travel insurance for terminally ill cancer patients

Susan1942

Macswan

I am so sorry to hear of your Dad's condition. 14 years ago my Husband died from Gr 4 Glioma aged 56. He lived 12 months from diagnosis. I tried to take him away but insurance was to no avail. In the end I took him to Ireland but knew I was taking a chance that we might need to be airlifted back. We went by car and got home in the same way. We attended the wedding of a young man who also had a brain tumour and he had met in Hospital. It meant so much to both of them that he was there. I would not advise you to go this distance without insurance.
Maybe you can find somewhere in the UK he would like to go to and find a really first class hotel to give him that special treat.
My heart goes out to all your family at this difficult time.

Sue

Moonchild

Please don't take this as advice, or a recommendation, as I do recognise that it could partly be seen as irresponsible.

My partners mum was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She was determined to have one last 'swan song' and visit a few countries in Africa & Asia she had always wanted to see, and family in NZ for one last time. She couldn't get travel insurance for love nor money. So she went without it. She was away for about 3 months in total (with the full support of friends and family).

She had an amazing life-affirming (can I say that?) time. She was determined to this last trip and it would have been churlish to try and deprive her of it. And she had the support of her doctors.

However, she was also lucky that she didn't need treatment, but she did budget for a flight home. Things could have been different, and very expensive, but they weren't.

Susan1942

For anyone who does not know anything about Glioma Cancer. This is a very aggressive and swift form of Brain Cancer more so than other forms elsewhere in the body.
Your skull is a bony structure and this allows very little room for a growing cancer without it interfering with body functions, Breathing movement etc and this can mean a very swift deterioration in anyone condition. My husband was in a wheelchair and he had surgery radio therapy chemotherapy including a clinical trial for a new drug. In the end he got 12 months but without this treatment he would have got 4-6 weeks!
I would be very wary of encouraging anyone to undertake such a long journey without travel insurance. The cost of an air ambulance would be prohibitive.
I am very glad that your Mum was able to fulfill her ambitions and that she managed her travels. You were able to do this for her and to take the risk but it is not for everyone. I am actually a retired nurse so was well aware of the dangers.

My heart goes out to you macswan

Sue

dmg24

Moonchild wrote: »

Please don't take this as advice, or a recommendation, as I do recognise that it could partly be seen as irresponsible.

My partners mum was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She was determined to have one last 'swan song' and visit a few countries in Africa & Asia she had always wanted to see, and family in NZ for one last time. She couldn't get travel insurance for love nor money. So she went without it. She was away for about 3 months in total (with the full support of friends and family).

She had an amazing life-affirming (can I say that?) time. She was determined to this last trip and it would have been churlish to try and deprive her of it. And she had the support of her doctors.

However, she was also lucky that she didn't need treatment, but she did budget for a flight home. Things could have been different, and very expensive, but they weren't.

Did she budget for a normal flight home or for travel home with medical support? The difference in cost would be massive.

OP, I am sorry to hear of your situation. I know of a family who had a trip to Dubai when their father was in the end stages of cancer, and they got cover through an insurer recommended by Age Concern (unfortunately I cannot be more specific). The insurance did provide full medical cover, repatriation etc, but it was as expensive as the holiday (several thousands of pounds).

Moonchild

dmg24 wrote: »

Did she budget for a normal flight home or for travel home with medical support? The difference in cost would be massive.

Not the latter i'm guessing. It was 14 years ago and pre-me.

However, and for reasons that Susan so well laid out, it worked out in this case, and wasn't a recommendation. I'm well aware of the issues that could have resulted from this. But from the photos and the letters, I know how much it meant in the brief time she had left.

Brize

Have you tried this company?:

http://www.pulse-insurance.co.uk/travel.php

They claim to be able to cover 98 per cent of their enquirers but, given the declinations you've had elsewhere, I do wonder whether your father would be in the 2 per cent.

Still worth a try though.

Always_Harassed

Read a recommendation for Diabetes UK on the forum they will insure pre existing conds but at what price I don't know.

Thriftylad

You could check to see if the countries you're father would be visiting have reciprocal medical care agreements wth the UK. In Australia and New Zealand for instance all UK visitors are covered by Medicare. This would at least provide a safety net for medical care but wouldn't cover any medical evacuation or repatriation costs of course.

macswan

Sue Thanks for your kind words, there are so many good people out there, its amazing, this disease is dreadful.

Julie

macswan

Hip hip hooray, free spirit have come back to us and will cover Dad for 2,200 pounds so he can go to venezeula and see the angel falls, the holiday is now booked and insurance paid. It is well worth the money, his spirits have lifted enormously and he has go again and motivated. The staff there have been brilliant and very patient when we thought there was no unitial hope with them. Thank you al for your comments I know some would think to travel may not be a wise idea but it could be his last chance and it is def his dream come true.