SLL/CLL travel insurance questions

[Freedom202]

when you complete the questions for a travel insurance quote, why do they ask if your SLL/CLL was diagnosed before or after your 60th birthday?

[scryer99]

My guess is they want to know whether there’s a possibility you are on FCR chemotherapy, which I believe is no longer standard of care if you are older than 60, at least in the US.

[Freedom202 in reply to scryer99]

thank you for replying. I’m not sure if that’s the case in the UK but it’s good to know

[GMa27 in reply to scryer99]

FCR still used up to age 65.

[scryer99 in reply to GMa27]

Yep, I had the age wrong:

ajmc.com/view/nccn-updates-...

No idea then.

[Indie1234 in reply to scryer99]

I’ve always thought that if you were diagnosed before 60, maybe you would need treatment. There is no real rationale for my reply. Indie

[Wifey21]

Never seen that question on any of the quotes my husband sought.

[Harvist]

I have no idea either but I sort of assumed that the length of time without treatment might be relevant? Every travel insurance I have ever sought has included that question Wifey21

[richardp]

I've never thought of " why" before! Is it because , as I understand it, it is more likely you will be diagnosed after the age of 60 and, therefore, if diagnosed before 60, there are other implications.

The good thing is that in the UK the identical set of questions are asked by all travel insurers.

[Edalv]

I really don’t know, but maybe they are trying to calculate how long the applicant has had the condition to estimate the risk. When I applied for a long term care policy 6 years ago they wanted to know when I was diagnosed and if I had any prior treatment. Since I was in W&W, they approved the policy, I got the impression the insurance company was much more concerned with dementia than CLL, which is much more expensive to care for…

[Arts116]

I know the answer to this! Diagnosis before age 60 implies that you have a more aggressive disease. Typical age of diagnosis is 70.

[Freedom202 in reply to Arts116]

thank you. Not exactly great news for me but at least I know the answer

[22446688 in reply to Arts116]

Hi, would you be able to make us aware where you get this information from? We have researched this throughly and have never read this. Only aware that certain genetic mutations may indicate a faster progression? Thanks

[Keepkicking in reply to 22446688]

I'm not going to spend time looking, but I can confirm that I've heard/read this statement before-- as I was surprised no one was supplying the answer before Arts did.

[akirsch973]

Hi

It is based on survival rates and age at the time of diagnosis. The average age of diagnosis is about 65+ years. If diagnosed much earlier, then the likelihood of long term survival is lower. If this is the situation, then the cost of travel insurance is probably going to be more expensive.

[Lk919]

My actuarial friend explained it to me once, it was dull so I forgot 90% of what he said. Something to do with pooling insurance policies with others and the risk to that pool losing money. There's probably some random statistic for those diagnosed under 60 (more likely to try scuba diving or off road BMX???)I don't think they will be taking long term prognosis into account for your 2 weeks in Tenerife.

[Freedom202 in reply to Lk919]

Sounds amazing but probably not viable in the UK