Health insurance

[YvesSanLeShake]

Anyone know a company who might insure me??

[Chelle_]

I think they have information on the BritishLiverTrust website....But if you put insurance in the search bar above you might have some of your answers pop up there....I know lots of people have asked the same questions...Good Luck!

[RodeoJoe]

Good question. I had cirrhosis and am now post transplant. Prior to transplant and before being on the list I did do some research. I can't remember the details, I can't remember what the payout would have been but I remember the monthly premium was way more than I could afford. In the region of £300. I assume it's similar now I'm post transplant. However I'm working now and part of my package is a payout of about 3 times my salary, I think many employers have similar.

Liver disease and life insurance aren't a good mix.

[Hidden]

Depends on what you want insurance for. Travel is possible, house and car no problem at all, life insurance less so. If you are in US, you would find it a challenge to get health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions.

[matt137]

My company broker approached all the major insurers in the UK, and with a diagnosis of cirrhosis the answer was no from all of them.

I needed insurance to cover my company shares, so in the end I had to discuss the issues with the other directors (not a very nice time at all)

Had to opt for accidental death cover in the end.

[matt137]

But like RodeoJoe said, i can still get 'death in service' cover through the company.

[Hidden]

Hi,

The British Liver Trust keep a current list of insurance companies who cover chronic medical conditions and whilst we are unable to guarantee they cover every liver condition,there may be one that will help.

If you'd like the list, please email [e-mail]

Warm wishes

Rebecca

[RodeoJoe]

Sorry my previous answer, I was referring to life insurance. Health insurance is a different kettle of fish. In general I'm sure you will get health insurance from any of the big ones like PPP Axa, Bupa etc. However I'm certain there will be the caveat that it doesn't include any current illness, not sure how useful that will be to you?

I was able to get health insurance from a job many years ago. All employees irrelevant of previous conditions were given insurance at the standard premium. I was lucky enough to get that and have kept it up ever since. However it's usefulness has been limited. All of my liver transplant procedures were done under the NHS, I stayed in a normal ward as I was advised that that was where the consultants and specialist nurses were more on hand. The only benefit I got from the procedure was a £50 or so overnight compensation.

The one time health insurance did come in handy was for my transplant assessment. I went down hill really quickly I was worried I'd miss an opportunity due to health to get on the transplant list. The normal ward was full so I used a private ward. Apparently that saved me about 10 days.

[findasolution in reply to RodeoJoe]

If taking out health Insurance`it is in my view always essential to study the small print very carefully and in particular to obtain a good understanding of the 'definitions'! The concept of "pre existing medical conditions' is probably well understood but it is equally important to ascertain and know about "chronic conditions" and how they will be dealt with under the terms of the Insurance.

I suspect that symptoms and medical conditions that only occur and diagnosed after commencement of the insurance will clear the pre existing conditions hurdle so that the the initial costs relating to diagnostics and stabalisation will be covered but if that condition is one that is catagorised as "chronic" ( applicable to most liver disease conditions and definitely cirrhosis) then subsequent costs of ongoing treatments and monitoring etc are unlikely to be covered, depending of course on what is said in the terms and conditions pertaining to how chronic conditions will be dealt with.

I have had private health insurance for many many years and at commencement i had no pre existing conditions: however when long afterwards I was diagnosed with AIH which turned to Cirrhosis my experience was that as outlined above. I have also checked with most of the leading health insurance providers and ascertained this is fairly standard.

All my treatments etc`for both the AIH and Cirrhosis have been via NHS (excellent service and attention in my view) and like Rodeoje I have also been considering what the benefits to me are of maintaining health insurance cover are .

Regards

[RodeoJoe in reply to findasolution]

Yes very true as a chronic illness I found I had to jump through hoops to maintain that the illness was progressing. For the regular 6 month consultancies it just wasn't worth the effort and I went NHS after a few. This was many years ago now, but I believe I saw the same consultant regardless and just got a nicer waiting room with tea, coffee facilities.

It's worth to me is questionable, but I keep thinking that the day I give it up something will happen to me that private health care would help with. Perhaps expensive cancer treatments that aren't done on the NHS!