Insurance: Trying to get holiday... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Insurance

14 Replies

Trying to get holiday insurance has been difficult even the 'recommended ones' said no or are ridiculously expensive. My insurance 9months post Ivor Lewis for a weeks holiday in Spain cost as much two return Air Fares. I have been waiting for the magic 2 years when I understood all would be well. So now 2 years post opp and that seems to have changed to 3 years as again it has been so difficult. Filling in many on line forms just to be refused or in 2 cases ridiculously expensive. I was then surprised to receive a call from a representative from one of the firms I filled an on line form, He told me I could have a quote for Insurance that covered everything except any issue raising from my now clear Oesophageal Cancer and treatment. The company is a large National firm, advertising on TV etc. I got a quote for a years world wide Insurance so normal a price to what others pay. I accepted this and duly informed my travel company of my Insurance number.

Now 2 days before sailing I have second thoughts, has any one else taken up this offer?

14 Replies
Aussiepete profile image
Aussiepete

Hi Cath

I experienced the same problem and ended up buying a full year, multi-sport, family travel insurance from American Express - it cost me circa £440

This was when I was 1.5 years post Ivor Lewis.

A year later they hiked the premium up 15%

I bank with HSBC and explored my insurance coverage with them via my credit card - I had to disclose everything but found that it covered me.

I’ve not had to use it yet but feel reasonably happy that I’m covered ....

in reply to Aussiepete

Thanks, though HSBC have just made my son redundant but he has now found a job that actually gives him a better salary. I will look into a HSBC account on my return

haward profile image
haward

Hi Cath

the worst thing was the online applications. I got through several of these, filling the whole thing, only to be rejected at the end. The waste of time, when you had been careful to tell the truth and answered loads of questions on the cancer, made my blood boil.

We then looked at the MacMillan list, used that, and got cover at a decent price. In 2014, one year post-op, I got cover to travel around the world. It is possible but best that you use the MacMillan list and much easier if you do it over the phone.

Haward

in reply to haward

Yep, such a waste of time when in the early days I found concentration difficult as well. Not all on the MacMillan list would cover me. Will return to the telephone in future its a good point you have made

liz_crisp profile image
liz_crisp

I had a policy like that with 2 excesses for anything unrelated to cancer it was £40 but relateted to cancer it was a ridiculous £1500 which I took out for my son as I discovered that if I was taken I’ll unless his policy covered cancer he was not covered by his own. I was lucky in that I had a travel policy with my bank account before I was diagnosed and for £40 extra a year they cover me as long as I don’t close the account. It’s worth looking to see if you have cover on any credit cards or bank accounts you have.

in reply to liz_crisp

Thanks £1500 is about the cost I was quoted, Have checked my bank account as it does not cover me. Thanks for advice

sidesaddle profile image
sidesaddle

Hi Cath,

i am 2 years IL and we went to spain at 7 months. As you say getting Insurance was very expensive. however we did come across Insurance with.com. This company worked out much better for us and the cost was much cheaper.

Andrew

in reply to sidesaddle

Thanks will seek this one out for next holiday

Npride profile image
Npride

Hi Cathbatley, my only input is to make sure family are covered. Before my husband had OC he had a heart attack and triple bypass, I had insurance through the travel agent for all, then had to upgrade, which they couldn't do. Then there was confusion over having the two different companies with the insurance. I cannot remember offhand who we ended up using but I remember much confusion over who was actually covered, by using two companies, it would mean that if something happened to my husband, we were not covered and visa versa. So I had to cancel the original cover and put all of us on the new one that accepted my hubby. He was never well enough to travel again after and we had a newborn so never saw the perspective of OC I am afraid. I hope you have a lovely well deserved holiday. Good luck with it all.

I think excluding the specific cancer you have suffered from is a standard approach. I have not had this query for a long time, and these numbers may be out of date, but I heard of somebody some years ago who had had good service from JD Travel Insurance (01689 859102) and Manor Insurance 01424 718790.

in reply to

Hi telephoned both numbers still correct office closed at present. Thanks sounds like a short cut from contacting others only to be refused.

Quicksilver_1 profile image
Quicksilver_1

Firstly, well done on getting out there and carrying on enjoying life! There are some comparison sites listed on the Martin Lewis moneysavingexpert site, specifically for pre-existing conditions. Prices vary wildly . Though cover for medical expenses may say £5 million or £10 million it's unlikely you'll need anywhere near those figures, so it's more important to check your cancellation cover. However for me, whilst I've heard of people just excluding the cover for anything to do with their diagnosis, I'm not prepared to put my wife/family through any additional angst sorting me out and my return to the UK in the unlikely event of something happening while away. I'd also factor in whereabouts in the world I was travelling to e.g. USA (expensive) or a remote place. Having said that, most of us on here have a condition that is probably not going to alter all of a sudden, particularly if we're further down the line so to speak. Cover or no cover is a gamble we take and depends on what sort of person you are and if you happy and can relax without it while on holiday. Good luck and happy sailing.

in reply to Quicksilver_1

I am on the cautious side lots of homework to do, Thanks

ELI55 profile image
ELI55

I have a worldwide joint policy with my husband, who is 3.5 years post op. It cost us £212 and includes several medical conditions including his cancer. There is a higher excess of £400 if we claim for his medical conditions, but we consider this "doable" all things considered. We used "Holiday Safe" (a sister company of "Insure With") and they were very helpful and patient on the phone. I had to call back after arranging it, as I had forgotten to declare the pulmonary clots my husband had as a result of his chemo. It cost an extra £5 or so.

It's not one of my favourite jobs, but I prepare myself with a list of conditions, medicines and appointments before I start - luckily it's once a year!

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