Travel Insurance

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Andy, i tried them for my d

Dad aged 77, for a month in Malta, we has had 2 heart attacks but pacemaker fitted recently and all ok , they wanted £795, his month in Malta at a 4 star hotel is £50 cheaper!

 

Will give some of the others a ring, poss v dear as a month but he goes every year and last year was around £100 :confused:

 

Tried them also Dreamgirl,coming in at £163 in comparison to Nationwides(my alleged free TI) £80..

 

Tried Motobility TI and they are coming in at around £100

 

Age uk were expensive also...

 

My free Nationwide TI with £80 top up is looking good so far

 

Amazing how 1 cholestrol tablet,tabs for pain relief and the use of a walking aid ups the cost :(

[annibear]

We found Top Dog Insurance the best for European Annual Cover this year.

Would only cover us for single trip worldwide but still good value.

British Heart Foundation website recommends various insurers which specialise in existing medical conditions.:)

[highlandlassie]

I have free insurance via my work/bank account - I take one tablet for cholestrol and one tablet for high blood pressure. Both are under control, never thought about informing them :eek:

[WeeCountyMan]

I have free insurance via my work/bank account - I take one tablet for cholestrol and one tablet for high blood pressure. Both are under control, never thought about informing them :eek:

 

I would strongly recommend checking with your travel insurance company on that issue.

 

'Er indoors has had mild asthma since childhood, it very rarely bothers her at all - one travel insurance company accepted that as a pre-existing condition which they need not have been notified of, but another wanted the details in advance.

 

BTW - I'm still waiting for you to tell me which travel agent you use !!!

[highlandlassie]

I would strongly recommend checking with your travel insurance company on that issue.

 

'Er indoors has had mild asthma since childhood, it very rarely bothers her at all - one travel insurance company accepted that as a pre-existing condition which they need not have been notified of, but another wanted the details in advance.

 

BTW - I'm still waiting for you to tell me which travel agent you use !!!

 

 

you mean me, sorry must have missed your post. The one in Greenock

[barnowl1950]

I have free insurance via my work/bank account - I take one tablet for cholestrol and one tablet for high blood pressure. Both are under control, never thought about informing them :eek:

 

Hi there highlandlassie, we will be needing special travel medical insurance for any trips from next year due to my husbands heart attack/cardiac arrest last November.

The two trips we have this year are fully covered as these were booked with TI well before Nov although I have checked and double checked it with them just to be sure.

 

I've spoken to one company so far (insureandgo) regarding travel insurance for next year, I had to give details of every medicine my husband now takes, he's on four different ones including statins, so I would say it's best to get in touch with them about this.

[WeeCountyMan]

cholestrol requires cover on insurance?l like many others have high cholestrol controlled by a tablet per day and have never declared that on any insurance cover.We have free world wide cover through Nationwide

 

Unless I'm much mistaken, the standard free travel insurance from Nationwide, based on their FlexAccount, is Europe only.

 

Worldwide cover requires a supplementary payment.

[WeeCountyMan]

you mean me, sorry must have missed your post. The one in Greenock

 

Aye - and thanks.

 

You did mention a free benefit "thrown in" when you booked, which looked attractive.

 

Thomsons ?

[terry2]

I have free insurance via my work/bank account - I take one tablet for cholestrol and one tablet for high blood pressure. Both are under control, never thought about informing them :eek:

 

I would support weecountryman's advice that you check with the insurance company. Note that usually the firms want to know about the medical conditions you have - not whether they are being effectively treated. Some firms allow high cholestrol and high blood pressure as medical conditions they include in their basic cover, but unfortunately some other firms don't.

You could also have a read of the latest insurance policy to see what they include and what they don't (which can change from year to year).

[highlandlassie]

Unless I'm much mistaken, the standard free travel insurance from Nationwide, based on their FlexAccount, is Europe only.

 

Worldwide cover requires a supplementary payment.

 

my travel Insurance is for world wide - daughter used it twice and no problems

[highlandlassie]

I would support weecountryman's advice that you check with the insurance company. Note that usually the firms want to know about the medical conditions you have - not whether they are being effectively treated. Some firms allow high cholestrol and high blood pressure as medical conditions they include in their basic cover, but unfortunately some other firms don't.

You could also have a read of the latest insurance policy to see what they include and what they don't (which can change from year to year).

 

my Insurance comes free as a perk with my job

[Jim The Scot]

have free insurance via my work/bank account - I take one tablet for cholestrol and one tablet for high blood pressure. Both are under control, never thought about informing them :eek:

 

Ditto,never thought of informing insurance company till I read this thread.I took the advice on here and suggest you do the same highlandlassie and contacted my insurance company and my now free insurance is no longer free.

 

Irrespective if your ailments are under control or not and both BTW are classed as medical conditions I think you`ll find you will not be covered for your pre existing conditions under your free medical insurance unfortunately

 

 

 

 

 

my travel Insurance is for world wide - daughter used it twice and no problems

 

Yep so is ours

 

my Insurance comes free as a perk with my job

 

Ditto

[WeeCountyMan]

my travel Insurance is for world wide - daughter used it twice and no problems

 

We might all be talking at cross purposes here ?

 

Heilan' Lass - do you work for a bank, and is that why you get free WORLDWIDE cover ? Or is it due to your personal bank account ?

 

I presume Jim The Jock refers to a standard Nationwide FlexAccount current account ? That is EUROPEAN cover until age 75, unless Jim has some special cover add on ?

 

I have a FlexAccount - it's Europe only.

 

You generally can't win with a pre-existing condition as Jim has just mentioned. If you don't declare it your cover is liable to be rendered null and void - and if you do declare it you either drop the free cover, or have to pay a supplement to retain it.

