Recommendation for travel insurance for the US

pred02

Hi,
Traveling to the US and Canada next week for 3 weeks and looking for recommendations on decent travel insurance that covers medical in the US. I have two pre-existing conditions (had kidney stones years ago and high cholesterol) - all controlled but really looking for a policy that if I need to get hospitalised in the US I won't be in fear or them not paying out. Having lived in the US and knowing the medical costs there want to be cautious. 

I also seen used based plans like Diplomat America, but they do not cover pre-existing conditions such as kidney stones.

Thank you

Sandtree

Most UK travel insurers use an almost identical medical screen process/system however outcomes can be very different depending on the insurers risk appetite. Its mainly a case of selecting a few companies that you trust and offer the levels of cover you want and going through the long process of getting quotes.

US/North America attract higher premiums given the high cost of medical care but nothing special beyond that.

pred02

Thanks. I acknowledge the health screening process is similar. Just looking at Insurer that will use T&Cs or fine print to try to get out based on experience. The cost of care in the US is very high so want to avoid stress, significant out of pocket. 

Sandtree

pred02 said:
Just looking at Insurer that will use T&Cs or fine print to try to get out based on experience. 

All insurers use the T&Cs to determine what will and wont be paid so its more about selecting the insurer with the appropriate T&Cs for your needs. 

Unfortunately most people buy insurance based on price alone and then when the ultra budget policy doesnt respond they blame the insurer for hiding behind their T&Cs. The real blame sits with the buyer much of the time but people dont like admitting their own mistakes/laziness. 

For example, though not Travel, Admiral Car Insurance are unusual in two ways:
1) Optional extras have to be declared as modifications
2) Modifications are not covered
Both these points are clear on Admiral's quote and buy system

Look over in the Motoring & Insurance sections of this site and you'll find a host of threads based on complaints about Admiral weaselling their way out of claims for modifications that werent declared or total loss settlements that dont consider modifications.

Travel insurance is more nuanced than Car insurance but both lack any real "mid net worth" type policies that you could potentially buy with comfort of that this market is serviced to a higher standard. I've seen a few brokers offer "high net worth" travel policies but never enquired into what those look like as the levels of cover mentioned relate to hiring private jets etc which is a little out of my price bucket.

twopenny

Some time prior to the pandemic the company All Clear was recommended by someone who'd been in the business, for pre existing conditons but it is not the cheapest.

It also seems ot have good Coronavirus cover. Taking into account who you are travelling with and their need to stay with you maybe. If vaccinated then hopefully it will be the isolation and new flight costs more than treatment.

Add that to the US supplement they all have and it won't be cheap but may give you peace of mind.

I haven't read the details and T&C's because it wasn't for me to use but may be worth a look.

It's more important to cover for things that happen while in the US than here because treatment will be a lot more expensive than your holiday.

alfmurph

My wife and  i both over 60 bought world wide travel insurance including usa from axa for £400 for both of us in september .
We declared illnesses as well . Silver premium . You get bronze , silver and gold .
For the second year in a row [ with different companies ] i have been told they do not sell travel  insurance anymore but have passed their customers to someone else .
Bit worrying for a claim but they say no problem .
Last year company never even made a refund offer although no one was travelling .

IvanOpinion

I have been trying to sort out global travel insurance for next year.  Between us we have several 'everyday' medical conditions and a some others to declare.  The price from our last policy (in 2019) has more than doubled.  I found some reasonable quotes on MedicalTravelCompared but found that Aviva was coming out the cheapest for us.

Some of the old favourites that we used to get quotes frm are over 4 times what we last paid.