Travel Insurance Dilemma...

[SteveT2]

Hi, I am a newbie on here. I am currently looking for travel insurance for a USA holiday.

I had an heart attack 5 years ago resulting in bypass surgery. That’s easy to declare. However, since that heart attack, over the past 5 years I have very occasional random incidents of what my doctor thinks is sinus tachycardia. It was caught a few years ago on a holter monitor and the medical advice was that it was not a dangerous rhythm, although a definitive diagnosis was not actually given.

As this was stopping me getting back into my sport of cycling, I recently raised this again with my cardiologist and he has now implanted a loop recorder. This is due to the random nature of the problem that can be many months apart and tends only to occur when I get back into sporting activities.

That means that from an insurance point of view, I am technically under investigation. If I understand it correctly, any condition that is under investigation but not diagnosed is not covered by any insurer. So if a condition is suspected (Sinus tachycardia) and we declared it as a condition would that condition therefore be covered?

Most insurers appear to be loading the premium heavily for an undiagnosed condition, but they don’t cover that condition. That’s like charging me more, but giving no cover, and importantly leaving me un-insured for the thing I really need cover for!

Does anyone have experience of travel insurance whilst being fitted with a loop?

Many thanks

Steve

[gal4God]

If the issue has caused problems in the last 2 years state it to be on the safe side as u have bee to it doctor for it or mentioned it in a routine doctor appointment.

[Lezzers]

I would tell the insurers exactly what you have written on here & let them make the decision. All Clear are very good for heart conditions but it's never gonna be cheap if only because of the high costs of medical care in USA.

[skid112 Heart Star]

hi

there is a pinned post here, healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

should help with the questions and give you some pointers where to look, how to get your gp to help with the form

[Pamela-bsl]

I've used Staysure for my holidays, they know of all my health issues and the premiums have always been reasonable. I'm also travelling to the States this year, it will be interesting to see if I have a massive additional premium as my current policy is primarily for travel within Europe.

[clarehealsworldwide]

If you have a female partner living with you..... She can join a local Women's Institute group & then immediately insure herself and you with the WI group travel insurance company Open Travel. They don't ask your medical conditions. £195 p. for annual worldwide multitrip insurance. You can download their policy terms & conditions on Google.

[daisy2311]

Hi Stevet2, I was in the same position last year with investugation for SVT. The only insurer that would cover me was Goodtogo Insurance...they were brilliant. I recently took out another policy with them covering this condition and others.. the policy for myself and my partner was £46.00 and last year it was £120.00. They seem to be the only sensible insurer out there for me.

[SteveT2]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Travel Insurance 4 Medical took me on and the rates were very fair (£220 for me and the other 3 family members worldwide annual). An interesting side point is that when you are asked about ongoing investigations during the quotation, there is an information box that clearly states that 'A loop recorder is not considered to be further investigation or treatment' I declared it seperately anyway just to make sure I am covered. Thanks to everyone for you input. We got there in the end.

[junik53]

I recomend TRAVEL INSURANCE 4 MEDICAL.Just make sure you tell them about ALL your ailments going back years and that could still affect your health.I went with them mostly for having my H.A. in Feb this year,never dreaming that I would have a problem with anything else.However I did tell them that I have a kidney stone and that it hasnt caused me any problems for the last 8-10 years.Thank god I did as when returning from Spain and traveling through France towards Caen with our caravan I was rushed to hospital with severe kidney pain and it turned out I had an infection in the kidney caused by the stone and sepsis.I was in hospital for 3 weeks,and as you can imagine the cost of all the treatment came to nearly £1000,(EHIC CARD only covers you for the emergency treatment)You are charged for every scan/blood test/drugs.Allthough the forms you have to fill in are a little daunting ,everything was dealt with very quickly and just waiting on the actual payment now.My policy cost £96 for a 5 week trip.so great value,and a good result.