We have been planning to go away (booked since dec 2018). This was before my wife had the diagnosis. Unfortunately we hadn't arranged travel insurance at that point as we had only paid the deposit.
The Onc says it is a little early to say 'Yes! Definitely you can go on holiday'. However She is feeling much better and the Onc agrees that providing everything keeps going in the right direction she will be well enough.
So that leaves the challenge of Travel Insurance. The big sticking point here is the word 'Terminal'. As in 'Is your condition Terminal'. I spoke with the doctor asking their opinion of the difference between 'Incurable' and 'Terminal'. And they were of the opinion that Terminal is the 'exhaustion of treatment options'.
The problem is that Insurance companies seem to be very wooly on this wording. By the definition above, my wife is not living with a terminal diagnosis. Just a sliding scale of expected survival based on known parameters.
I found this comparison site medicaltravelcompared.co.uk and providing I pick 'Not Terminal' and put in the condition I get prices from the likes of 'Free Spirit', 'The Post Office' and others. I have not tried the Terminal option as yet as I don't feel like I need to...
So I am wondering how any of you managed this situation, did you find one insurer better than another, did you have problems with negotiating the terms while being diagnosed with Secondary Cancer?
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It was set up by a lady with mbc who couldn’t get insurance at a reasonable price
Mine cost about £100 for a years insurance cover...they ask loads of questions but there was no way they weren’t going to give me a policy...just wanted lots of details
I’ve used them now on two occasions travelling around Europe
I'm away soon and I'd tried other insurers and got quotes between £350 and £560 for a week in Spain!
I remembered Barbara had recommended Insure With. It was a detailed but easy to answer questionnaire about treatment and I got a very reasonable quote so definitely worth taking the time. Can't remember exactly how much I paid but it was in the region of £35 for a weeks cover, a big difference!
If you are a uk citizen and going to Europe don't forget you still need a E111 card and I'm pretty sure it's still free.
My oncologist has said my condition is incurable but hasn't said it's terminal. I consider that it will only be terminal once all treatment options have been exhausted.
That's a big difference in price! For the price of your original quote, you could have paid for another airline ticket to Spain! You're right that the European Health Insurance card is still free. Mine doesn't expire until 2023.
I also agree with the difference between "terminal" and "incurable". We are able to continue living with this disease for many years to come, just as diabetics, epileptics and people with HIV/AIDS can. It would seem odd to refer to a diabetic whose condition is being managed as "terminally ill", wouldn't it? So that's how I view this disease, unless of course a cure comes along!
Just go on holiday and have a great time! Your wife certainly needs it. I am facing a new metastatic diagnosis myself, after 17 years NED. I asked the onc yesterday about planning for our annual two weeks in London this November. He said, "certainly, start the planning". There is nothing about a diagnosis that should keep you from having fun. I think that our worst hurdle may be dealing with portable oxygen, if I happen to still need it by then. Other than that, there is nothing to prevent anyone from finding the right tools to take on holiday.
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