Health insurance for travel to Europe: I’m sure you... - PMRGCAuk

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Health insurance for travel to Europe

Laineydee profile image
33 Replies

I’m sure you experienced people will be able to give some advice here. My husband and I are thinking of possibly venturing to Italy this summer and I am wondering how prohibitive travel insurance might be, and if there are any companies which are particularly recommended for people with our condition. I’m exactly a year on from my PMR diagnosis. I’m currently reducing to 7.5 mg and managing to maintain a fair range of activity. My understanding is that when steroids are mentioned, the premiums shoot up.

Any help or recommendations with this would be much appreciated.

I read the postings on this site every day and although I rarely take part, I’ve found the information and advice invaluable in helping me to manage this illness.

Thanks, Laineydee

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Laineydee profile image
Laineydee
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33 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Shouldn’t be too expensive -even with my GCA back in the day the company were more concerned about my osteoarthritis.

Not sure where you got the info about steroids raising the price..

Comes up regularly so try looking at related posts for suggestions.

Just make sure you have list of meds or copy of prescription in hand luggage as well as meds in original boxes… plenty of resting built into your days -but most of all enjoy

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

It didn't make much difference for travel to the USA and other such countries like China and Japan. The USA is by far the worst because of the potential costs there.

However - there are still some reciprocal arrangements:

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/health...

but the EHIC never did provide comprehensive cover - what it did do was make insurance cover for the EU less expensive.

Laineydee profile image
Laineydee in reply to PMRpro

Thank you for this information.. I am looking into the EHIC card too.

Mack100 profile image
Mack100 in reply to Laineydee

If you haven't already got an EHIC issued before the end of 2020 and still in date you won't be able to get a new one, new rules post brexit.

"Since 1 January 2021, the deal negotiated by the UK government allows those issued with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before the end of 2020 to continue to use it before its expiry date. If you’re travelling to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, your EHIC is no longer valid. We still strongly recommend taking out travel insurance, regardless, to cover all eventualities."

moneyhelper.org.uk/en/every...

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Mack100

The link I provided is about the replacement for the old EHIC

jinasc profile image
jinasc

sent a pm.

Maisiek profile image
Maisiek

Hi, I’ve found the cheapest travel insurance cover is through a bank- you pay a direct debit every month and it gives a very high standard of cover. ( I’m with Nationwide - their card also gives you cash abroad without conversion charge). They didn’t seem over concerned about the steroids. Enjoy!

Janstr profile image
Janstr in reply to Maisiek

When I looked at travel insurance that came with cards, non standard conditions ( sorry that’s not the correct term) weren’t covered & you weren’t able to pay extra to have them covered. It may have just been the bank that issued my card

Laineydee profile image
Laineydee in reply to Janstr

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. Much appreciated.

Maisiek profile image
Maisiek in reply to Janstr

It’s with a bank account , not just a card: they’re more concerned about age. And yes car breakdown included.

Chrob profile image
Chrob in reply to Maisiek

Same here ,nothing extra regarding pmr , concerned only about himself and his knee replacement.

Laineydee profile image
Laineydee in reply to Maisiek

Thanks for your helpful information. Will certainly look into this.

Mack100 profile image
Mack100

When our daughter and family lived in the USA we were insured with Staysure. Apart from my PMR we both have basic age related health issues and take medication such as anti-hypertensives and medication for osteoarthritis. Our last premium about 2 years ago which of course included my PMR/steroid medication came to about £795 for both of us, worldwide travel. As pointed out USA travel impacts seriously on premiums.

One thing worth noting is not to have any new tests or test results pending, you most likely won't get travel insurance, they don't like unknowns but seem quite happy to insure for all manner of fully diagnosed conditions.

Laineydee profile image
Laineydee in reply to Mack100

Thank you. That’s really helpful. We have used Staysure in the past too.Your response is much appreciated.

