I can't get travel insurance - what can I do?

whatwouludo

I know I've posted about insurance before. I'm looking for travel insurance to cover hypertension and back problems.

The blood pressure isn't a problem because it's stable and I have only one tablet. But every company I've tried wont cover my back because I'm currently having physio.

What can I do?

moonrakerz

Who is giving you treatment for your back problems ?
If it is through your GP, ask him if he thinks that you are fit enough to travel. If he says yes, ask him for a letter to this effect (he may charge you for this) and tell the insurance company this.
If he says no - you are stuffed !!

jackieblack

Depending on the nature of your back problem, is it essential to have this covered?

You may find it easier to get a policy that covers everything else, excluding your back condition.

This is what we have done in the past, however it really does depend on what your back problem is and what the potential consequences might be.

whatwouludo

I'm fine to travel. I have checked this.

They wont cover me because I am currently having physiotherapy. I have had physio in the past and am now having it again.

It's apparently 'general' back pain. Sometimes my back can go completely, as in I can't walk, can't sit, can't stand etc. It used to happen quite often, but since my first round of physio It's not happened for 8 months. Normally, it just gets uncomfortable if I sit in the same position for too long.

But if it (god forbid) goes whilst I'm away, I'm screwed.

McKneff

Try top dog insurance, my OH was insured by them, he has no sight in one eye and no preripheral vision in the other, waiting to
see a specialist it with a view to yet another op, they covered him for an extra £25 or so.

Google it, its much easier to get the freephone number off the website and ring them to be honest.

ponymad_3

I have a recurrent back problem and I have been on holiday with it... The very first time it went the doc said I was nt really ok to fly - I still went and just dosed myself up... You don t say what the problem is.. general back pain suggests its not a disc problem or vertebrae problem, but say more muscular or nerve related.
You say you would be screwed if it happens on holiday... What do you really see anybody doing... lets say you had had no problem previously and you went on holiday and then it had happened for the very first time, what treatment would you expect... I can t imagine it would necessitate an air ambulance or hopitalisation.

Therefore you should take the risk, especially if you are travelling within the EU (and maybe that should be recommended, less flight time etc) you will be covered by the EHIC as long as you take.

Having said that I have jsut been arranging cover for my Mum who has a heart problem and used Medici who came recommended on this forum.

zaksmum

ponymad wrote: »

I have a recurrent back problem and I have been on holiday with it... The very first time it went the doc said I was nt really ok to fly - I still went and just dosed myself up... You don t say what the problem is.. general back pain suggests its not a disc problem or vertebrae problem, but say more muscular or nerve related.
You say you would be screwed if it happens on holiday... What do you really see anybody doing... lets say you had had no problem previously and you went on holiday and then it had happened for the very first time, what treatment would you expect... I can t imagine it would necessitate an air ambulance or hopitalisation.

Therefore you should take the risk, especially if you are travelling within the EU (and maybe that should be recommended, less flight time etc) you will be covered by the EHIC as long as you take.

Having said that I have jsut been arranging cover for my Mum who has a heart problem and used Medici who came recommended on this forum.

The EHIC won't get you home though in the event of a serious problem! You would be mad to rely on that alone for your insurance needs.

whatwouludo

ponymad wrote: »

I have a recurrent back problem and I have been on holiday with it... The very first time it went the doc said I was nt really ok to fly - I still went and just dosed myself up... You don t say what the problem is.. general back pain suggests its not a disc problem or vertebrae problem, but say more muscular or nerve related.
You say you would be screwed if it happens on holiday... What do you really see anybody doing... lets say you had had no problem previously and you went on holiday and then it had happened for the very first time, what treatment would you expect... I can t imagine it would necessitate an air ambulance or hopitalisation.

Therefore you should take the risk, especially if you are travelling within the EU (and maybe that should be recommended, less flight time etc) you will be covered by the EHIC as long as you take.

Having said that I have jsut been arranging cover for my Mum who has a heart problem and used Medici who came recommended on this forum.

I know I wont get hospital treatment, just pain killers and wait till it's healed. But if my back goes and the doc says I can't fly, insurance will cover accommodation and a new flight home when I can walk again. When my back goes I can't turn over in bed, never mind walk or sit for any length of time. So it's not treatment I'm worried about, it's the rest.

It's a mixture really, I have lordosis, so my stomach muscles don't support my back they way they should. It's improved a lot since physio, but it will never fully go according to my physiotherapist.

If it happened for the first time whilst I was away it wouldn't be classes as a pre existing condition and therefore would be covered.

MandyLou66

Have a look at Miaonline, have managed to get oh insured for some places in Europe and he is mid chemotherapy. found them on the Macmillan site but they do cover other conditions not just cancer.
Hope to help.
ML

busiscoming2

If you can't get insurance to cover you, obviously depending on how long you are incapacitated for if your back goes, could you not just make sure you have enough money to pay for another later flight and more days in your hotel?

Voyager2002

ponymad wrote: »

I have a recurrent back problem and I have been on holiday with it... The very first time it went the doc said I was nt really ok to fly - I still went and just dosed myself up... You don t say what the problem is.. general back pain suggests its not a disc problem or vertebrae problem, but say more muscular or nerve related.
You say you would be screwed if it happens on holiday... What do you really see anybody doing... lets say you had had no problem previously and you went on holiday and then it had happened for the very first time, what treatment would you expect... I can t imagine it would necessitate an air ambulance or hopitalisation.

Therefore you should take the risk, especially if you are travelling within the EU (and maybe that should be recommended, less flight time etc) you will be covered by the EHIC as long as you take.

Having said that I have jsut been arranging cover for my Mum who has a heart problem and used Medici who came recommended on this forum.

How dare you tell a stranger that he "should take the risk"?

Travel without valid insurance could mean that the person would be ill without access to medical treatment; that their flight home might go without them if they were unable to travel; and so there would be a need to pay doctor's bills, pay for a hotel until they had recovered, and buy a new air ticket. Are you willing to meet these costs for the person taking your advice?