Travel Insurance for Specific Conditions

poppy_f1

think it might depend on the condition tbh

courtjester

Good value depends on your point of view - you may find that buying the cheapest simply means you have the most limited cover - you get what you pay for.

Obviously, avoiding travel agents own offerings is a good start because they load them up with so much over-blown profit margin.

Ultimately, you must ensure that the pre-existing condition is declared and properly covered - this is where it will be impossible to compare insurers as if this is more than just a simple condition, individual underwriting will be required.

We use this company for wintersports in Europe and their rates are very good for the comprehensive cover provided - contact their medical section to delcare the condition:

https://www.travelplandirectinsurance.com

mightyreds

hi

I have a fractured scaphoid (bone in wrist) and I'm looking to purchase travel insurance.

Any suggestions where I can look? Post office said I could take out a standard policy but would not be covered for my wrist.

Should I just go with this one?

Thanks

courtjester

Doesn't sound like an issue unless you intend to take part in any activity likely to result in further injury owing to this vulnerability - you should declare any condition in order to avoid having a claim for the medical treatment for that injury you need abroad being declined fornon-disclosure.

I would imagine that most insurers would cover you without additional cost, you simply have to declare it first.

Policies from the PO, banks, travel agents etc are likely to be more expensive and restrictive than those you can find online.

Try https://www.travelplandirectinsurance.com - they have a dedicated phone line to discuss medical disclosures.

sarerb18

Travel insurance


Just thought I would pass this on. I have several existing conditions and found insurance here but even better it was very competitive. I have nothing to do with them and no axe to grind but thought someone else might like to know. They cover all.

Sarer:)

aje789

I have epilepsy which has been totally controlled by medication since about 1991/2 however it is a nightmare to get travel insurance for, which seems ridiculous as it doesn't effect cost of my car insurance. Anyhow I was wondering if anyone can help am needing Worldwide cover (exc USA & Canada) for 75 days - the policy offered by Epilepsy Action's insurers only covers up to 31 days. My other option is not to cover the epilepsy, which I have done before but would prefer to be covered. Any suggestions welcome.

mjon3105

I fully appreciate your concerns; even if you were only travelling within Europe and thus covered to some extent perhaps by the EHIC Card (formerly E111) you need to remember that repatriation costs can be very high indeed; thus the risk significantly increases outside Europe particularly for North America,Carribbean and "far away" like Australia, NZ etc.

I am surprised that the Epilepsy Action's scheme is limited to 31 days as so many of its members must travel abroad for longer especially those who have retired early and travel extensively.

Have you tried https://www.allclear.co.uk and/or https://www.flexicover.co.uk
These are two organisations which have often been mentioned in MSE forums as being "reasonable" when offering cover for travelelrs with previous medical problems. Good Luck with your enquiries but I certainly would be reluctant to risk travelling without such cover especially if you ever plan travels to any country where eitehr the medical facilities are very limited OR cost of treatment is very expensive. An air ambulance from say Canary Islands can cost almost 20,000 sterling so you can imagine what one would cost from somewhere much further afield. A good "off line " insurance broker may also be worthwhile approaching. Whilst cost (of insurance) is an important factor it is not always the cheapest that is best.,as you know. Having access to a 24hours emergency assistance service in uK is essential as well as being insured with an organisation that has an extensive network of agents or offices worldwide so that local hospitals will accept the policy if one needs medical assistance without any need for you to "pay and claim" (unless expenses are "minor").... Good luck.Would be interesting for other MSE readers to know if you are successful in getting comprehensivec over at a reasonable price...

aje789

Well after a lot of phone calls I thought I would post back my findings, might be of some use to others in the future.
Epilepsy Action's insurer will insure me for 75 days after all (it doesn't say it on their website but when I called was told I could get cover) however whilst it is v cheap - £55 - the excess is high (£75 per claim) and my laptop would not be covered even under their personal items - which only stretches to £150 per item.
Another alternative which seems to have reasonable write-ups is Direct Travel Insurance which came in at £175 for single trip if they cover the epilepsy or £59 without or Norwich Union which at £206 would provide an annual policy (inc travel in UK), covers my laptop and other valuables up to £300 per item and the epilepsy or £54 without the epilepsy cover.
There were others - avoid Tesco, AA, Directline - prices ranged between £400 - £550 and at the bottom end Insure and Go would cover epilepsy for £66 on an annual policy but it seems to have quite a few bad write-ups.
So at the moment I am toying between either the annual policy with NU inc epilepsy cover or considering taking two policies - one with Direct Travel Insurance or NU without the epilepsy cover for my personal belongings etc plus the other with Epilepsy Action so if anything did happen I would have medical cover. Has anyone here taken out two travel insurance policies before? Is it actually allowed?

Caroline._2-2

Hello.

I was wondering whether anyone had perchance found an inexpensive policy for the heart condition HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy)?

My dad is going away to Italy for a couple of weeks to see family (so no skiing or adrenalin sports involved), along with my mum who has type 2 diabetes. Both conditions are controlled by medication. They are in their mid-50s, but it's proving difficult to find travel insurance that isn't costing more than the actual flights themselves!! :shocked:

If anyone has any suggestions, then they would be most welcome.
Many thanks in advance for reading this through.
Best wishes,
Caroline.

terry2

I've just been going through the annual routine of getting travel insurance for myself and my wife, to include our medical conditions and so I'm reporting my findings.

we had previously been with cover my travels for about £82. BUT as I've now hit 65 the price has increased substantially to £183.65. so we looked around: cover my travels was almost the cheapest but the cheapest was with the british mountaineer council (with their travelling-only policy) which, including the subscription to the BMC, came out at £158, so we've gone with them (*).

what was interesting is that the other 'cheap' firms mentioned in the MSE article for medical problems were signficantly more expensive (help the aged [intune] and age concern) while saga would only offer a single trip insurance for over £400 (as we were visiting the US).

(*) maybe the BMC should be mentioned in the article.

Cheers Terry