We’ve seen lots of discussion on the community about travel insurance. For anyone with a heart condition that may need some guidance on insurance, here’s everything you need to know.
Where can I find travel insurance?
Holidays are supposed to be relaxing but it can be frustrating to sort out insurance when you’re recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, so – the BHF has put together a list of insurance companies who may be able to help you find a suitable travel insurance policy:
How do I answer the medical questions for insurance quotes?
It’s a good idea to talk to your GP before purchasing an insurance policy as they’ll be able to help you answer the medical questions.
As I’m sure some of you will know, the health declarations that insurance companies ask for are often very detailed, particularly about your past and present health conditions and medications. It’s really important to declare all your past and present health conditions. If you leave out important information this could result your claim being refused…the less holiday drama, the better!
What if I can't find travel insurance?
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) may be able to help if you’re finding it difficult to get travel insurance: biba.org.uk/CustomerHome.aspx
What if I have a complaint?
If you have any complaints or think you have been treated unfairly as a result of a policy claim, the Financial Ombudsman Service is there to help you: financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Life insurance:
There are some insurers who specialise in providing life insurance for people with health conditions. We don't work with any of these insurance companies and can't guarantee that they will offer insurance to everyone: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Travel insurance is always a hot topic so here a few threads on the community you might also find helpful:
Thank you Helen for sharing. I for one will have to re-look at travel insurance since being diagnosed with SVT and Mitral valve regurgitation. I have travel insurance included in my bank account package, but will have to contact them now to see where I stand. Rie
Hi Rie, hope they continue to insure you. I've also got Mitral (& aortic) valve regurgitation & hypertrophic cardiomyopathy too....my bank refuses to renew my insurance as I was diagnosed just a few months ago. They would have insured my angina for £115 extra but not now I have the extra conditions. Im finding it hard to get insurance....this week 42 companies have refused to insure me. All the best. Clare
Hi Clare I have lots of health conditions and I’m under investigation at the hospital fir 2 seperate conditions and departments and the only insurance we could get was from ALLCLEAR who were great but very expensive just as I havnt been diagnosed with whatever it is I have from hospital yet. My hubby has couple of medical conditions also. Give them a call I couldn’t get a quote online with being under hospital investigation. Do we are covered but just not the things I’m awaiting hospital investigations for. It is very stressful buying travel insurance and my doctor was no help x
I have a long list of fairly minor conditions, none of which I expect to cause me issues on holidayUnfortunately having had a small cancerous tumour removed ( 3 years clear and no expectation of a return), any problems I have tend to be treated seriously . I am given scans or X-rays other people probably wouldn’t get, for example after having a stomach issue last year, I was told I needed a colonoscopy.it came back clear for cancer but they said the was a bit of wear and tear , nothing to worry about. However the letter gives me a diagnosis of diverticular disease. It is symptomless but I now have to declare it.( stomach issue resolved itself and was caused by taking a probiotic !)Similarly going for some physio has led to a letter on my medical records saying I have osteoarthritis as that is what the nhs physio thinks is likely. As all questions are standard, this then leads to ‘have you ever had a back problem.’Well years ago I slipped a disc. Nothing to do with arthritis but I have to answer yes. I am so frustrated that I can’t explain that my aortic stenosis, which I discovered about before cancer op, is mild. I’ve probably had it for years with no issues. Heart is working well and things haven’t changed in 7 years, see you again in 3. It makes me reluctant to consult anyone medical as something, another minor condition that loads of people my age (72) probably have and don’t know about, will be added to my records. Virtually every condition is pre ceded by mild , is monitored or medicated but of course no scope for explaining that when questions are yes or no answers. I wanted annual insurance this year which needs to include worldwide 3 as I need a week in USA for my daughter’s wedding .All Clear have quoted 2.3 thousand for my husband and me (he has 3 pre existing conditions) saga won’t insure me annually but will do the USA week for almost as much as all clear’s annual. Insure and go are the same. Stay sure refused us last year so haven’t tried this year.I don’t hold out any hope of getting insurance in the future and find it really upsetting and depressing. We enjoy travelling but will probably have to give it up. I feel guilty that my husband suffers the same consequences due to my medical record. I feel discriminated against for health and age and although I expect to pay more, the amount I pay or the refusals to insure seem disproportionate to me.
I no it’s absolutely atrocious, I agree one answer of a yes leads to even more interrogation and there and conditions that require no treatment sbd hence not a problem only a diagnostic find that cause most problems, my problems are I have been waiting just on a year now for an appointments women’s hospital fir genealogical and now I have anaemia and under investigation for that, Staysure who supposed yo be amazing won’t even give me quote! And another one said we will I sure you but for no medical conditions at all and cost £2k, what’s point in that. ALLCLEAR about only ones that would I sure me and very high indeed but had no choice but to get it in end, could if had another holiday fir price if it. The thing is there are a lot of things on our medical records now that doctors are g explaining properly what we exactly have it Bern found that needs no treatment bug is still there and once insurers see that null & void if not declared. USA takes price up even higher too, so sad it prevents people from travelling to see family the cost of insurance
Hi I’ve just got a quote from them . I have just had an icd fitted . Bit of a suprise to me and I’m going on holiday in four weeks time . They quoted 99.65 not sure if this is good or not . Only came out of hospital yesterday.
