Travel insurance?

[Flitchick]

Now the dust has settled since my HA, I’m starting to worry about my travel plans for next year. In particular, I’d planned to go to Florida next November for my 25th wedding anniversary and I’m hoping that the insurance premium isn’t going to be so high it prevents me going. Has anyone else tried to get travel insurance to the US less than a year after their HA? I’d just like a ball park for whether the travel insurance is going to be unaffordable or just wincingly expensive! (And any recommendations for good companies to approach would be excellent)

Thanks in advance

[Gail1967]

I used the post office not for US but a cruise which attracts higher premiums ordinarily- and it was very affordable 6 months post heart attack and bypass

[Flitchick in reply to Gail1967]

That’s worth checking out. Thanks for the tip.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I've gone with StaySure - taken out an annual policy for World Wide cover (except USA) for £270. It will be more than that if you include the USA. They aren't the cheapest, but it's worth remembering that if you have a health condition the small print is very important as regards what the cover is if you need to claim. A cheap policy that does nothing for you is pointless

[Flitchick in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

It seems I might have a few options, which is very encouraging. I don’t mind paying a bit for top cover, but I was worrying that it would all be priced way out of my league.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

SpiritoftheFloyd has already mentioned StaySure. Another good company is AllClear. It cannot be stressed enough that you have to check the small print.

[Flitchick in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes, I’m mentally clearing a whole day to research and read, so I get it absolutely right.

[Cookery1960]

I have aviva travel insurance maybe an idea to try them

[Hidden]

I spent 3 weeks in Canada after 3 stents. Insurance with stay sure was £600...peace of mind

[PogoLogic]

Hi. I had angioplasty and wanted to go to the Carribean about 8 weeks later for a holiday. I initially had a few refusals, then found Covered2Go who insure you in 2 stages (beware of this). You choose a level of cover for your general travel insurance, and you also have a phone interview with someone who understand medical things/medication and then tells you how much the medical cover is as an addition to the policy. I have just renewed annual cover with them and paid around £550 in total for Worldwide inc USA Platinum level of cover.

The holiday was fantastic, a great way to relax, forget a bit and recover.

[GeorgeAlexander]

We’ve used All Clear for an annual policy and have the USA covered. It’s cost us about £450 for a family of three, my husband being the one with the Heart Condition (AVR and Aortic Root Replacement)

[Brokenheart19]

Hi Flitchick, had HA in May and went to the states in July (8 weeks) bought annual policy with All Clear - really good and clearly state cover in policy. It was hot (as expected) I took water everywhere in an insulated bottle which helped! Have other complications CKD/asthma and less than a year from a complicated leg fracture too. I paid less than £500 which was miles cheaper than quote 3 weeks after which was £1800. Tell them everything that way they cover everything. M

[NorthantsSteve]

I’ve been to the states post heart attack + stent. I’ve just used usual comparison websites and because I’ve had no further chest pains or symptoms they only charge a marginal increase in fee. Hope you have a great time.

[Flitchick]

Thanks everyone for the useful advice. It seems I have more options than I’d originally thought. In the New Year I will take a day and research, read small print and commit! This website is such a help.

[Maisiemay13 in reply to Flitchick]

Hi Flitchick how did you get on with travel insurance? Asking as I am off to New York beginning of March for 5 days for my 65 have PAF and just on meds had appt with cardiologist yesterday and just said I sometimes get a pain in chest when walking fast he has now referred me for a CT scan so I know I will need to advise insurance company when I look for cover(have it with my bank at moment but know that they will go sky high when I tell them) so any advice will be welcome before I start looking

[Flitchick in reply to Maisiemay13]

Hi Maisie. I haven’t done anything about it yet. I’m still trying to claim on my current policy for cancelling a trip to India later this month, and I need to see if I can afford to pay a supplement to go on another booked holiday to Egypt, which the medics have said I will be fit for, so I’ve put off checking for cover for my trip to the US in November!

One tip I can pass on is that, according to a friend who had health issues, (not heart related) is that ringing up and going through the health screening on the phone rather than online seems to have worked out better for some reason. Not sure why that would work but it certainly did for my friend.

Good luck. Let me know how you get on.

[Maisiemay13]

Hope you get your claim sorted, I am going to leave it as close as I can to when we go so that hopefully I would have had the CT scan,I will let you know how it goes

[Speakeazi in reply to Maisiemay13]

Hi I’ve just renewed my cover- rather an ouch as we are going to Canada in August. But it did remind me, insurance companies don’t like anything that’s being tested or any unresolved issues.

In spite of having cover for a holiday last year Stay Sure wanted to drop my cover when I told them I was having an annual review appt on my return. So I cancelled the appt as it was a private one and then there was no issue.

Hope you get your appt sorted and anything diagnosed before you have to talk to them.

I suppose we have to remember the most important thing is to be diagnosed, treated and be healthy!

[Flitchick in reply to Speakeazi]

It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it, that getting insurance is so hard, when I feel that after my stent fitting and because of all the tablets I’m now taking, I’m probably much less of a risk than I was before my Heart attack!

[Flitchick in reply to Maisiemay13]

I share your view that leaving it as close as possible is probably the best option.

[Maisiemay13]

I know I am concerned had an echocardiogram in July all was fine I just happen to mention on Friday discomfort in chest when walking fast so now another monitor and CT scan with follow up appt 20/3 which is after I am back from NY !

[Speakeazi]

And I’ve just remembered I had an eye thing at the start of last year... That’s another call to the Staysure!!