CricketMonkey profile image
CricketMonkey in reply to Laineydee

I’m another Staysurer. Even pre my GCA to be sure OHs osteoarthritis, half-knee replacement, irritable bowel and my asthma and allergies were covered they were the best value, and adding GCA cost nothing or next to (there may have been an admin charge for reissuing the paperwork). I seem to recall the screening questions didn’t even ask what medication I was on: I explicitly asked if they needed to know when I wasn’t asked, but was assured they didn’t!

whitefishbay profile image
whitefishbay in reply to Mack100

Wow. That is expensive. I used to have Staysure but it was @ £120 ish but every time I rang them they charged me £20.

Mack100 profile image
Mack100 in reply to whitefishbay

Did your cover include the US for that price?

whitefishbay profile image
whitefishbay in reply to Mack100

Yes. It was yearly cover including USA and I have things that bump up the price: asthma, PMR, had heart surgery (1971), Hypothyroidism, Glaucoma, Deafness. Boy I sound decrepit. You have reminded me to update my cover....Bon voyage.

diana1998 profile image
diana1998

I went to Spain every year to visit family and it made no difference to my insurance and I was on a much higher dose of pred then. But things could have changed since 2018.

Laineydee profile image
Laineydee in reply to diana1998

Thank you for your response. Much appreciated. It’s so helpful to hear the experience of others.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to diana1998

"I went ..." being the operative term - the UK is now a 3rd country, like the USA.

diana1998 profile image
diana1998

It was through my bank, Nationwide. In fact my travel ins was free and pmr made no odds.

Maryis80 profile image
Maryis80

I have had no problem with PMR and travel insurance. Also had. DVTfour years ago which I have anti coagulants for. Try Avanti travel, seem to be good but you never know until you have to claim! Currently on holiday in Slovenia lovely

Mazxstitch profile image
Mazxstitch

All Clear Travel Insurance is excellent. Started using them in 2015 after my husband had a heart attack.They don't make a fuss about my PMR.

Pawscat11 profile image
Pawscat11

My Mum aged 90 has PMR among other including depression and 3 replacement joints things. The PMR didnt make any difference to her travel insurance with Insure and go. She going to Italy in June for 10 days. Premium was £119. At her age I thought that was reasonable with repatriation etc. All declared health problems included.

Daffodilia profile image
Daffodilia

I added PMR to my travel insurance with Saga before COVID and it cost £1.20 extra

Suffererc profile image
Suffererc

I added PMR when asking for a quote and it made no difference. Not life threatening 😊

whitefishbay profile image
whitefishbay

It won't be that expensive (but it depends how many other issues you have). I buy yearly overseas travel insurance (incl USA) and it was @ £120 ish with Axa but shop around. Bon voyage.

Polymialgia profile image
Polymialgia

PMR doesn’t usually increase premiums, but you could get a quote from ROthwell and Towler on 0345 9080171, I’ve used them as they specialise in pre existing conditions and they have beaten all other quotes

LBM1953 profile image
LBM1953

I'm with Lloyds and until recently had free worldwide insurance for my wife and I until age 80. They now charge me £14.95 per month which includes other benefits (car breakdown and lost key cover). PMR combined with hypertension added ,£80 per annum. Either one alone would does not add any premium. I looked for equivalent cover elsewhere and got nowhere near the premium I am paying.

Pt4rmigan profile image
Pt4rmigan

Hi

I actually asked my insurance company about PMR and got a written reply that it would have no impact on my travelling or the price. Result! I don't know whether other insurance companies are so good.

Swdai profile image
Swdai

I have found SAGA very competitive and they provide comprehensive cover including COVID .

Flivoless profile image
Flivoless

My Wife and I went to Spain recently - it was the week when UK weather was great but the rain in Spain stayed mainly wherever we decided to go 😡. My Wife suffers with a range of problems including heart and thyroid and I suffer with PMR. After a fair bit of research we obtained an affordable quote with good cover from Staysure Insurance - Staysure.co.uk.

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