Please can anyone share their experiences with insurance companies? I am booked to go to USA in August but a combination of age (82) and condition (ILD fairly mild) make the insurance costs unbelievably high. I would really like to know the best way to proceed. My doctor has no qualms about the travelling. I am new here so I hope I have expressed my query in a clear way.
Happy to provide further details if required.
Very clear and welcome to you Seaberg.You'll probably get more answers in the morning, I'm afraid I can't help much I just know how very important it is to have insurance for travel to the US. Without it and if something were to happen where you'd need medical treatment you'd be up the creek without a paddle financially.
I've heard that the company Stasure is one of the more reasonable ones. Good luck with finding an insurer. P
Hi Seaberg. Someone posted on here quite a while ago naming a cheap insurer. I meant to make a note of it, but what with covid and everything I didn’t get round to it.I haven’t been away since before covid. We always went with Saga insurance, but as our last visit was only two months after I had had an emergency admission it was sky high. In the end we went with Staysure. It was still expensive, but something like £1,000 cheaper than saga ( for two of us.)
Hi Seaberg and welcome to the site. At the top of the screen on the right there is a search box, type in travel insurance and this will bring up all the previous posts on that topic, you can then scroll through each and see if there any useful suggestions. As this is a regular question there should be lots of answers. Hope this helps x
Hi allclear and saga WERE reasonable prices,don't know what they charge now though
I have used so many companies over the years, including Staysure but never had to claim until 2019 when I slipped in The Rockies and cracked a bone in my little toe. $568For xray and bandage!
I had used SAGA for the first time and been scrupulously honest in telling them that I had suspected osteoporosis amongst my conditions ( from dexa scan)although have no symptoms and no treatment. They were fabulous both by email and on the phone and the money was in my bank account before I left the US. For really expensive places like the US it really isn’t worth scrimping and using companies who charge less but then come up with lots of excuses for not paying.
Hi, we have just been on holiday and I got very cheap insurance with all clear, very helpful too.
Like Littlepom I think what matters is how the insurer behaves if you have a claim. Direct Line were great when my son needed treatment in the US. Sadly they will no longer insure me (they only want young, healthy folk!). I used the Post Office last year for a cruise, not cheap and I don’t know how they would be with a claim but cruise insurance is always pricey. Shop around, it’s a pain and takes ages but there is a website where you can compare claim settling. Interestingly many companies use the same underwriters and some are better than others. Good luck and please let me know who you end up using because I’ll be needing one soon.
I usually use a search engine for people with existing conditions. Insurance for the USA is expensive because the cost of healthcare is expensive. I haven’t had to claim so far so have no idea how the companies I have used would have been. Be honest though otherwise they can void your insurance. Have a great holiday.
Thank you all very much for the quick responses to my query! I will start checking (I haven't tried Staysure before) and will certainly report back. It is wonderful to see all your collective knowledge out there and being able to share.
I'm currently visiting family in Norway and used All Clear for the first time. The prices were reasonable and I paid for the medical excess too. However, I haven't claimed (and hopefully won't need to) Also I was disappointed with the customer service. I tried to get the insurance on the phone but got cut off, but the person didn't call me back even though I'd given my phone number. I ended up trying to figure it out myself and buy the insurance online. Wishing you a great trip 😊
Thank you. Enjoy your holiday!
Hi.. In the same boat. Got quoted £1350because I mentioned the heart(angina)! I have Bronchiectasis but without the heart issue was £250.Massive difference. The best 2 quotes were all clear & Staysure. Good luck! Please say if you find any better! Thank you. 🍀🤞
Thank you. Will certainly post any finds. Good luck to you
I’ve used all clear insurance in the past.
I started a reply but it disappeared ! Basically I couldn't get any cover apart from one. Avanti who gave me a quote in February declined. Only Allclear offered cover, at great expense. I have been to companies who allegedly deal with medical conditions, those recommended by other search engines etc. Nobody offered a clear explanation for the refusals, all listed "pulmonary fibrosis" as the problem but none ask for severity or accepted that my consultant was happy for me to travel. It is a condition on the "no no" list. When asked if age was a factor (81) apparently not.
I do feel some challenge should be made for the blanket assessment but not sure how. Feeling frustrated and forced into a corner but taking a Multi trip policy as it worked out to be cheaper in the long term and I intend to make as full use as possible now I have spent the money!
Cheers everyone!
I went with Allclear too but didn't do the multi trip option as everything seems so unpredictable now. The good thing I found with Allclear is they're for people with health conditions and don't seem to freak out when you list them.
Yes, it was a relief to talk to them after all the negative responses
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