I hope you’re well and doing your best on your various journeys.
It’s been 5mths since my emergency triple CABG and recovery has been slow but it’s one day at a time.
I was considering booking a little trip away as a little treat hitting 6mths and my Doc saying I can fly again but I’m absolutely flabbergasted that my travel insurance has gone up nearly 11times as a result of declaring the Op with the BP and Cholesterol meds. It’s utter extortion. I did expect an increase but not 10+ time more; maybe double?
I wonder if any of you are able to recommend a sensible travel insurance company if at all possible.
Grateful for any advice.
Stay Strong!
Love Dee
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Dee717
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We are all different with different requirements, especially if you have pre existing health conditions, so I suggest you read this, which will help you find the best fit for you.
Yes, I’m having same sort of problem. I had an emergency pacemaker fitted last year and I have booked a short holiday and the insurance for a weeks holiday has risen from £35 last year to £255 for a weeks holiday this year, presumably because of the pacemaker.
I had a triple CABG in November. I've just bought an annual multi-trip policy for my wife and I (worldwide excluding USA). My additional cover because of my medical condition cost £600. That was with Allianz, Staysure was more expensive. Someone who had also had a CABG told me it is worth trying Nationwide if you have an account with them
I’ve been told numerous times that it actually works out cheaper to do annual insurance. My husband and I both have things on the insurance ‘list’ namely CABG and a lung condition, but Tesco covered us for a sensible rate. I know not all insurance is equal but as far as I can see it all looks good. I don’t know if because your CABG is more recent it makes a difference but my sister just had a TIA 4 weeks before her holiday to Dubai and the increase wasn’t too great with Tesco.
I took a weekend trip to Spain . I took insurance through Benenden , I was happy to be talked through the application by phone and get a members discount. Nstemi & quadruple bypass covered 👍🏻.
Hi I use insurancewith.com they specialise in pre existing conditions, I have had a heart transplant and I also have arthritis, osteoporosis and the price was fine. I have never claimed so I don't know how good they would be. I am definitely going to struggle this year as I had bowel cancer surgery a month ago and we had booked our holidays before diagnosis, at the moment I have no further treatment planned so I am 🤞 that I will get insured but not holding my breath. I wish you well in getting your holiday booked it sunshine definitely aids recovery. Char
Hi Dee, someone mentioned Nationwide, they have a bundled bank count which includes travel insurance. The cost is £13 per month, but includes many extras like car breakdown insurance and phone insurance, it is good value for money. I personally don't bother about travel insurance in most countries as a GHIC will cover your hospital treatment throughout Europe for free (Google GHIC). It doesn't cover repatriation (dead or alive), but does cover hospital treatment in the country's national health hospitals I.e. not private. I know a few Dr's who say the treatment you get is better than the NHS, and have experienced this is Cyprus. I did go to Canada last year so declared my bypass to Nationwide and had to pay £100 extra to cover me worldwide for a year. Moneysavingexpert.com for info on best bundled bank accounts.
I have a qualifying bank account with the NW, and, like others will have been, was recently informed that they are changing providers from UK Insurance to Aviva on 1 May. So I tried to contact Aviva through NW but found it impossible to get to talk to them about cover for pre-existing conditions for holidays after 1 May. And when I talked to Aviva themselves (through the normal channels) I was told that they had nothing to do with the upcoming NW arrangement, and further the stand alone quote from them it was really expensive, almost twice as expensive as the one from Puffin who I used. And if you have several health conditions as I do I found in previous years that it was cheaper to go elsewhere for two separate weeks in Europe than take out the extended NW cover, although that clearly will not apply if you are a frequent globetrotter. Anyway it will be interesting to see what happens after 1 May, but if my experience with the normal Aviva quote is anything to go, by upgrades for pre-existing conditions will be expensive, although if you have none (which doesn't apply to most on here) at least you won't have to pay the additional £65 pa if you are aged 70 or over.
Yes, like you I had the same email about Aviva. As, at that time, I already had the extension, I was told they would contact me on the annual renewal date. I certainly don't hold out much hope that they will be as cheap as before. If that is the case, I will take NW to task and see how I get on. That said, I only advised of the CABG as I was going to Canada which isn't covered by the GHIC. As I said before, if I travel within Europe, I don't bother about insurance, despite having it through the bank. I haven't needed to claim because I use the local NHS equivalent and I don't go if I think I'm about to die 🤔🥴🤣🫢
"I personally don't bother about travel insurance in most countries as a GHIC will cover your hospital treatment throughout Europe for free (Google GHIC). It doesn't cover repatriation (dead or alive), but does cover hospital treatment in the country's national health hospitals I.e. not private."
Your life, your choice.
But the problem you potentially face is having an issue abroad, say a stroke, receiving treatment but then being discharged while still unfit to travel on a commercial flight, and possibly without an airline even willing to bring you home.
Unfortunately that's not an uncommon scenario. If you can drop the £20k++ for a medical repatriation without re-mortgaging then all well and good, otherwise you need insurance.
There's also issues with GHIC. It doesn't cover all countries in Europe, it doesn't automatically cover medication, and I've heard reports of very differing service levels in different countries. There's also problems with transport in some locations, some Greek islands or Gozo in Malta for example, where you can still be exposed to a big bill just for getting you to a local hospital.
I'm not being a wet blanket, despite a heart bypass I sail a yacht well off-shore, fly across oceans, and take cruises far from land. All decisions that place me many hours from help if the worst should happen. That's my choice, and we're all free to make our own choices. Just we should make those choices in full possession of the facts.
I think they've all gone up massively. My son rang me last night asking for advice on companies and he only has one medical condition if you can call ADHD medical. His had increased 8 fold from last year. I sent him a list of all companies that are mentioned on her. Just search for travel insurance.
Insurance is a competitive market, and the premiums are sadly simply a reflection of the risks that we all face as members of this club that no one wants to join.
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