I have travel insurance through my bank account too but not covered for existing conditions. As Im going away several this year to celebrate being 60 at the end of last year. I contacted them yesterday. They spent 30 mins doing a health screening and agreed to cover me for an extra premium of £224 for the year. This was almost £100 cheaper than the cheapest stand alone quote I have got from Staysure.
I am a member of the Womens' Institute which costs £41 p.a they offer a group travel scheme to members for £195 p.a. worldwide cover Inc USA with only two conditions. One is that you are not terminally ill (defined as less than 12 months to live) or that you are not travelling against a doctor's advice otherwise no health screening,so much easier. Also you might just like the friendly no they meetings and meet new people and develop new interests.
Hi Steve, thanks for this. All the relevant info that the BHF has on life insurance is on the same insurance page mentioned above: bhf.org.uk/heart-health/liv... If anyone has any questions on this, best thing to do is contact our heart helpline 0300 330 3311 and our nurses will be happy to help. I'll change the title of the post to include life insurance too
Didn't find it too uncomfortable and didn't need sedating so that was good.
But had stent put in after they found 90/100% blockage on LAD .
Apparently I was an awkward patient in a nice way haha because my blockage was in a very difficult place and he said my artery was curved and went up and around. ...would you know what that means?
After the procedure I was obviously monitored but as the day went on I complained I was still getting what I thought was angina pain. ...it's what had stopped me from doing any exercise before I went into hospital (And is something that I love so much and miss)... I comented on it and cardiologist said I was a tricky patient?
I asked him if my left and right arteries are OK and he said there fine...and walked away..
But on the ct scan he saw it showed a very small amount of furing but they said it's nothing and we have dealt with the problem.
I believe I had a drug endured stent put in..
Once again I fall into the "sods law of patients as the called me haha...fit lost 2stone swimmer runnerving gym goer none smoker or drinker...cholesterol was a bit high at 5.7 a month before surgery but I got my tryglicerides down to 1.3 this week and overall cholesterol to 4.3....The cardiologist doesn't know this
Also because the pain is still there
They then gave me an echogram and another enzyme test...enzyme test came back with score of 4 only 12 hours after stent being put in so that's aparently good?
The consultant checked echo and said all valves are working fine so what I'm complaining of "must be cardio muscular" I've now been put on 40mg Atorvastatin that have already started giving me side effects...
Ticagrelor 90mg
Lansoprazole 30th
And the obvious Aspiin 75mg
My question is why am I on such a high dose of statin when original cardiologist who saw my ct scan put me on 20mg
Secondly could this still be angina I'm feeling even though he said he's said he's said he has dealt with blockage.
Or are these post stent pains as its only been 2days.
Im so desparate for answers
Im not a tablet fan and I just want to get back to my fitness soon but with no chest pain..Im what people call a fidit arse! Sorry! But you know what I mean.
I was 16.10st and now 14.1st so have done everything I can along with diet
I had very similar experience. I was fit and started getting chest pains. In the end had a stent in my lad in Jan. Ever since had chest pain off and on. Contacted gp twice who would not see me and told me to go to a and e. Both times kept in for a night, had ecgs and tropin blood tests. Discharged on both occasions with no further actions. Second time the consultant I saw said it was not heart related. At time it very much feels like it is, but seem a bit stuck now. I don't want to go back to the GP as they will just send me to a and e, which seems a waste of time
Lots of people on here seem to have had a similar experience. Therefore trying to ignore the symptoms now, unless they get worse. Pain is not terrible at all and intermittent and I am back running and cycling ok. Doesn't seem related to exercise directly
I am also on 40mg of atorvaststin but don't mind really. Keeps your cholesterol down and stabilises plaque in your arteries that could break off and cause a heart attack
I am also on a beta blocker and nitrates which I would like to try come off at some point. Beat blocker is odd. Heart rate can't now go about about 140 when used to get up to 170
After recently being diagnosed with heart failure I contacted my travel insurers. After only a few questions about my treatment they were happy to continue my policy with an additional premium of £93, for our couples annual insurance
Hi scotsguy, I'm recently diagnosed with heart failure and hopefully will see a consultant this week. I have a flight booked so your post cheered me up, I thought I would have to cancel it., is it ok to fly ? Jane
I recommed to members that you should always speak to a consultant rather than just answering questions online. I received a quote of £756 for single trip cover on a price comparison website. This was reduced to £299 by speaking to AllClear.
Hi.I was quoted £148 for a four night stay in Brussels via Eurostar. This was from Staysure. Just for four nights!!!! Terrible - cost a lot more than the holiday.
