Travel Insurance with cover for GPA

[Beaver]

Hi I am looking for suggestions for travel insurance going to Europe & possibly on a cruise next year. If anyone has had the unfortunate experience of having had to make a claim would be really interested to know their opinion

Thanks

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

A lot of people on the Vasculitis UK Facebook group have found StaySure good to go with for pre existing cover, and handling vasculitis well. However I haven’t tried them myself, and can’t comment on the claims process. Hope you have trouble free trips and don’t need to claim!

[AndrewT in reply to vivdunstan]

Yes or maybe or 'Fish Insurance' and 'Insure With'.

AndrewT

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

The Vasculitis UK charity has this page which may be useful for you:

vasculitis.org.uk/living-wi...

I’ve always insured myself with Freedom in recent years. I could do all the medical screening online, and they even had primary central nervous system vasculitis in their database (the 1 in a million type I have). However I’ve never needed to claim with them, so can’t give input on that. They weren’t operating for a while during the pandemic, but are back now.

[Beaver in reply to vivdunstan]

Thanks will have a look

[Investigator1]

Hi Beaver. I am insured with Staysure and had to make a claim when we had to return from Scotland due to testing positive for Covid. I am CEV so had to return for Covid Antibody treatment and of course the moral issue. I made a claim the day after (June 23rd) and I can honestly say it’s been an absolute nightmare. The operatives you talk to will continually tell you they will sort it out but the people who handle the claims are a different company called Davies Group. After a week I called them to ask what is happening and they said still awaiting documentation. I sent my Covid Tests, it went quiet again and I rang them again to be told they needed a copy of the NHS app report. I did that and received an email from them saying they had received all the documentation and would be settled within 10 working days. That was 12 working days ago. Find another insurer. Hopeless.

[Beaver in reply to Investigator1]

Thanks will definitely not go with them. Its actually one I was looking at so thanks again

[Main1234 in reply to Investigator1]

Thanks a worry as we have always used them when travelling to the US . Never had to claim thank goodness. Not travelling abroad due to Covid at the moment .

Hope you are fully recovered now .

[Investigator1 in reply to Main1234]

Looks like I am ok now, then last Monday woke up with loads of floaters in my right eye, went to optician who referred me as I had a torn retina, hospital called and dame evening had laser treatment then again on Friday. Apparently those of us with GPA are susceptible to torn retinas as the damage to the retina can take place prior to GPA diagnosis. I am hoping that’s it for a bit for me now, talk about treading water. Keep the faith. Nick.

[Main1234 in reply to Investigator1]

Definitely the disease that keeps on giving !

[SmileySunshine]

I have used travel insurance 4 medical and its quick and easy online. I haven’t had to claim so can’t comment on that. I called them when I had a medication change. They were quick and efficient and updated the policy.

[Beaver in reply to SmileySunshine]

Thanks will check them out

[Investigator1]

Hi Beaver. An update re Staysure. I called them again last Thursday, that was then 15 days. I had enough, when I finally got through after 45 minutes, the insurance person said I hadn’t sent all my documents like hotel receipts, I told him I had downloaded onto the portal and he commented saying “your not the first person to say that” so I did it again. I then received an email stating the excess was x 2 because there was 2 of us and the £652 would be paid into my account. I am still waiting. I had received 2 emails saying they had got all my documents and to do nothing as they would contact me if they needed anything else but they just sit on it hoping you will give up. I don’t know whether there is an underlying reason why they life so difficult or whether they are simply incompetent. I have spent 4.5 hours in total trying to get through then another 15-20 mins explaining to them. I will see the policy out till December then I will drop them