Travel insurance - daylight robbery ?

[01maxdog]

I’ve just gone to renew my insurance as I’m odd to see step kids in Oz via USA . My insurance would have been 459 for the year . But the second they found out I was awaiting a scan they refused to insure me . They passed me over to a broker who eventually found a company for £752 for the one trip ! All this because of a scan which came about as I was having a pre op for an ablation and during January I had the cold / cough that was going round . Because I was a bit chesty I went for an x ray which didn’t come out well so a scan was organised . Apart from a fib I am fit and well. How on earth do companies come up with these figures . The insurance has cost me more than the flight ! I feel we are easy pickings to bolster up all the bogus claims out there . It seems that people with a health history can’t travel unless they have the money for insurance . That’s just unfair . You can understand why people don’t declare their ailments . When I return I’ll have to go through this again as I have a home in Spain and with Brexit looming .......... thoughts anyone

[10gingercats]

It may not be much consolation to you at this moment but i read fairly recently(I am in UK) that there is to be a high level investigation 'sometime soon' on these very high quotes.

[01maxdog in reply to 10gingercats]

That will be interesting but I won't hold my breath! I just feel we are easy pickings as most of us haven't got a clue as to how much we should be paying . This over the phone lark with no breakdown seems unfair . And the attitude of ' pay up or don't go ' is appalling.

[BobD Volunteer]

I mentioned lack of insurance elewhere yesterday. The thinking is that if there is an un resolved medical condition then the risk of illness or hospitalisation increases exponentially. Once all the risks are known then better understanding means that risk calculation and therefor premiums are more realistic.

This applies to all insurance markets of course including property and motor insurance. Over the last few years hundreds of properties have become uninsurable due to increased flooding. At least travel insurance is not loaded to spread the burden of younger drunken and irresponsible travellers as is motor insurance. YET! lol

[01maxdog in reply to BobD]

But we are paying for all those that pull a fast one with jippy tummy syndrome . It was in the news awhile ago , too much booze no doubt ! Bit like the ' whiplash ' culture.i wouldn't have minded if there was a solid reason behind the scan but I was told it was only that the X Ray didn't come out

[Hidden]

Yes, £752 is a lot - but it might not be difficult to run up bills well in excess if you were to be taken ill.

[Hidden]

I can sympathise but have had worse quotes as I've mentioned elsewhere, particularly a recent one for almost £1000 for a 7 day European cruise which included Spain....single trip.I was told that insurance for Spain bumps up cost considerably..

I'm on a waiting list for ablation which is obviously the main stumbling block.

[Ianc2 in reply to Hidden]

It is usually the magic word 'cruise'

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

It doesn't help !!

[01maxdog in reply to Hidden]

The minute you're awaiting something the price doubles !

[Hidden in reply to 01maxdog]

Just about right. I think it was around the £300 mark last year for a 7 day cruise to northern Europe and no ablation on the cards ( and no Spain !)

[01maxdog in reply to Hidden]

Ever since that woman threw herself off the back of a boat last year cruising is up there with ski ing !

[Ianc2]

If you are under 74 and have a female partner, she can join the women's institute, sign up for their group health scheme and sign you up as well. They take a different viewpoint and ask you if you are fit to travel and not suffering from any terminal conditions. You have to sign up to a direct debit and will then cover you from thereon in.

[01maxdog in reply to Ianc2]

That's interesting , I'm about to join the WI and I've never heard of this before from other members

[Ianc2 in reply to 01maxdog]

the name of the company is OPENTRAVEL Insurance. The lead member is the paid up Institute member. We took out an annual Worldwide Policy for £315.00. Fee is payable by direct debit

Health Conditions Applying to all travel : You are covered for pre existing medical conditions provided you have not booked or travelled against the advice the advice of a qualified medical practitioner, including the published advice of the chief medical officer, or booked or undertaken travel to obtain medical treatment.

As long as you are both under 74 when the application is made they will continue to cover you as long as your direct debit continues.

email: [e-mail]

[Barb1]

Pray for a Brexit deal! We have a home in Cyprus and I have been quoted over a thousand pounds for an extended visit because I had an operation last November. We have cancelled our planned trip to USA and Canada, including a cruise, because it was 1300 pounds for a month!

[01maxdog in reply to Barb1]

Ouch !

