Travel insurance

[Heartening]

Hi everyone- Just tried to renew my travel insurance with Staysure. Since the last travel I have been diagnosed with AF. I have been told by Staysure that as I’m waiting for a cardioversion I wouldn’t be covered for this condition until it had been done & I was told I’m good to go. I tried to explain that the condition was more than likely to be lifelong & I’m unlikely to be signed off as such, as the condition is ongoing. I don’t have any travel booked but wonder if anyone has experience of this & what I could do. Is it possible to travel with this condition?

[Norfolk_spaniel]

I was with Staysure last year, an annual policy. I was in AF waiting for an ablation and intended travelling to Greece. I went online to declare this and they just charged me an extra three hundred pounds.

[Heartening in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

Thank you for replying. They didn’t give me an option - just said as I was waiting for a procedure I wouldn’t be covered. No money discussed at all.

[Norfolk_spaniel in reply to Heartening]

Mine was all done online. Somebody on this forum also recommended Avanti.

[20WildRose19 in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

I use Holiday safe. Never claimed so don't know how good they are in that respect. I had cardioversion in 2019 which I declared.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Heartening]

Hwartening. Same here, I was refused insurance because I was waiting for the result of an MRI tried others all said the same .

[CDreamer]

never had a problem- it’s the waiting for an intervention that triggers the no. Push back or try elsewhere.

[Heartening in reply to CDreamer]

Many thanks. I think I’ll wait till after the cardioversion & then try again with different company. Any recommendations?

[CDreamer in reply to Heartening]

I’ve always used TravelInsurance4Medical which is part of the World First Group. What I like is they have 3 levels of cover and had to claim once - no problems.

[Heartening in reply to CDreamer]

Great - will try them next! Thank you.

[Eastmids in reply to Heartening]

I’ve just renewed mine for world wide annual cover avanti charged me £400 staysure wanted £700 without cancellation cover and all clear wanted £850

[jerseygirl49 in reply to Heartening]

we have used Avanti for about 5 years and they seem pretty good. We had to cancel a trip to Japan one year and the claim was dealt with extremely efficiently with the money in our bank account within a week. However, my husband had a mild stroke in Jan followed by 3 TIA’s and when I phoned them last week to report these and ask what the extra premiums would be they said they can’t cover us anymore and gave a pro-rata refund. Said things could be different in 6 months if hubby has stayed well and to give them a call then.

[TopBiscuit in reply to jerseygirl49]

Thank you for this! I saved this thread as I knew I'd be booking to visit family in the US and now is the time. I've waded through multiple insurance companies and brokers - all the ones named on here - and Avanti led me to the best quote. 👍

[Tapanac in reply to Heartening]

we haven’t been on holiday or needed travel insurance since 2018 but we were with flexicover and any new problems, during they time, they were very amenable

Good luck with your cardioversion

[Heartening in reply to Tapanac]

Many thanks - another one to explore.

[Heartening]

Thank you - looks like I have more options now.

[hanne6263]

Goodtogo have covered me although I'm on a waiting list for an ablation. It was expensive, and I paid extra for cover in case I was called around my holiday date. I had an annual policy with Staysure which I have cancelled as they removed cover for almost all medical conditions including everything remotely cardiac related!

[Paddbear]

I was in similar situation as you at the beginning of this year, it is as others have said because you have a procedure pending. When the cardioversion had taken place, or not ,in my case, I was able to put travel insurance back in place, I swopped to Saga, may want to check them out !

[PCC62]

InsureAndGo covered me without any problem but with an increased premium of £160 which included cover for North America. All done online.

[Cookie6]

hi Heartening, I posted about the same issue a couple of weeks ago. I have exactly the same issue re AF and the fact that my insurance cover won’t cover me … they were more concerned about the basal cell carcinoma on my head that I’m waiting to have removed. People suggested lots of insurance companies and I’m about to wade through the list of suggestions. I’m on a waiting list for an ablation but at present my medication is keeping it under control and I’m okay with that. Haven’t had an episode for nearly 4 months so at present I’ve decided not to have the op. Not sure how I get round that one re insurance. I look forward to seeing if you are successful and please let us know. Holidays in the UK for me at the moment sadly but lots of places to explore here( if only the weather would improve!).

[jerseygirl49 in reply to Cookie6]

yes, there are so many really beautiful places to visit in the Uk but it’s the weather that puts us off - who wants to spend a lot of money only to find it’s pouring with rain all week! I can do cold and windy but I don’t want to walk about in the rain.

[Heartening in reply to Cookie6]

Yes I’m definitely going to stay in the UK for now I think.

[Cookie6 in reply to Heartening]

yes we are are too. Off to Shropshire tomorrow.

[Singwell]

You've got lots of great responses here. Sharonica-Admin or other admins. It'd be so useful to have a pinned post on this topic.

[Nerja2012]

Heartening. I was refused recently because I was waiting for the result of an MRI on my Arm ( nueropathic) otherwise fit and healthy and PAF fine.

[kkatz]

It is not your condition that's the reason.It is because you are awaiting a CV.I waited 5 months for Cv which lasted 9 days.Waited another 11 months for referral & on list for ablation.I traveled without cover for existing conditions and I have a lot.My main worry is if they need to turn the plane round.I haven't renewed as we don't go on holiday until late October and my ablation works.Good luck ,hope your CV works.

