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Travel insurance

Heartening profile image
53 Replies

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?

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Heartening profile image
Heartening
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53 Replies
Norfolk_spaniel profile image
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 profile image
Heartening in reply toNorfolk_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 profile image
Norfolk_spaniel in reply toHeartening

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

20WildRose19 profile image
20WildRose19 in reply toNorfolk_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 profile image
Nerja2012 in reply toHeartening

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

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

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

Heartening profile image
Heartening in reply toCDreamer

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

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toHeartening

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 profile image
Heartening in reply toCDreamer

Great - will try them next! Thank you.

Eastmids profile image
Eastmids in reply toHeartening

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 profile image
jerseygirl49 in reply toHeartening

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.

in reply tojerseygirl49

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 profile image
Tapanac in reply toHeartening

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 profile image
Heartening in reply toTapanac

Many thanks - another one to explore.

Heartening profile image
Heartening

Thank you - looks like I have more options now.

hanne6263 profile image
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 profile image
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 profile image
PCC62

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

Cookie6 profile image
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 profile image
jerseygirl49 in reply toCookie6

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 profile image
Heartening in reply toCookie6

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

Cookie6 profile image
Cookie6 in reply toHeartening

yes we are are too. Off to Shropshire tomorrow.

Singwell profile image
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 profile image
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 profile image
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 profile image
Heartening in reply tokkatz

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 profile image
kkatz in reply toHeartening

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 profile image
lucillear

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

SophieBella profile image
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 profile image
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 profile image
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 profile image
Heartening in reply toVrouse

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 profile image
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 profile image
MoyB in reply toSB2352

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 profile image
Heartening in reply toSB2352

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

Quilter43 profile image
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 profile image
Enable

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

Heartening profile image
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 profile image
croylass6

PS I’m with Makesure travel insurance £64 +

Morzine profile image
Morzine

worldwideinsure

Try them

Heartening profile image
Heartening in reply toMorzine

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

KMRobbo profile image
KMRobbo

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

Heartening profile image
Heartening in reply toKMRobbo

Thank you - I will.

Daisyblu profile image
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 profile image
Heartening in reply toDaisyblu

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

VinnyR profile image
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

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 profile image
Heartening in reply tobileyininjurytime

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

kkatz profile image
kkatz

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

Heartening profile image
Heartening in reply tokkatz

Thank you!

ILF1 profile image
ILF1

same just happened to me with Staysure

ClementAlfo profile image
ClementAlfo

Luckily, I don't have any health problems, but when traveling, there are often problems with food and a high probability of getting poisoned by something. One of the easiest solutions for me was food tours, click here secretfoodtours.com/nashville/ to find out more. This is not only an opportunity to learn about national cuisine, but also to eat in trusted restaurants.

BernieDe profile image
BernieDe

It's important for me to decide in advance about my safety while traveling. This applies to both obtaining medical insurance and booking a hotel and transfer from the airport. So, AtoB airport transfer atobtransfer.com/netherland... will be a safer solution. Moreover, it's not as expensive as many people think. Prices can also be viewed on the website.

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