Like all of the other corespondents I applaud this very useful information. My bugbear with getting Medical Conditions Travel Insurance is the hoops that you have to jump through to get it. Like most people in this modern age, I start looking online. When you get to the part where you enter all of your existing medical and personal details, you have to go through the same questions in the same order on most sites. In my experience, most of these companies use one of two systems to collect this data. The web pages are very un-user friendly with most selections and options being from drop down lists instead of allowing the user to “cut and paste” from elsewhere to speed thins up. The systems behind the collection process must be different as I can get different quotes after answering the exact same questions. It cannot be beyond the wit of Man/Woman to create a “Personal Health Profile” that can simply be updated if required and then uploaded to the Insurance Providers for quotes. Off topic I know but the same logic applies to lot of Car Insurance companies.
Hi just wondering where I would get cheap insurance if I’m allowed to fly as I have heart failure and having a icd fitted soon
Hi there, there's a few companies that have been recommend by BHF supporters you might like to check out: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo... Hope this helps.
May I ask; If one is travelling to a European country or Switzerland does the EHIC (European health insurance card) available to British subject until 31st October 2019 not cover health insurance, obviously with restrictions?
Hi Saffron63, from what I have read the EHIC would cover you for emergency treatment but not planned treatment or private health care ( nor repatriation costs) so it’s recommended that you have both.
I have found the cost and availability of cover seems to vary considerably between the companies on BHFs list, so it’s really worth shopping around.
Being aged 75 having HFPEF,two leaking valves and prostate cancer I could not find an insurance co. who would take me on. I travel in EU land and use Eurotunnel, and when I asked them all they wanted to know was if I was terminal, ( I am not) and fit to travel ( I am ) job done, a reasonable premium as well. Perhaps this might help someone,
I don't know Denise, but believe it is Allianz you can ring Eurotunnel and they will put you in touch with them. Providing your conditions are stable and your doctor will confim you are fit to travel you are covered. No questions or forms to fill in. Just back from France, and happy with the cover. Geoff
Hello Helen Thanks to you and the Team. For all your continued help and topical posts. Can i suggest to everyone to ask for a copy of your medical history from your G.P. I was recently given my full medical history. 2 years ago. Seen pyhsio about back pain. Said i had stiffness in my hip also. But on my medical notes it said Arthritis. Which would have probably made my insurance void
Hello Helen_BHF. I would suggest to everyone to get a copy of there Medical History. From there G.P. I was given a copy to take to hospital. Cause i needed a Pacemaker rather urgently. They gave it me back. On checking. There were problems i had forgot. Plus a recent back problem. I was told by Physio. I had a stiff right hip. But my notes said Arthtritic hip. Which is different. You would not mention stiffness on ins quote. But would mention Arthtritis. Hope this helps people. BRIAN
This is part of an ongoing experience...
I've enjoyed Athsma for quite some time, and more recently have enjoyed Arthritis in the form of Degenerative Demescus (cartlidges giving out in both knees).
We booked with a particular insruance company - BECAUSE they talk about specialising in insurance for those with pre existing health issues.
Long story short, about a month after we booked, I went to see my GP because I thought my Asthma was playing up. I foiund myself beign whisked off to A&E in an ambulance direct from the GP's Surgery and enjoying a 4 day stay in hospital - after which I was disacharged with an ongoing prescription for Diuretics.
3 months later I get a letter asking me to attend the local Cariology unit at the hospital at which I was told I was suffering from a heart failure - of which one of the effects was that I could no longer fly.
Now, they haven't declined our claim (for a once in a life time far flung holiday), but we are now on our second round of jumping through hoops and getting another copy of all my medical records to continue the 'consideration of our claim'.
It is bad enough we never got to enjoy the holiday, or the long haul flight on an Airbus A380 (my ultimate travel experience I can assure you, love that plane even though only been on it once), but now we have to contend with an insurance company who are not helping with the 'do not let yourself get stressed or worked up - you have to look after your heart' aspect of my health care.
I've had to make a coupleof insurance claims in my 50+ year life time, and I've never had to deal with this sort of clinical 'customer service' that makes me feel like a criminal, intended or not.
My point being - do your research, ask ALL the questions - and be prepared to pay the price for that hassle free quote. After all - insurance is about covering the 'what ifs' and if 'sh*t should happen'.
I may yet get my money back from the insurance people, but based on the current experience, my TripAdvisor rating would not be above 3, more likely to be about 2!
Hi Helen, Thanks for the above,I have written before how we eventually got Travel Insurance from Nationwidwe after Staysure refused to re-insure us. One company wanted over £ 4,000 for worldwide insurance, we finally paid £ 307 to cover my conditions,and then £13 / month. There are companies who say that they cover medical problems, but when you disclose them up goes the premium until costs more than the holiday.
Good morning Helen. I too have had problems trying to get travel insurance since being diagnosed with Angina last October. My then insurers Staysure, took over six months to pay my claim for medical treatment, and then refused to allow me to renew our policy. I tried looking online and was asked to pay over £4,000 by one of the recomended insurers. Eventually I went to my bank and am glad to say that for an intial cost of £240 to cover my medical conditions and being 81, we now pay £ 13 per month and we now have Worldwide Insurance. So in your case it might be a good idea to ask ypur bank for their help.
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