Hi,
I’m looking to start travelling early next year and looking for medical travel insurance.
I’m over 65, have metastatic PC with a PSA of 0.01 which my meds keep under control. I’m stable and in good health except for this dam cancer.
Any suggestions on medical travel insurance for someone who lives in Ontario Canada?
Appreciate your feedback.
Cheers
I have traveled quite a bit since being diagnosed in 2017 - sometimes I use insurance - though your credit card also can help with refunds. I never remember any questions about PC - especially as a pre-existing condition. When you are purchasing travel insurance - shop a little and ask directly about Pre-existing BEFORE you give your name or personal info
I bet you don't have a problem =
enjoy travels - get out there and live !
I’m sorry that I don’t know the Canadian travel insurance market, but we have had very good luck with John Hancock travel insurance. You don’t have to disclose any pre-existing conditions and those are covered as long as you buy the policy within 14 days from first payment on the trip.
This is an issue for my husband with PCa of course but we also had a good friend with ovarian cancer who ended up not being able to go on the trip because of her treatment and John Hancock refunded all of the money without issue.
We have never had to access the medical coverage so can’t say for sure on that but their responsiveness makes me optimistic. See if they or an affiliate sell in Canada. Good luck!
I wanted to also mention that since diagnosis in 2017 I have traveled to England, Scotland and Wales - 4 times, also to Morocco, France twice ( one an extensive driving tour ) Atlantic crossings 4 times, 2 beach vacations, cross country train trip, Pacific Northwest and Alaska
and other than experiencing fatigue and hot flashes ... plus general aging ( I am 76 ) and have other health challenges, I feel that PC has not impacted or interrupted my travel. I continue to plan more travel though I am looking at less physical demanding adventures - i.e., climbing to the top of Mt St. Michelle.
so GO FOR IT
"Go for it?" What is the purpose of insurance? Support in case of disaster.You've never had a disaster bring your travels, thank heaven. But the information a person with metastatic prostate cancer needs is whether or not, if disaster happens, that the insurance will work as hoped for.
The fine print. Pre-existing conditions. Specialized support requirements. And what if one is incapacitated in another country and can't fly for a while? What about ongoing access to meds? Etc. Etc.
This is all separate from any medical question on fitness for travel and the stress of travel.
right - my position/experience/opinion, is that PC at the level mentioned by Lslal is probably not going to create a disaster situation. I think - experience - that a person at this level of the disease and treatment - will not have a sudden disaster. IF a person were going to have a disaster while traveling, problems and issues would have manifested long before the travel and their competent Medical provider would have advised them about travel - but I believe this is not what Lslal is talking about.
I would - first check with my Medical Provider, then plan travel accordingly for one's needs.
Of course, I am not a Medical professional - but getting informed, and then moving forward with one's life is the prudent approach.
I travel extensively with HSPC and quickly learnt to read the PDS carefully, very carefully!
No insurance company will insure you for PCa related issues but these are not sudden so "self insurance" for such events is the go.
That said, I need heli ski insurance. CMH (heli operator) pointed me to brokers in Revelstoke. We worked this extensively but every insurance offer in Canada failed when you had metastatic cancer - it didn't matter how you were injured. Now that is just lazy risk assessment by the actuaries.
Try World Nomads.
That's not true, certainly in the UK anyway. I insure with insurancewith at quite reasonable cost. Cancer fully declared and extensive questionnaire completed.
And should add that I have made successful claims for a broken finger that stopped a heli ski trip and caused significant Canadian health care costs,
I don’t know where you are going, but we’ve always dealt with a travel agent who has always been able to find travel insurance. Usually there is a condition like buying the insurance within a week of booking the trip.
l live on Manitoulin Island in Ontario and have read about Goose Insurance. I haven’t used it yet but plan to the next time I travel. It sounds good. Look it up.
I'm from Mississauga and have been using Goose for 2.5years. Very happy. Not many will insure stage 4 matastizied PC in canada
we use TravelGuard (an AIG company). We declare pre-existing conditions when buying the insurance. We also get “cancel for any reason” coverage. So far we’ve had excellent luck with them for the few times we’ve had to file a claim.
I am based in the uk but would suggest it would be irresponsible to travel overseas (ie to Europe etc) without insurance . What if you had a urine blockage that caused a big issue or fell over and broke a leg . It’s possible that the insurance would say that the brittle bones is cancer related and not pay out (they will always try to worm out if it). I believe for those of us with T4 cancer the cost of the holiday is irrelevant if we lose it however we don’t want to be in a hospital bed arguing wether or not our injury or il was is cancer related because we didn’t include it ?
My thoughts , just be aware of the risk if you chose not to .
no coverage after 65!! If you have cancer forget it as exclusions will be found! Secure all assets in kids names or hide otherwise, then travel til you drop!!!
We used to go to Mexico every winter for nearly six months. Discovered that for a reasonable fee, we could get their national health insurance. Before that, doctor visit were very inexpensive and medicines are dirt cheap. With frequent PSA tests that you can get on your own, you should have plenty of warning to head back home.
Consider buying fully refundable airline tickets (instead of credit-back to your airline account for future use) as an alternative to "insurance." Also compare the cancellation insurance offered for free through many credit cards with what you could buy--you might find that the coverages are similar in the extreme.
I live in Vancouver. I went through several applications and they all had a question asking if I had metastatic cancer. No insurance. I had great insurance back in about 2014-15. I had a big claim and was treated very well. This was insurance through RBC. I was told later they discontinued offering insurance. I was on the line with RBC for another matter in the spring and asked about travel insurance. the guy told me, yes, they did offer it Burt for some reason it’s not out in the open. He sent me an application and not question about cancer. Only about heart conditions. I got the insurance and it was quite inexpensive. It’s for trips not over 16 days and good for a year. You can get insurance for longer trips but I don’t need it. I am 70.
I live in Alberta and was diagnosed 3 years ago. I obtained travel insurance from Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. They were great to deal with. We have spent time in Mexico and Florida and no problem obtaining coverage. My agent indicated that if I had an episode of any kind it was not likely to be an emergency so book a flight and head home. Works for me.
Stay home........... enjoy the snow............
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n
Check out insuremytrip.com Not sure if it can be used in Canada - very simple to compare policies and look for ones with existing medical condition waiver
I'm also in your shoes stage 4 matastizied and from Mississauga Ontario I use goose insurance out of Vancouver. My yrly prem is around 1200.
Travel Insurance while still receiving treatment 
Travel Emergency Medical insurance
Travel insurance while on trial 
Travel Insurance from the UK ?
