Travel cost cutting tips for older travellers/those with pre-existing conditions

Jazzy_B

rosie383 wrote: »

I just take it as a given that I would not be covered if something was to happen with mum when we are away. I doubt if it would be worth looking into a company that would cover cancellation if mum suddenly got worse.
I would be looking to take out annual cover through a cashback site, to reduce the cost.
Does any one know what I do to speak to the company before I take the cover? Because I would have to go through the cashback site direct to get the money, rather than doing it by phone. Has anyone ever found a quote, spoken to the insurance people to get an agreement of cover, then used a cashback site to buy the cover?

I got cover for a pre existing condition via M and S website, using Topcashback. The premium for 18 days was nearly £400, and I only got £4 back, but it was better than nothing, and Mand S was the cheapest cover I could get.
If you're not sure of the loading that would be charged, try online quotes for pre existing conditions. Very few of them are listed on cashback sites though. Hopefully you'll find there's no additional charge. An alternative is to take out an online policy. You then have a cooling off period to cancel. In that time , you could let them know about your circumstances. If there's no additional charge, then you'll have declared everything. If they say you're not covered for the additional conditions, you can cancel and start looking again.
Good luck

Incapuppy

Jazzy_B wrote: »

The premium for 18 days was nearly £400, and I only got £4 back, but it was better than nothing, and Mand S was the cheapest cover I could get.

It does pay to shop around with travel insurance. My OH and I have several pre-existing conditions between us (his trivial, mine not so) and for the sake of spending a couple of hours phoning around I managed to save myself £800 (and several insurers refused to cover me at all).

Jazzy_B

This was my quote after shopping round extensively. Most of the quotes I got were over £1000, and several would not offer insurance.

rosie383

Thanks for that.

Maisie

stormrogue wrote: »

I have recently booked an annual policy to cover myself and my wife with just me needing cover for my Diabetes. the prices I was getting quoted were ridiculous some going as high as £300. In the end I went with Columbus Direct who I have used before and got a good price of £74.39 . Last year the wife and I used a single trip policy through another agent when we went Las Vegas and that was around the £70 mark so I am quite happy with Columbus.

I got a quote from Columbus and on reading the summary of cover they sent found they did NOT cover loss of money/cards etc. When I queried this they said most people were more concerned about the medical cover and not loss of money etc.

Check your policy to see if your money is covered.

In the end I got a quote from Nationwide that covered pre existing medical conditions and money cover and was cheaper than Columbus.

dacouch

They are right most people do not require cash cover on their Travel Policies as their home insurance policy already covers them for money and credit cards.

Incidently the Nationwide policy does not cover cards just cash up to £300.

If a credit card is lost or stolen your credit card company normally hold you responsible for the first £100 unless you have acted very irresponsibly

a.thomas

I am currently trying to sort annual travel insurance for my mother - aged 75. Following some of the leads on this page I have found that Lloyds and Columbus Direct do not offer (or at least I can't find it) insurance for people 75 and over.

She has pre-existing of angina/heart attack/bypass so it isn't proving easy as you might expect.

Anyone any ideas. I currently have quotes from Bradford &7 Bingley at £176.63 (excluding angina) and Nationwide at £319.35 including angina.

Thanks

dacouch

I think columbus do off cover upto age 99, you couls also try Free Spirit and Citybond.

Bearing in mind her heart problems it would be worth going on the Heart Associations or similars website as they will no doubt have a company that is more sympathetic to heart problems

suekay

janaltus wrote: »

As a mobility-impaired disabled person with several pre-existing conditions, you'd think that the last place I'd find good travel insurance would be the BMC (British Mountaineering Council) but they offered me excellent rates (they are particularly good for annual policies that includes the US and for longish duration.) Also a lot of insurers will not touch you if you've had cancer (no matter how long ago it was or how successful the treatment!) My cancer treatment was successful and finished over a year ago so I was accepted without any extra premium.

You have to join the BMC to benefit from these rates but they do discount membership rates for many people (U18 / Student / Unemployed). Plus they send you nice magazines with beautiful vistas (so I can imagine what it might be like to climb a mountain. :wave: Well, I am entitled to dream, aren't I?)

The link is here. I hope it is of some use.

Many thanks for the link which I just used to insure DH and myself for the year at the standard price of £133 worldwide, plus £30 membership fee. We were previously insured with the Post Office but they moved the goalposts and refused to insure DH as he had raised cholesterol 21 years ago! (well controlled by medication since then)

wendy_gee

lynne17 wrote: »

thought I would like to add my finds... my mum is 81 and had a heart attack many years ago but that is still held against her . the prices were terrible, But I have after spends days looking, thought i would share the following which are brilliant prices, avanti came up £125 for two weeks in canada and for spain for a week £31 with EHIC plus both are good and covers her pre-existing condition, hope this helps someone

I have just queired insurance for Spain for my parents 80 and 81 and both are well controlled with pre existing conditions, I have been quoted £38 with Global has anyone any experience with Global