Holiday insurance!!! : Hi all you... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Holiday insurance!!!

Debbiewallis profile image
17 Replies

Hi all you lovely people!

Just thinking ahead to hopefully Spring next year but when it comes to holidays does anyone have any tips as to best places to get Travel insurance?... Seems so unfair that you then have to be penalised by having premiums raised through the roof for something you had no control over!!

Deb x

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Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis
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17 Replies
ELI55 profile image
ELI55

Hi Deb,

We used "insurewith.com" for a holiday to Cyprus, our first post-op venture abroad. We then used their sister company "holiday safe.com" as they are cheaper once you have reached a couple of years post op. As my husband's medical history included a lot more apart from cancer, I phoned rather than applied on line. The agents were very helpful. We actually managed to get annual travel insurance last year - world wide, including Canada and the USA for £212 for the both of us, including all the medical extras (and with a cancellation of up to £5,000 per person). I will definitely use them again. Apparently the aim is to tailor the cover to your personal medical stage rather than a blanket add-on due to cancer.

Hope you are planning somewhere gorgeous!

Elaine

Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis in reply to ELI55

Hi Elaine

Thank you so much for that , it’s really helped cheer me up and given some hope of a relaxing holiday in the sun once he’s able !

Deb

champagnelover profile image
champagnelover in reply to Debbiewallis

I found it useful to check out travel insurance on Martin Lewis's website. He has some useful tips. I then tried completing a couple of online travel insurance to get an idea of the differences. There are quite a few companies who will insure you. My husband has a few heart related issues too but in the end we took out insurance with Covered2go which for us had the best & cheapest cover ( we are cruising in the Caribbean so costs more) Looking forward to a holiday helps recovery Good luck and have a good time!

ELI55 profile image
ELI55 in reply to Debbiewallis

I resisted the idea of going abroad for quite a while - the idea of dealing with food issues and dumping problems abroad did not appeal (well terrified me actually). We have since been to Dubai, Mauritius and Thailand, making the most of things before we get too old. I just plan and do my lists of things to make it easier and we started off not too far away and for not too long. We also don't do all inclusive, unless there is no option as it is a waste of money given the amount he can eat. Restaurants have been very accommodating about providing smaller portions, and we just take life at a slower pace that we used to and try to request rooms that are handy for the main amenities (although I failed miserable in Phuket last March - it was a 10 minute trek to breakfast)

One hint before contacting insurers or agents is to write down all medical conditions, medications taken, dates in hospital and visits to the doctor. The medical screening can be quite intense and it helps to have all the details to hand. I came unstuck at one point as I was asked if my husband had been in remission for 2 years - it may sound stupid, but in all his check ups this wasn't a term that had been used. I ended up having to contact his oncologist (very happy to help) as I didn't want to jeopardize our cover by making a mistake - agents are very quick to catch on to any hesitations and you do need to be very certain about what you are disclosing.

I will certainly check out some of the other companies mentioned too as they are new to me so thank you for that.

Elaine

There is some information from the Macmillan website:

macmillan.org.uk/informatio...

Telephoning insurance brokers can be a very helpful way forward.

Quicksilver_1 profile image
Quicksilver_1

Hi there. I would second the comment about going through Martin Lewis' website moneysavingexpert. Navigate through the travel insurance link and you'll find links to the specialist comparison sites for pre-existing conditions as well as a mention of other brokers not featured within the comparison sites. The main thing is to make sure you have enough cancellation cover. Prices do vary wildly.

Good luck!

bigemu profile image
bigemu

Hi

For the first year I felt ripped off as well, with some "fantastic" quotes often more than the holiday.

Now I hope this is not advertising but I then went to Barclay's opened a standard bank account which currently costs £15pm

They covered me within this fee for free world wide travel cover, breakdown and lounge access for both me and my partner.

everything was disclosed including several other medical conditions without batting an eye lid.

Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis in reply to bigemu

Thanks that sounds brilliant, I had been told that by someone else actually but I didn’t think the information could possibly be right !

Golf1910 profile image
Golf1910

I have used world-first.co.uk for past 2 years and found them very good cover and cost wise compared with others.

LibbyT profile image
LibbyT

Great question Debbie! I'm sure there many of us with problems with crazy holiday insurance hikes! Not only do I have a few health probs (nothing major thankfully) but also reaching 75 so the price is hiked up once again! Thank

you to those who replied such useful information

DaveChuter profile image
DaveChuter

speak to Maggie at the Opa as we have a list of insurance companies

Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis

Thanks once again for all your knowledgeable advice !🛫

Beatrice90 profile image
Beatrice90

I found Insurance With great for the first 2 years. Now I am 4 years post op and we have our current flex plus account with Nationwide which is £13 a month and covers both of us for worldwide including USA and Caribbean. The medical screeing is not nice when you are made to feel like a number and they are ticking boxes! But both Insurance With and Nationwide were very understanding and treated me like a human being. Good luck! Enjoy your hols. Love Angi xx

Gillybeans profile image
Gillybeans

I recently went to visit family in Spain and used insure and go ,

They were very good when I needed to make a claim as as well as having barratts and various other illnesses that I informed them of . It was very reasonable plus they treated me so well when I had a heart attack day before I was due to fly home . It took a few weeks before I could be repatriated but flew home with a doctor and ambulance waiting to take me home ! Couldn’t fault them xx

Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis in reply to Gillybeans

Omg you poor thing ...that must have been horrendous! So pleased you made it home , and thanks for the info !

Deb

ANGIEH profile image
ANGIEH

Hi try Penguin got it from Money Saving Expert. The even have dumping syndrome in there drop down list . Was half the price of others an cover is good.

Hope this helps.

Regards Angie

Debbiewallis profile image
Debbiewallis in reply to ANGIEH

Thanks Angie ...i’ll Look them up !

Debx

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