Ibrutinib 2021

Hi, I was diagnosed nearly 6 years ago. W and W until starting Ibrutinib, February 2021.

Vainly looking for travel insurance. My own policy will cover everything but my CLL because for cancer you have to be in remission.

Any suggestions of Canadian Insurance companies who may cover me.

[guzzifan]

Hi Vlntr,

I can sympathise with your situation. No-one wants to know you when you mention CLL.

Over a period of several years, I got travel insurance for about 3 trips to Europe - with medical cover including CLL as an approved pre-existing condition - with a company called Bupa. I am in New Zealand, but Bupa is an international healthcare company based in Denmark, and insures people all over the world. They had fairly tight conditions - as I remember, your clinical condition and medications needed to be unchanged for the previous 6 months, and your doctor had to certify that you were fit to travel, and so forth. I have no idea how that might have changed with Covid-19.

I am not connected with Bupa in any way, but they were the only ones who would insure me. They reimbursed me with no problems when I got a minor injury requiring hospital treatment in Portugal (nothing to do with CLL).

If you google them you can find out who their agent is in your country. I had to use an insurance broker to find them in NZ. Good luck, and please let us know if you are successful finding travel insurance.

Cheers. -Jim.

[Hidden in reply to guzzifan]

Thank you Jim!

[Vizilo]

I am in pretty much your situation. W&w for seven years until March of this year. Still no symptoms but on Acalabrutinib because of severe neutropenia. I live in Ontario.

Up to COVID, I had no problem buying annual travel insurance at minimal cost. But my experience was that if you change one answer on the insurance questionnaire, namely whether you are in active treatment, you would be automatically declined by the mass insurers.

I know you can buy insurance with almost anything with specialty insurers, but at a huge cost. I am not planning on travelling until it’s determined that cllers have at least some immunity with vaccines and perhaps boosters.

You may consider asking the local cancer support group (eg Wellspring in Ontario and Alberta) whether they know of any insurance company with reasonable premiums for stable cllers under treatment. In the alternative, you might consider self-insuring ie going without coverage and paying for any medical costs yourself. This would restrict you to going to only those countries where medical costs are not exorbitant for visitors (you might need to exclude travel to the US and Mexico, for example)

But I don’t deny that it’s a huge concern for us. We travelled 2-3 times a year before COVID and I dread looking for coverage if and when we get back to “normal”. Please let us know if you find a reasonable alternative.

[Hidden in reply to Vizilo]

Hi, I will continue to look for insurance. Right now I look and feel fine. My son and his family are in upstate NY, so close yet so far! Friends and sisters are telling me to go anyway. I’ll see.

[Vizilo]

If they are only a few hours driving distance from the border, it may be worth the risk once the borders are open

[Hidden]

Yes. Although I could fly, I’m nervous about that although I’ve had both covid shots, especially now that I’m learning the covid vaccine may not be effective for CLL patients having treatment. 😖 I’ve alerted my son that we need to talk about this. They’re all looking forward to seeing me soon because they have moved to a place with a pool!

[Golden12]

During watch and wait I have had full travel insurance coverage from the Alberta Motor Association (AMA/CAA). When I was under 60 I didn’t need to answer a medical questionnaire. After turning 60 I still could access reasonably priced coverage having one cancer. I believe that obtaining coverage is more difficult for those whose primary cancer has spread to a secondary one.

Good luck in getting travel insurance! I’m also looking forward to the day when travel is a safe option once again.

[Hidden in reply to Golden12]

Thanks, I’ll try CAA.