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The Roy Castle Support Team
Hi Can anyone recommend a travel insurance company that covers you for lung cancer and COPD for travelling to Spain for 11 days holiday
Hi Unicorn3344
It may be helpful for you to put a new post up, as you replied to our post, no one on the forum may have seen your enquiry.
This link will take you to our travel booklet and on page 32 you will find a list of travel insurance providers: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...
Hope you have a lovely holiday.
Kind regards
The Roy Castle Support Team
0800 358 7200
Mon - Thur 0900-1700
Friday 0900-1600
Thank you
Spain has often been more expensive than other European destinations even when we were part of the EU due to their tendency to send patients to private hospitals (irrespective of any pre-existing condition history). Since 2016 I've travelled extensively and found different companies were more competitive for some routes/destinations than others.... but had to keep taking out individual policies for both work and leisure... until 2019 when I was offered an annual policy by Saga which I took up. Then the pandemic struck and insurance has been really hard to come by with existing respiratory conditions but the situation does appear to be improving.... try Saga, Allclear, Insurancewith, Payingtoomuch.com comparison site, Medical travel compared, Covercloud, Staysure, Get Going. You will have to reveal your conditions as not doing so will render any policy null and void. good luck.
Thank you Janette.I have tried Saga Staysure Nationwide and he has been declined.The problem is my husband had a recent CT scan on 8th April and we are still waiting on the results so most companies have said they need to know the outcome of the scan before they can offer cover.He has an appointment with the oncologist on 5th May so hopefully we will get the results then
That's correct as insurers can't quote for a risk that is unknown which when somebody is awaiting results is the situation. I had this situation in 2017 as only started to travel in 2016 leaving more than 5 years after my diagnosis when I started to travel again as premiums were so high. I'd returned from Vietnam in Oct and booked a trip to Cambodia for spring 2017 but on 1/3 had a bronchoscopy so was considered 'under investigation' as far as insurers were concerned.
In the end I spoke to the consultant's secretary and explained the situation and he phoned to say there was nothing sinister and to go ahead and book my insurance.
I'd been quite anxious as the holiday was quite an investment including multi sites of Cambodia, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia.
We had a lovely trip without incident and I was due to see him about a week after our return when I was fine so he moved my next appointment to be much longer (I think about 9 instead of 6 months).
Less than 2 weeks later I was very breathless, hoarse/unable to speak and drove to hospital in the early hours where they had to nebulise me to even get my details to admit me. I was kept in for 14 nights when it was revealed that my bronchoscopy had resulted in bronchial washings which had 'grown' pseudomonas - an infection resistant to antibiotics and why I didn't respond to the more generic treatments they'd tried so ended up on Intravenous targeted antibiotics, nebulisers, steroids etc. I did wonder what would have happened if this had occurred whilst overseas - as I didn't know and wonder if it would have ever come to light. What it showed me is that we can never tell what might happen with a change of temperature, altitude, humidity levels, viruses/infections - this was in 2017 and my surgery had been in Dec 2010 and diagnosis in Jan 2011 - i.e. several years after my treatment.
I remember quite early on having contradictory information from my consultants - the thoracic surgeon was more than happy to write a letter for me to travel/fly overseas but the respiratory consultant felt it was a risk to be on planes with recirculated air, different climates etc... so I put off travelling for many years but really missed it.
Do explain the situation to the consultant and how you're hoping the holiday will help you both and need the insurance cover. Don't forget to take your EHIC card (if you still have a valid one) and if not, apply for a GHIC anyway.
Thank you Janette .His last scan was 6 months ago and they said the disease was stable so hopefully there will be no drastic changes.I think his COPD is main cause to worry as he has had a couple of chest infections quite recently but his GP is giving us a rescue pack of antibiotics and steroids to take with us if we do manage to get away.We both have EHIC cards that are still valid too so hopefully the appointment with the oncologist goes well next week.Thank you for taking the time to reply and for letting me know of your experience too .Take care and stay safe ❤️
That sounds good - yes, it's the risk from infection/respiratory weakness that the insurers are so jittery about as in many countries they would have to medically evacuate or end up in emergency care. fingers crossed for his next appointment - not long to wait now.
Hi Janette just to let you know my latest news.My husband’s scan has come back all clear.We had an appointment with the oncologist yesterday and he confirmed that the cancer has gone.It’s so hard to believe I don’t think it’s properly sunk in but we are both so happy and relieved.We are going on holiday tomorrow for 11 days and I managed to get him insurance with the post office to cover him for his COPD so getting excited now after all those weeks of waiting for his scan results .I need to get organised now as haven’t even packed yet but just wanted to let you know.I would just like to say to everyone out there to stay positive and never give up.Miracles do happen.Sending love and positive thoughts to all cancer sufferers out there ❤️
What fantastic news for you both. so glad you've managed to obtain insurance for his COPD (which is quite a common condition to declare). hope you have a fabulous time - enjoy and celebrate this latest news.
Thank you x
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