I was at the end of completing foreign travel arrangements, looking for cancellation insurance, and have discovered that I can't get travel cancellation insurance due to an episode of a-fib in May which resulted in a medication change. Does anyone have any experience with securing travel insurance in similar circumstances?
Postscript, after feedback:
For those of you in the U.K. -- you are more fortunate than us in Canada --we have no equivalent to the companies to which you have access. I am caught by the insurance company "stability" criteria.
My recurrence was minor, my medication increase is minor, and my cardiologist has full confidence that I will again come under as full control as possible.
The insurance companies don't care. They "cover the spread" using blunt, conservative, worst-case-scenario statistics.
I plan to take my chances -- will still get insurance, with the full knowledge that I could take a heavy financial hit if a-fib pops up in the three weeks before my anticipated departure.
In the meantime it's crucial for me to have hope and to have confidence in my excellent specialist to keep me out of harm's way. "Manageable" isn't manageable if you're always looking over your shoulder! Thank you all.
Your generosity of spirit and practicality are much appreciated -- just what I needed from our community!
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Emoryrich
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I guess it depends on the insurer. Here in the UK, I was refused travel insurance by a particular direct on-line insurer because of AF issues. However Staysure were happy to cover it even after declaring one A&E visit in the last twelve months. They'll load your premium accordingly though.
Insurance is a game of odds, there's always someone that will take the bet. I would imagine that there are insurance companies that will take this on. Even if it turns out to be a specialist medical insurer. Lots of people are in a similar position (not just AF sufferers). Maybe try your insurance broker or travel agent. Also, in my experience better to speak to a human than fill in a web form as we tend to do now.
I go on comparison sites, and have always managed to get covered, yes it is a little bit more expensive if you've recently had an episode or a change of some sort, but i have always got covered. Hopeyou get sorted.
I decided not to mention. I will take my meds in my take on luggage.
Then after having thyroid cancer and having it out in 2020 Feb and every year clear I decided not to mention that.
But at the 4 year Feb this year I was recalled. The CT scan and then PET scan are not saying it is back but surgeon has booked a cT scan in November after October travel to JAPAN to compare. My thyroglobin level has dropped from 1.7 to 1.1 after pET scan which involved nuclear iodine tracer infusion for images to be. read earlier.
Now I'm in a fix.
I'll have to tell the Travel Insurance all this. I guess.
No point trying to hide medical conditions from insurers. If you haven’t declared your whole insurance policy will be “null and void”, so no point having it at all.
It means that I won't be covered for my thyroid cancer or AF heart.
I did not hide it. I did the travel insurance with the airline ticket. It was difficult to assess then.
What happens is I won't be covered for the pre-existing diagnosis. If I need a doctor for those items I will need to pay.
AF is controlled. I'm not even an outpatient. Discharged inJune 2023. Not been to A&E or hospital since the stroke 2019 where I was diagnosed.
Thyroid cancer return has not absolute outcome at 4 yrs. I could have declared it if I wanted it covered. It was back last September when I was clear in the 3 years to it. Feb 2024 was when I was recalled to have further tests.
Not necessarily. It depends on your policy, the importance of the information omitted and the insurer. If the information omitted would impact on the insurer's decision whether to provide you with cover then it could invalidate the policy.
Full disclosure is the best option.
I'm overseas travelling now. I disclosed my AF, answered a few related questions and paid $75 more to ensure I was covered.
If you have an episode (I don't have them and no side effects (persistent) they will research your CLAIM and if the claim transfers over then you won't be covered.
It happened with SX as I had a bug but was cleared with a blood test before I left. I had a lump on my neck. Hostess said go to the hospital at Anchorage.
I did and had a blood test 500 Euros. Then another at Fairbanks (which was worse). 500 Euros. I was given a diagnosis of GLANDULAR FEVER or IMMUNE DISEASE. Given a spray of EURYOMYCIN for mouth ulcers.
They wouldn't cover the blood tests.
They said that I should have forwarded the Dr visit before I left on the trip.
My Mum who contracted pneumonia was covered for 144,000 Euros.
If we cancel the trip beforehand under Drs orders we can claim our price of the insurance policy back.
Travelinsurance4medicalconditions.com insured me even though I'm waiting for a procedure so could be worth a try. Not sure I've got the name exactly right. Maybe also try without the word travel...
Never had a problem - talk to your insurers first, if the don’t accommodate you change them.
I travelled widely with conditions far more problematic than AF and awaiting procedures. Helps to go with a company that specialises in medical conditions though.
Hi there. I live in the UK so circumstances may be different, however, I managed to get afib travel insurance by trawling the internet for specialist medical insurers. It was just as well I did because two days before we were due to go on holiday I had an episode and had to cancel though luckily I got most of our money repaid by the insurers. Do some research on the internet and I sincerely hope you manage to find something.
I had one company refuse me as I was waiting for an ablation despite having insured me for 11 out of 12 months! I needed to add cruise cover. Then I've had 3 companies since insure me with no issue, allclear, staysure and saga. Yes it's a bit more expensive but I love my travelling
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