I need to make sure I declare every little thing so in the event of having to make a claim I don't give them any reason to reject it, better safe than sorry.

[Stephen]

Phone the travel insurance company Meg and see what they say. Even when holidaying in this country we always take out holiday insurance as you just don't know what may happen. It would be typical to have to cancel the day you are meant to travel for whatever reason. At least if you are insured and it's a valid reason the holiday costs will be covered.

As a basic we always have a up to date European Health insurance card with us as well.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... -ehic.aspx

[Manoverboard]

Check ups for many cancer conditions can continue for up to 12 years but insurers will generally give full cover once checks are only carried out at 12 monthly intervals and/or hospitalisation has not been required within the past 12 months even on rolling policies.

If the last check was positive and close to the departure date it is highly unlikely that the cancer would be an issue within that short period of time so declare it and accept the exclusion would be my advice.

I know nothing about the other condition.

[Dancing Queen]

we're taking our car to Eire for 3 weeks later this year.
the car insurance will be ok - once we've told the insurer, but I'm not sure what to do about the rest.

OH reckons we don't need any...

We were covered by our bank for donkey's years, but they no longer do it.

Haven't the foggiest what to do. we're 62 and 63, and only on low dose BP tabs which our previous insurers weren't interested in.

any ideas/advice?

Meg the EHIC card covers the Republic of Ireland, when my OH went there last year ( without me ) I took a separate insurance out because of his pre existing and I wanted peace of mind but unless you have any serious concerns about health I wouldn't bother, I would add though this was only a 5 day trip so cost of accommodation etc wasn't at the forefront of my mind I took it out mainly for the medical cover.

[Stephen]

At the end of the day talk to your travel insurance company.

[Meg 50]

we're taking our car to Eire for 3 weeks later this year.
the car insurance will be ok - once we've told the insurer, but I'm not sure what to do about the rest.

OH reckons we don't need any...

We were covered by our bank for donkey's years, but they no longer do it.

Haven't the foggiest what to do. we're 62 and 63, and only on low dose BP tabs which our previous insurers weren't interested in.

any ideas/advice?

Meg the EHIC card covers the Republic of Ireland, when my OH went there last year ( without me ) I took a separate insurance out because of his pre existing and I wanted peace of mind but unless you have any serious concerns about health I wouldn't bother, I would add though this was only a 5 day trip so cost of accommodation etc wasn't at the forefront of my mind I took it out mainly for the medical cover.

what bothers me is that if OH were taken ill, I don't drive so getting home'd be interesting!

We have up to date EHIC cards

[Manoverboard]

... We were covered by our bank for donkey's years, but they no longer do it.

any ideas/advice?

Open up an Account with a different Bank ?

I believe that Barclays, for example, offer rolling Worldwide Travel Insurance as well as RAC cover plus other benefits for their £25 per monthly fee. With a Premium ( joint ) Account this continues until one of you is 80.