Holiday Insurance

[Maximonkey]

Hi I have Bronchiectasis and my annual travel insurance is due for renewal, last yr it cost me £800+ because I was undergoing all the tests prior to diagnosis. I have just spoken with the insurers and this yr, after diagnosis it has come out at £700+, does anyone have any tips - such as insurers who cover people with lung disease? Maximonkey

[Hidden]

The BLF site has a list of Insurers who offer Travel insurance. I couldn't get a yearly policy for my trip but was pleasantly surprised at the cost of a 14 day trip to new York.

Marie x

[AndreaEdwards]

Hello

Here is a link to the BLF travel pack on the website blf.org.uk/Page/Travel

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will find all the information you need which you can download for travelling with a lung condition. You will also find a list of travel insurance companies.

If you have any problems or would like us to e-mail you this or post it then please contact the helpline on 03000 030 555

Best Wishes

Andrea

[Maximonkey]

Hi AndreaE, thank you so much for the info I shall follow your advice. Maximonkey

[Milestone]

Try Age UK.

[Maximonkey in reply to Milestone]

Hi Milestone and many others who have contacted me with similar ideas. I have tried Saga and Age Uk and they will not insure me as I have more than 3 illnesses. Thanks Maximonkey

[elian]

I'm having the same problem trying to organise insurance for a proposed trip to visit my daughter in Switzerland in November. The lowest (online) quote I've had so far is over £600 !! (The highest is £2,400!!!!!) I've tried all the suggested BLF links and none of them were prepared to offer me cover.

I, too, would be grateful for any help from someone who has managed to achieve cover for under these figures, otherwise I'll not be able to see my daughter and grand-daughter this year

[Maximonkey in reply to elian]

Hi Elian, sorry you are having probs. I have a quote from More Than my usual insurer for £717 for an annual travel policy and I have asked Able2travel for a quote to compare. I have used More Than for over 20 yrs as I am a retired employee and I am hesitating about changing as they have always been excelleent with any claim I have made. This is the true measure of a good insurer. Just a tip, last yr due to non- diagnosis of my lung condition and an op on my foot my policy cost me over £800 for the yr, however a single trip policy would have cost over £650. A no brainer. I have been on many holidays this year and so I feel I got my monies worth. Good luck, I hope you do visit your daughter and grand-daughter. Maximonkey

[elian in reply to Maximonkey]

Do you use oxygen Maximonkey ? I think the problem I'm having is due to the fact that I had four admissions to hospital between November 2011 and February 2012. I haven't had any problems since then however.

Thanks for the info on MoreThan....... I may give them a try

[Maximonkey in reply to elian]

Hi Elian, no I do not need oxygen. I too have had 3 hospital admissions in the past yr. This did not apparently affect the policy cost. However I have just discovered that a little thing like the manufacturer no longer making a blood pressure tablet and my husband having to change meds has put up the quote by £98. There is nothing the insurance company can do about this as the database/computer which adds up the quote does not recognise the difference between a manufacturing change and a medical need to change. More Than have been really helpful and have advised me to check with our doctor for the exact date the med was changed and to renew our policy 6months and 1 day later, that way I can answer the question regarding med change in past 6 months *No* . Good luck Maximonkey

[tanyamarie]

Try Saga, I would have thought they did hol insurance.

[HuwieHex]

The problem is that, if it seems likely that you will make a claim on your holiday medical insurance, you will be quoted very high premiums. From the Insurer's point of view this is understandable. I myself am now uninsurable, being 75 years of age and with IPF. Previously, I tried most of the Companies identified on the BLF website and none of them did other than quote prohibitive premiums. The only Company I got a sensible (but still very expensive) quote from in recent years was John Lewis Insurance.

[katieoxo60]

There are several sites on line who deal in travel insurance for disabled, which includes ongoing illness like respiratory diseases.Saga are one of the more stringent companies, Age UK only deal with one company, who have stringent age and health criteria. The british heart foundation offer assistance to find companies,and I found Unique on the BLF site helpful and reasonably priced plus BLF get a donation helping to keep the campaigns going for our paticular illnesses. The advice in the case of insurance is shop around and you may get a good starter deal to reduce the cost

[katieoxo60]

Staysure are another good company, but premiums shoot up when you reach 70 and not sure about their health criteria

[Maximonkey]

Thanks Katie, very good advice I shall follow it up. So far I have asked Able2travel for a quote and my usual company More Than have also given me a quote it will be interesting to see if there is a considerable difference. Thanks also for mentioning the starter deal. This has flagged up a good point, as I would not wish to change companies only to get a nasty shock next yr. Thanks again. Maximonkey

[Maximonkey]

Hi Bigal, thanks for this info, I have just tried them and they will only cover me to travel in UK. Back to sq one I am afraid. Thanks Maximonkey