[Tapanac]

Unfortunately any insurance to USA bumps up the cost. Possibly going straight to Oz might have been less expensive, but oh that journey. It’s a lot of money and I can’t even get insurance without going bankrupt for a trip to the Caribbean (Barbados is on my bucket list). Enjoy your holiday despite the cost and keep well. Best wishes

[01maxdog in reply to Tapanac]

Isn't it unfair , I feel like I'm being punished for having this condition . Carry on with your life . But don't travel

[Tapanac in reply to 01maxdog]

I know exactly what you mean. Chin up and take care

[irene75359]

We changed banks to Nationwide FlexPlus which costs (now) £13 a month. One of the benefits is free travel insurance. We had rather complicated need of cover. Two/three trips, 10 weeks a time to our cave in Spain, my husband travels frequently off-road in Morocco on his motorbike, me with my Afib and now hernia. This year we paid an excess of £240 which I thought was pretty good all things considered. The benefits also include family mobile cover and Europe-wide car breakdown cover, and using their debit card and credit card abroad attracts no surcharges. I am sorry that this information won't help you with your imminent trip, but I mention it as insurance problems come up a lot on the forum.

[Tapanac in reply to irene75359]

Did you have to give all your pre-existing problems and conditions and they still cover you for those conditions please?

[irene75359 in reply to Tapanac]

I have just looked at AIW58 's reply to you, and thinking back I developed AFib some time after opening the bank account, and I don't think I was surcharged either when I let the insurance branch know. However, the other issues - off road biking and long trips attracted the excess. The link to to their conditions

nationwide.co.uk/support/su...

I would ring up and ask before opening the bank account - you have nothing to lose.

[Tapanac in reply to irene75359]

Thank you. I will look into it. Best wishes

[AIW58]

we have travel insurance through Nationwide Flex account like Irene. When I rang a year or two back to say I get P-AF I didn't pay any extra, I rang last month when we got our renewal to check I was still covered as no mention of the AF in the policy. Now I am on medication (Flec BD) I would need to pay an increased premium. (£114) . I will pay the extra if we go away. Your quote seems very high. Def worth shopping around. You are allowed to have more than one travel ins as long as you only claim from one if the need arises. The travel ins we get with Nationwide is part of other benefits from having that account. I can look for another company that would cover my AF for less than £114 when we do abroad.

presume it's too late for you to look elsewhere?

I think if we leave Europe with a deal the EHIC will still work but not sure. Mind you don't think anyone is sure what will happen atm. I could get political but won't as we all need to avoid stress!

I hope you have a lovely holiday and stay well.

amanda

[01maxdog in reply to AIW58]

Yes I have insurance linked with my bank but I can't use it for anything heart related as I used it 5 years ago . I'm looking around on comparison websites for the future . I still think this pay up or don't go attitude is wrong by some companies , I'm not past my sell by date yet ! But I can't afford to pay this again on a pension

[AIW58]

Let us know what you find. My daughter lives in Oz and we have friends we visit in USA so I definitely need to have cover for those visits. The £114 extra I'll have to pay may well be a good premium judging what you were quoted. Does your bank no longer cover you because you had to make a claim? That's worth knowing. I wonder if Nationwide is the same.

Amanda

[01maxdog in reply to AIW58]

No, my bank will not cover me for anything heart related so if I lose a bag I’ll be ok !

[Jong1945]

Well, I can see this from th3 other side, that of a claimant. I had to work hard to get covered and explain that the monitoring I was under was routine. They eventually quoted me, and not too bad a premium, though with a history of AF and tbe other condition I declared, it wasn't exactly cheap. The worst did happen. Huge operation, overseas, 2 months in hospital, 2 months more before I could fly, thank goodness it wasn't in the US as the cost was around £130k anyway, probably £250k if in the US. Moral I wou,d say is, yes, shop around, get the besg price, bjt make sure you are covered and fully declared. The whole point of insurance is to get paid if you have to claim

[01maxdog in reply to Jong1945]

Yes, I had to claim 6 years ago in Hawaii when I suffered a stroke , that was the first time I was diagnosed with A Fib . My bill as well over £100k so I’m careful to tell my insurance company everything .

[Kaz747 in reply to 01maxdog]

The true cost of travel insurance, indeed any insurance, has little to do with the cost of the premium and a lot to do with how the insurance company responds to a claim. Sorry to hear about your stroke but happy to hear the insurance company came through for you.