Travel Insurance Cost Cutting Tips For Older Travellers/Pre-existing Conditions

Dual

Does anyone with pre existing conditions have thier travel insurer not cover them for their pre existing conditions at all?

My mum is 81 with diabetes, asthma & crohns disease but they are all stable and she has never had any complications with them. The premiums are out of this world, anything between £500-£1000! Its like her paying the same again for her 8 day cruise to the caribbean - she took about 2 years to save up for this holiday - the premiums are truly shocking - but if she agrees to waiver them - its about £90.00 for the basic cover i.e. baggage loss, personal accident, public liability, curtailment etc. She has paid in full for the holiday already so its either lose her money and not go or accept the waiver.

What would you all do?

dacouch

The waiver will also apply to medical treatment / repatriation (Which is very very expensive in the U.S.A and carribean) and curtailment (Coming home early from the holiday).

zzzLazyDaisy

Can I suggest that you try Lloyds TSB (you don't have to have a bank account with them)

The phone number is 0800 434 6369

I am covered for European travel with them. They cover me for all my conditions (diabetes, crohn's, spondylosis/degenerative disc disease, arthritic knee, and fibromyalgia.... ) the cost of annual insurance was about £68 from memory, tho world wide insurance would be more.

Also I am under 60, which I think makes a difference.

Edited to add - no, I wouldn't consider travelling worldwide without full insurance, not for a moment. For example, suppose - heaven forbid - I had a heart attack. There could be an argument that it was related to the diabetes and so not covered. I'm not willing to risk it.

TomsMom

Dual wrote: »

Does anyone with pre existing conditions have thier travel insurer not cover them for their pre existing conditions at all?

My mum is 81 with diabetes, asthma & crohns disease but they are all stable and she has never had any complications with them. The premiums are out of this world, anything between £500-£1000! Its like her paying the same again for her 8 day cruise to the caribbean - she took about 2 years to save up for this holiday - the premiums are truly shocking - but if she agrees to waiver them - its about £90.00 for the basic cover i.e. baggage loss, personal accident, public liability, curtailment etc. She has paid in full for the holiday already so its either lose her money and not go or accept the waiver.

What would you all do?

I would continue ringing round as many insurance companies as possible until I found one with an acceptable premium. I don't think it's worth the risk of accepting the waiver considering how expensive repatriation would be if necessary. How much is she willing to pay in comparison to the cost of the cruise? How much was the cruise and is it a sum she is willing to lose?

It does beg the question though, why was insurance quotes not sought whilst this was in the planning stage? This illustrates why it's important to have your travel insurance in place at the time of booking a holiday.

Did the agent the holiday was booked through not offer insurance? Most unusual if they didn't.

Dual

TomsMom wrote: »

I would continue ringing round as many insurance companies as possible until I found one with an acceptable premium. I don't think it's worth the risk of accepting the waiver considering how expensive repatriation would be if necessary. How much is she willing to pay in comparison to the cost of the cruise? How much was the cruise and is it a sum she is willing to lose?

It does beg the question though, why was insurance quotes not sought whilst this was in the planning stage? This illustrates why it's important to have your travel insurance in place at the time of booking a holiday.

Did the agent the holiday was booked through not offer insurance? Most unusual if they didn't.

Hi Tomsmum

She booked via thomas cook so yes I understand they do offer insurance but it was a group booking of 16 and the organiser just booked the cruise and told everyone to sort their insurances out. Its a nightmare trying to get a decent quote. I spoke to her about it this morning - she says dont worry and to accept the waiver - Ive given her some nightmare scenarios but she says dont worry - how can I not?? The cruise itself with flights and a stay over in Miami cost £989. Im trying to talk her into even using her credit card but she thinks its a cost that just wont be used.

dacouch

Dual I assume the other members of the party have not informed their travel Insurer of your mothers medical conditions. If they have not and accepted any extra premium / terms they will not be covered for cancellation or curtailment for any claims as a result of your mother's medical conditions

jem1276

Thanks to this thread I have used Columbus (through Quidco, 16%) and got my policy from £39 elsewhere to £19.

Am chuffed, thank you :money:

Dual

dacouch wrote: »

Dual I assume the other members of the party have not informed their travel Insurer of your mothers medical conditions. If they have not and accepted any extra premium / terms they will not be covered for cancellation or curtailment for any claims as a result of your mother's medical conditions

I didnt think the group had to - If mum fell ill - I doubt the group will curtail for her - I am going with her anyway - so it will be all on me to stay - at my expense too! Nightmare I tell you.

Weve had another long discussion about it and she said she is signing the waiver and her words "what will be will be" :eek:.

She understands the risks if she fell ill - so I can do no more - Im still gonna keep searching. She budgeted about £120 for insurance - so if I can get one for the £220-250 mark - I'll pay the difference for my own peace of mind - however the cheapest so far is about £560 covering her ailments.

dacouch

Have a look at deleting the baggage cover, if the Insurers offer this discount it will save between 10% and 25%, her home Insurance may already cover her baggage and if not it costs circa £25 to cover it throughout the year and will cover her personal items away from home in the UK as well eg when she goes shopping.

In additon you might consider deleting cancellation cover which can save between 10% and 15%.

Have you tried companies that specialise in the elderly eg Saga, Age Concern etc. It may also be worth having a look on the websites for the Crohns Disease Association and / or Diabetes UK as they often have good schemes

Incapuppy

Dual, the best advice I can give you is to keep on looking. I had quotes last year for £1200 for 2 weeks, I shopped around and around and was about to accept a quote for £400 when I decided to try again and got it down to £200 with this company:

http://www.manorinsurance.co.uk/

They do an initial assessment and give you a 'code' to use for the medical screening agency. I had been turned down before by the same screening agency via a different insurers but managed to get excellent cover; the policy was with Norwich Union IIRC.