Travel insurance while on trial

[SC19]

Hi everyone, my dad is on a clinical trial in the UK (ODM-208) and is struggling to find travel insurance. Apparently as soon he mentions he’s on a trial they’re not interested. Has anyone else had any luck while on a trial? Thanks in advance!

[GP24]

The insurance covers medical costs while traveling abroad among other risks. If he is on a trial it indicates that he is ill already and very likely to need medical assistance while traveling. I think a trip can be done without insurance. I never got one.

[SC19 in reply to GP24]

Yes he’s tempted to go without insurance but I would like him to be covered for unrelated issues. He’s just been on a 20 mile bike ride and feeling good so he doesn’t have any issues or reasons not to travel - apart from he happens to be on a drug that is on a trial. I guess if that’s the general rule though there’s not much we can do!

[GP24 in reply to SC19]

If he tells the insurance company that he has cancer they will not offer an insurance. If he does not tell them and needs medical assistance, if they learn that he has cancer they will not pay the costs.

ODM-208 or Cypides is predominantly intended for patients that failed all therapies. I am surprised he is feeling so good.

[lcfcpolo]

I'm in the UK. I've always used insurancewith.com

I've not been on a clinical trial yet but these are the specialists for cancer patients in the UK. I would call them if not already done so. Hopefully they will be able to help you.

[SC19 in reply to lcfcpolo]

Thank you I will try these!

[john510185 in reply to lcfcpolo]

Yep, I second that.

[mrscruffy]

Is this a UK question. Never been asked by AAA when buying insurance through AAA

[16starsky]

May I ask where your Dad is doing his clinical trial please. We are in the UK and just looked up the trial he's on. We are running out of options and very interested in the ODM-208 trial. Any info would be gratefully received.

We also use insurancewith.com when travelling abroad.

Kim

[SC19 in reply to 16starsky]

Hi there, it’s at the Christie in Manchester. We’ve been very impressed with them.

Thanks for the insurance recommendation - just hope they cover clinical trials too!

[16starsky in reply to SC19]

Hi, SC19,

Sorry to 'Hijack' your post.

May I ask, how did your Father find out about this trial. Did his OC suggest it? How long has he been on it ?

We need to bring this trial to my Husbands OC attention , with as much info about it as possible, could you 'chat' with me in private please?

Thankyou Kim

[Doctorsceptic]

Hi. There are specialist brokers who will find cover - but obviously that depends on how advanced the cancer is, and there are bigger premiums.

I used one a couple of years back but sadly cant remember the brokers name. I ended using AllClear insurance (UK).

Contact the Cancer charities as they offer advice and can provide names too.

If he is going to the EU and a couple of other europen countries, he should get himself a "UK Global Insurance" card which you can apply for online (gov.uk). This allows him to get free emergency cover in the EU while he is away. As far as I know, repatriation is not covered though.

[RMontana]

I think I have commented on this before. What your father has are pre-existing conditions. It’s immaterial if he’s on a medical trial or not. I’m not known if any company that I’ve bought insurance with that required me to list what those conditions are. The only requirement for pre-existing conditions to be covered is that you have to purchase the entire policy within either 15 or 20 days of the deposit or payment for travel. This means that from the moment you had the intention to travel, you have to pay off your insurance within 15 or 20 days depending on the company. At that point all pre-existing conditions are covered and the pre-existing exclusion clause is waived.

This is in the US but I know that there are European companies that sell insurance in the US and that’s their policy as well. I don’t know in the UK if that is different. I hope this helps. If not, I send this out to the wider audience because on my first international trip I was caught flat-footed and did not realize that travel insurance excludes pre-existing conditions unless the terms of the policies that I’ve just mentioned are met. So for those planning on traveling, make sure you do this or you’re not covered for any pre-exists. Thanks.

[SC19]

thanks all much appreciated. Seems like he can get covered - just needs to book a holiday now!