Kathy

[Heartening in reply to kkatz]

Yes it was definitely when I said I was waiting for a Cardioversion that they said I wouldn’t be covered at all for that condition. But if the last Cardioversion is anything to go by (lasted 6 days) I feel I will always be waiting for one procedure or another and waiting times are sooooo long.

[kkatz in reply to Heartening]

But unless you are told you are on or being put on the list you are not awaiting a procedure.But I will be looking elsewhere for alternatives.Problem is I have tried several companies online & they kick me out as I have too many things to cover.

[lucillear]

Ive got puffin insurance covered for Af, asthma and haitus hernia. Ive not had an issue with them and price is reasonable

[SophieBella]

Over the years I've been with Benenden, Avanti, GoodtoGoInsurance, and Staysure. I can get the insurance, often with 3-4 hopsital visits a year and /or awaiting a procedure. But there is as others have said, a price to pay for it.

[Towne]

Exactly the same position one year ago with trip to Greece. (waiting for an ablation on my return. Staysure quoted £280 (my family annual Aviva would not insure at all, but through this forum found ‘Good to Go’ Insurance @ £123 for the week. I use them again To insure a cycle trip across Wales last August & had to claim for 3 unused days due to injury which they settled in full.

[Vrouse]

I frequently travel and have persistent AF. I have insurance with Staysure who I find very good. I'm no longer under the hospital so its always a possibility yoy may be signed off at some point. All insurance companies err on the side of caution if you're waiting for a procedure. I expect once you have had a cardioversion they'll be happy to insure you irrespective of the outcome (cardioversion didn't work for me). You'll be fine.

[Heartening in reply to Vrouse]

Thank you for your positive reply. Since I was diagnosed last September I feel like I’ve been in a constant state of worry & now no holiday in the sun to try & forget about things & relax. I must try to be more positive like you. Thank you.

[SB2352]

I was with Staysure but when phoning them about another holiday it was clear that they would not cover me any more. The sticking point was chest pain. I said I sometimes had chest pain with my attacks of very fast AF and he said “so you have angina?” I said no it was different but he wouldn’t accept it. He said was I sure that there was no use of the word “angina” anywhere in my medical notes? I said how would I know that?I wouldn’t advise anyone to use them now. Good to know there are other options. Of course you only know how good an insurance company is when you have to claim.

[MoyB in reply to SB2352]

I tried to get cover with Staysure for an 8 night uk holiday. Last year - no problem. This year, the questions to answer seemed more and more. I had to declare that I'm waiting to have and Implanted Loop Recorder. There seemed to be no box for them to tick for this! As a result they asked a few extra questions about my PAF. One question was, 'Have you ever had heart related leg swelling or breathlessness? ' I answered that I experience breathlessness due to my lung conditions which I had already told them about and it was possible that my leg swelling, which is now controlled with medication, could be heart related. As a result of this they added, 'Impaired contractility' to my policy.

I didn't know what it meant so Googled it and it seemed to mean heart failure - which I don't have! I got back to them and said it was incorrect. I also emailed my GP who confirmed the meaning of the term and that I definitely don't have heart failure.

Staysure employee refused to remove it from my policy so I had to cancel the insurance. It was only £39 for two of us to go (and my husband DOES have heart failure but the didn't note that down for him!) and they had a very long list of medical conditions for us that were excluded from cover. I said, 'I've got enough conditions on the list - I'm not having something else added that I don't even have.' There was an absolute flat refusal to remove it and a very swift refund of our payment. I won't be using them again.

xx Moy

[Heartening in reply to SB2352]

Very true & I hope I don’t ever have to claim.

[Quilter43]

Wasted precios time.years not traveling far for fear the worst would happen.Took short trips with company.Used to go far..You can't bring back time.Getting a pacemaker right or wrong and going to take a trip far away..Fear is the worst..As far as travel insurance which I have taken with the condition do not recall if I had to put af down.Depends on policy I would thinkDon't know about pre-existing conditions.

[Enable]

I'm in permanent afib and always insure with Staysure without any problems.

[Heartening]

Hi everyone- so pleased with everyone’s replies. I have lots of recommendations- and yes it would be good to put all these together somewhere as it is a subject which will no doubt come back again.

[croylass6]

PS I’m with Makesure travel insurance £64 +

[Morzine]

worldwideinsure

Try them

[Heartening in reply to Morzine]

Excellent - I’ve got lots of options now. Many thanks.

[KMRobbo]

Try "coverforyou". I have never had a problem getting cover

[Heartening in reply to KMRobbo]

Thank you - I will.

[Daisyblu]

I too was refused cover when I informed insurers I was waiting for an angiogram. I eventually got cover from All Clear Insurance but it was £500 for a week's cover !

[Heartening in reply to Daisyblu]

Goodness - that is a lot! I’m definitely going to wait until after the Cardioversion before I book.

[VinnyR]

I could not get cover for afib at all. This is despite my doc saying it was covid related and I have not had an episode for a year.

Good luck

[bileyininjurytime]

As others have suggested, I think the big issue is 'awaiting treatment/procedure'. I've previously got insurance through Coverwise when declaring AF but with no planned future treatment. I'm now due a further ablation in late May and when looking on their website they're saying they won't insure me for a period before that.

[Heartening in reply to bileyininjurytime]

Thank you. I think I’m resigned for staying in the UK for now.

[kkatz]

moneyhelper.org.uk/en/every... Probably no good if awaiting a procedure but a useful link

[Heartening in reply to kkatz]

Thank you!

[ILF1]

same just happened to me with Staysure

[ClementAlfo]

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[BernieDe]

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