Travel Insurance

[Chloebw]

Hi I am waiting for unexpected surgery for heart valve replacement.

I am going on holiday in June and I wondered if anyone had advice on travel insurance companies who would cover me possibly while I wait for surgery?

[Happyrosie]

it’s most unlikely that anyone could cover you because it would be difficult to price the risk.

Like if you wanted to insure your new ford card but had not decided which actual car.

[Chloebw in reply to Happyrosie]

thank you! Will just have to take it easy!

[fishonabike in reply to Chloebw]

i agree with Happyrosie - insurers ask if you are in the middle of a course of treatment and waiting for urgent surgery would put you in that classification

also most insurers won't cover you within 6 weeks of surgery or before you have tha "all clear" from the follow-up appointment

you should probably cancel the holiday

[Hanibil]

Try Avanti

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You could try a comparison site for travel insurance with pre existing conditions and take it from there, or a local broker to see if any provider is willing to take you on. However with an upcoming major procedure you might find you have a very limited choice, assuming providers are interested in the first place. And be aware the GHIC card only covers reciprocal health care in some countries and does not cover rescue, repatriation and cancellation, and the cost of others who may be forced to stay with you should you suffer from an 'event'.

[Traveldreams]

had the same issue last year waiting for surgery, cancelled 3 trips as nobody would cover me understandably.

[Buddy00]

I have just renewed my annual policy with All Clear . I’m still on the waiting list for an operation as I was when I first took the policy out last year. They will insure me but not for cancellation cover . Give them a try. Good luck.

[survivorsguilt in reply to Buddy00]

Definitely try Saga.

[hanne6263]

Try Total Travel Protection. They covered me (for an extra premium) when I was on a waiting list for an ablation last year.

[WoodlandLover]

0333 005 1066. Insurancewith.com

I am also waiting for heart surgery now. Last year, before I was put on a surgical waiting list, they covered me to go to Crete for a week, for £86, with all the facts to hand. Their underwriters specialise in trying to help people with serious health issues who otherwise wouldn't get cover, without taking financial advantage of them. The late Nicky Newman recommended them. They covered her to travel when she could, even though her terminal cancer was well publicised online.

Worth a try, and wishing you good luck with everything!

[Thanksnhs in reply to WoodlandLover]

I use them all the time but they won't insure if any diagnosis is within 6 weeks of the departure date. I had booked and paid for a break to Spain in December and unfortunately got diagnosed with cancer three weeks before the date my surgeon said I was fit to fly as nothing would happen but they cancelled my policy they wouldn't even insure me for my heart etc I was gutted. Char

[WoodlandLover in reply to Thanksnhs]

Oh goodness, that was awful for you. I am so sorry. Did they refund your premium?

[Thanksnhs in reply to WoodlandLover]

They did, I will still use them as I find the price is really good against a lot of other companies, I just got a shock when they cancelled my policy. I took the risk and went on my ghic card, not that I would recommend it in case anyone needed re patriation but at least I would get treatment, thankfully everything was fine and we had a lovely time. Char

[roughquest]

Sorry to be blunt, but I’d focus on the recovery not the holiday!

[WoodlandLover in reply to roughquest]

Sometimes, depending on circumstances though, the two are positively linked.

[Digger0]

Did you already have travel insurance booked? If so, contact the company and explain the problem. I would not depend on the GHIC for cover, as you may need a repatriation flight.

[Elguajiro]

Hi Chloebw, As you are only young check Bank accounts that provide Worldwide travel insurance, you still have to inform them of pre-existing conditions and they will charge extra on top of their monthly fee but it may be worth it for worldwide cover over 12 months

[Choccie55]

have you tried InsuranceWith.com?

[Pholly122]

I was wondering the same, so thank you for your recommendations 😍

[Lovelib]

hi , I’m waiting for an ablation and had trouble getting insurance for that reason . I eventually managed to get it with “all clear “. They were really helpful . Good luck

[Kiki54]

payingtoomuch.com.Good Luck!

[Chloebw]

thank you all!

[joesmith123456]

What is your attitude to risk? Travel insurance is important but not essential in all countries. Germany, Scandinavian Countries, Spain for example all have excellent free emergency care for UK and eu citizens. Without insurance your travel companions would have to pay for accommodation if they stayed with you if you were taken into hospital. There are other concerns such as repatriation if that becomes necessary - as i say, it depends on your attitude to risk. Like most of us on here, there are times when we are uninsureable for our health condition. Whilst I'm not advocating traveling without insurance there are options. Many insurance companies will offer insurance with your current condition excluded (LV for example) You then need to decide if the country you are travelling to can care for you in an emergency. Dare I say that in a number of other countries you won't be waiting 4 hours for an ambulance or sitting 12 hours in A&E if you present yourself there. So do a little homework and find out about what is available with your GHIC (EHIC)

[Ennasti]

CoverMore will be your best bet. They’re one of the few who will cover me. Exxy but worth it for peace of mind should anything happen.