My husband age 66 was diagnosed with AF last June, he didn't have any symptoms just went for a routine medical and ended up in A&E.
He takes rivaroxaban and bisoprolol. He did have a couple of AF experiences after diagnosis but these have settled and since early Nov he feels totally normal. The consultant he saw in Sept said he should have an ablation or it will get worse, is that the case ? He is on a waiting list for this but we were told up to a year.
I am trying to get holiday insurance for us to have a Europe break but the answer is no as he is waiting for treatment.
Does anyone know if you can get insurance and any details would be welcome.
Is it the case you can be insured if you have had the operation, or just not planning to have any treatment?
Best wishes
Gill
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Gill2016
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Hi Gill, I'm afraid you will find it very difficult to get insurance cover if you are awaiting a procedure/ operation. However I believe that at least one of our members has managed to get cover in these circumstances. Maybe they will post and let you know.
There shouldn't be a problem once you have had an ablation whether it is successful or otherwise.
Try keying in ' holiday insurance ' in the search box in the top rh corner and you may come up with some items of interest
Gonna be difficult I'm afraid, but worth doing the search as suggested. In my first year, we decided to stay in the UK and had some great holidays.....but that's probably not what you want to hear. If you are retired Civil Servants, ex Military, NHS, Police or Teachers, you may be able to find travel insurance through the respective Pensioners Association. Good luck....John
Thanks so much for the replies so far. I have a few calls but the answer is no and if he doesn't have the ablation they wouldn't insure as he had gone against advice. On that subject. Has anyone been symptom free after Meds have settled the problem but still gone on to have an ablation?
Reading various posts he could go in feeling absolutely fine and come out feeling quite unwell for a while , so he is hesitant. However it could progress as we age do you think.?
Personally if offered ablation I would go for it. You will get insurance but will be expensive.
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I went abroad with AF diagnosis it misbehaved the same as at home. I got insurance just had to pay more. I shopped around. My consultant had no problems with me travelling in Europe at all. It is your decision along with all the relevant advice
Please forgive me for being a bit blunt, but if I were you, I would put foreign holidays on the back burner for the moment. As I understand it, you are both new to AF and as you may have already found out from the posts here, AF is very complex and effects people in so many different ways, and it might be better to find out more about how AF may affect you hubby. I don't want to alarm you, but once a treatment plan has been established for him, you will then find it easier to plan holidays etc. There are over 1 million people in the UK with AF and the vast majority lead fairly normal and fulfilling lives. Fortunately, you have been prescribed anticoagulants which means the most important base is covered. Your consultant has already advised you that AF is generally, but not always progressive. This normally means that episodes will become more frequent and may eventually result in persistant AF, but no one will know if this will happen and if it does, how long the process will take. The two main forms of treatment are medication or ablation and these described in great detail on the AFA webpages. If your Consultant has identified that ablation is best way forward for your hubby, this is often because they want to avoid progression and it is generally felt that the earlier an ablation can be carried out, the more successful it is likely to be. But the important thing is that you both research the options, consider the risks, and with the help of the specialists, determine what is the right course of action for you.
No one will suggest that AF should take over your life, on the contrary, we all work hard here to encourage folk to do as much as they can to enjoy life and the vast majority do just that. To try and put things into perspective, I was diagnosed in June 2014. We holidayed in the UK for the first year and had a great time. The second year we had holidays in Europe and the UK. I had my ablation in July 2016 and in October we spent a month in the States. We were lucky, we had no drama and we felt comfortable because we had an understanding of how to handle the "what ifs"........I apologise if I seem abrupt, it's all down to priorities!! The best of luck .......John
Reference your concern about the posts from folks who have had difficult recoveries from ablations. It's the old statistical argument......I have no idea how many ablations are carried out in the UK, but it must run into 1000's a year. The number of posts from patients with problems are far outweighed by the number of patients who didn't and as a general rule, forums attract posts from people with difficulties so all in all, I think the recovery record is probably very good........John
Fantastic to have this to turn to for expert advice. Thank you all so much.
Happy with your comments John, would rather have it that way. You know more than us after all. Am hoping we are going to have a lovely summer so can enjoy that here, after all we have lovely places to visit in our own country. Best wishes to everyone.
Thanks for your reply Gill. If you can find insurance, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't travel into Europe. I just didn't want you to prioritise travel insurance over establishing the best treatment plan, even if the treatment is months away. Good luck, always here to help if we can, best wishes, John
Well I've been away (to Dublin) while on the waiting list for an ablation. I was insured by Saga and they were helpful. I explained that the waiting list was a long one (it was actually just over a year before I had the procedure - and do describe it as such as it's not an operation) and that there would be an evaluation closer to the time.
AF does progress and an ablation has been the gateway to better circumstances for many of us, myself included.
My advice is to travel if you want to. Your husbands history is of resolved AF, and most of us respond to an additional dose of fleccainide when it occurs. Ask for pill in pocket. My son aged 29 and myself both have PAF, he's had ablation, not curative, and I take meds. Different EPs and cardiologists all have different opinions. Patient knowledge and choice should lead, and ablation is not without risk. I've chosen not to have ablation and cardio supports this choice. Be informed, you can reverse advice re ablation if you want, and enjoy your holidays! I've called UK doctors from several worldwide destinations for advice when AF hasn't resolved after a few hours and got helpful advice. All Clear have always been cheapest insurers and never declined myself or son. Each of us will have had a different experience and advice so you have to confident in the decision you make by either being informed or trust in those medics that make decisions for you.
Insurance Choice are very good for pre existing conditions (insurance choice.co.uk). I used them after having a pericardiectomy (open heart surgery) in 2012. Went to Canada in 2013 and they were very reasonable and have used them since. I was diagnosed with AF last June after already taking out insurance in May and went to France in September, I was still undergoing investigations for AF, phoned them before I went to advise about the AF, told them what drugs had been prescribed, and they didn't charge me any extra. Go to their website put in your details and they will phone you, just be totally honest with them, worth a try. I have found them to be excellent and extremely good value, they will quote for a one off trip or yearly just tell them what you want. Good luck.
I have travelled with AF overseas and received insurance. It costs alot more but i am also younger than your husband. The age factor may exclude insurancd now. Also the cardiologist I see told me an ablation is usually last resort and only works in about 60% of cases. He also said its not life threatening but can be a bit debilitating at times. Your husband seems relatively ok. I struggle a little each day myself but reasonably managed at the moment
Hi I have been in the same situation , try the AA online. You can do the medical assessment on the site. They charged me an additional premium of £36 (total approx. £60 and this was for their premium level , you can get it cheaper) for a single 1 week trip to France. Good luck , stay well. Neil
You might have to wait till all of his tests & treatment are completed. I haven't had any problems getting insurance since having a proper diagnosis and medication although I couldn't have the basic insurance. I got mine through Saga which was a little more expensive but seemed a good option.
Try Staysure. I have used them twice. Once when I went to the USA and then to Canada. I have multiple medical conditions as well as AF. They are not cheap because they do add on extra for pre existing conditions but going to Europe would be more affordable that where I went. Good luck.
I am 70 travel to US twice a year. Got my insurance through the Royal Bank of Scotland they know about AF, in fact it was diagnosed in the US when I had an episode and went to the emergency room. Normally the insurance is free, but is is £50 when you turn 70 and with the AF I pay £179.00 altogether, you have to have a platinum account. This is for a year and you can have as many trips as you want,
I tried World Travel - and I phoned them, because of course if you tick the 'hreat condition' box on a web form youve had it. As I phoned them I was able to speak to someone who could understand the issue and as I was under a GP and all was OK the insurance was not an issue.
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