Travel insurance for person with high blood pressure

cacti

I am searching for travel insurance to the USA for my 75 year old husband. He has had mild high blood pressure and is still on course of tablets, one tablet a day. The bood pressure is now under control and is normal. He does not smoke, is extremely active and has very low cholestrol, the doctor called it 'frugal'. He has no other medical problems. The trouble is when I mention high blood pressure to insurers they usually double the premium. They seem to have no grading of the condition. My husband's blood pressure was never dangerously high and he had blood tests etc and nothing was found. As I say he is extremely active and plays competitive table tennis in a local leagie. Is there any insurance company that will not immediately up the premiums considerably as soon as high blood pressure is mentioned? Is there any company that will take into account positive factors and not just negative ones? I have tried Saga, Flexicover Direct and Insure For All.

moonrakerz

cacti wrote: »

He has had mild high blood pressure and is still on course of tablets, one tablet a day.

The trouble is when I mention high blood pressure to insurers they usually double the premium.

People with "mild high blood pressure" may have twice the risk of falling ill on holiday.

You need to understand what the actuarial risks actually are.

High blood pressure IS a risk and any insurance company will cover themselves against that. They will have taken the "positive factors" into account, all the things you were asked asked and said "No" to.
Sorry, but it is a fact of life when you are getting older !

cacti

Thanks moonrakerz. I will just have to 'bite the bullet' and get the insurance. I am only 60 years old but becuase my holiday depends on my husband I also have to pay more for my insurance. I understand what you say but from my experience of other people's holidays, the only people I know who have needed to claim on their insurance have all being below 60 years of age! I have been diverted twice on planes for a medical emergency and both times they were people in their 40s.

jonesMUFCforever

cacti - your response is of no consequence to an insurance underwriter.

Do you have a bank account - the ones that offer travel insurance as a 'freebie' for a monthly fee?!
If you have - then some offer travel insurance up to 80 years of age but you will have to disclose your husband's condition (or rather he will - they will only speak to him - DPA and all that) - they may well cover him for a one off extra premium which might be a lot cheaper than what you have been quoted (if you have got that far).

It may also help your case if your GP can write a letter confirming that in their opinion your husband is fit to travel.

MrsMW

I have just got insurance for myself and DH, both have high blood pressure and I have other conditions. DH is 65. I got the insurance from M&S, the cost was £77 for single trip to Europe.
Might be worth giving them a call.

dgregory

MrsMW wrote: »

I have just got travel insurance for myself and DH, both have high blood pressure and I have other conditions. DH is 65. I got the insurance from M&S, the cost was £77 for single trip to Europe.
Might be worth giving them a call.

That sounds pretty good - didn't you have to complete a form or were you just able to answer over the phone?

One application form I saw states "If you don't tell the insurance company that your blood pressure is being treated and anything goes wrong, you will not be covered for any illness related to your high blood pressure and may not be able to claim money from the insurance company.