 

I have the Nationwide FlexAccount Travel Cover Policy Document open right now.

 

Page 8 - "What you are not covered for (exclusions)" - para 8. A pre-existing medical condition unless declared and accepted by us. (My emphasis)

 

Repeated on pages 9/10.

 

When we opened the account I called UK Insurance Limited (who provide the cover) to declare Her Ladyship's occasional and mild asthma problem. I was advised that one pre-existing medical condition was allowed, however I suspect that is not a general rule permitted by all travel insurance companies.

 

I'm also 99.9% certain that such a dispensation only extends to minor ailments - and it's not applicable to serious or potentially critical conditions.

 

The bottom line is always to contact the insurers for advice etc. well in advance of travelling.

The UKI cover tel. no. for FlexAccount holders to declare a condition is 0845 246 1692.

 

Incidentally, we have "free" worldwide travel cover on our Sainsburys Gold credit card to age 65.

[kalos]

We are with cover for you covers 2 of us annual cover Europe the cost is £156 covers preexisting heart attack, diabetes, cholestral, multiple sclerosis we think it is reasonable includes cruise cover you need to shop around to get a good deal

 

Just a reminder that you all check your cover each year and as well as ailments make sure you are covered

for where you travel to .

 

Some insurance companys do not cover cruises as standard anymore and some have stopped giving cover

on European cover to certain countries .

 

I had to check with my company (Direct travel) if we were covered for Morroco on a cruise ...

" We cover you for cruises as standard and as the ship was in Morroco less than 24Hrs ,we do cover you

should you get off the ship "

 

Not all companies may do this and it would be a good idea to phone and check this out :).

 

Two examples

 

Post office now exludes Egypt and turkey

Cover for you now exludes Egypt, Israel,Morocco and Tunisia

 

Check them policies out folks ;):)

[WeeCountyMan]

Thanks Kalos - I wasn't aware that certain nations were being excluded by some travel insurers for Europe.

 

I suppose it's understandable ref. those countries you mentioned.

 

Is Egypt a blanket exclusion nationwide ?

 

Sharm el Sheik (and other resorts) is far and isolated from the trouble spots up North.

 

Certainly has implications for UK tourists.

[Jim The Scot]

I presume Jim The Jock refers to a standard Nationwide FlexAccount current account ? That is EUROPEAN cover until age 75, unless Jim has some special cover add on ?

 

I have a FlexAccount - it's Europe only.

 

Oops didn`t noticed I had quoted and agreed with highlandlass about worldwide cover,its European cover I have

 

You generally can't win with a pre-existing condition as Jim has just mentioned. If you don't declare it your cover is liable to be rendered null and void - and if you do declare it you either drop the free cover, or have to pay a supplement to retain it.

 

You can keep the free cover without paying a supplement it just means your not covered for pre existing conditions

[WeeCountyMan]

You can keep the free cover without paying a supplement it just means your not covered for pre existing conditions

 

Thanks for clarification.

[highlandlassie]

We might all be talking at cross purposes here ?

 

Heilan' Lass - do you work for a bank, and is that why you get free WORLDWIDE cover ? Or is it due to your personal bank account ?

 

 

 

 

it's both work for a bank and the personal bank acct is attached

[paulaud]

Just a quick warning. Be very careful of cheap holiday insurance. I have been an insurance broker for over 30 years and whilst they all look the same there are some big differences. I have Angina, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure so i know on both counts.

I booked my travel cover with Direct Travel. They are a bit more expensive than the average but the cover is placed with the biggest travel insurers in the World, AIG. They do provide full cover for declared pre existing illnesses. I looked at Tesco this year, they took all the details and quoted me a cheap premium, when i looked they had excluded my declared conditions!

Som of the cheaper quotations are with French Insurers and contain some awkward policy conditions.

 

Anyone else reading this post be warned about buying travel company or cheap insurance unless you have declared your illnesses and have confirmation you are covered. Insurers will take your premium but might not pay your claim. This might not be an issue if you have paid out say £70 for medical treatment for a minor illness but if you are in hospital with something more serious you might not get treatment and more importantly you will not get the repatriation cover that is vital to get you home.

[paulaud]

Sorry i have just read some of the other replies on here. Some tips i assure you are important:

 

1. ALWAYS disclose a medical condition. Failure to disclose these might mean the whole policy is void. At best the condition will not be covered. However, some insurers will not insure you at all if you have certain conditions and depending on where you are going. Therefore not disclosing is not an option. There will be no comfort to your partner when you are in a hospital bed with the UK insurer saying were not interested!

 

2. ALWAYS disclose an illness of anyone travelling in your party. They also need to know if there is a close relative who is ill who could cause the cancellation of the holiday if they deteriorated.

 

3. ALWAYS check which insurance company is underwriting the policy cover. This is not always immediately available and you my need to search the wording. Amazingly even the staff do not always know.

 

4. Be wary of using websites where you put your basic details in and they return the cheapest price. Dont want to name them but there are a few. You know who i mean. Really dangerous if ou have pre existing illnesses.

 

5. Travel companies will always try to sell you their insurance policies. They take big commissions. They will never cover pre existing illnesses unless you declare and pay an additional premium.

 

6. Some Banks sell cover as part of a package with your bank acount. Again no cover for pre existing illnesses unless pre declared and agreed.

 

7. Annual policies are fine but you need to ring them and declare anything that is diagnosed during the period of the policy.

 

8. Carribean is classed as USA. Many insurance companies do not want to cover pre existing if you are going here. (As i found out this year)

 

Happy to answer any questions if you have any concerns.

 

Paul

[okavango]

renewed my annual w/w through age uk a couple of weeks ago,about £280 with various pre/x ,quite happy with that but thought id compare it with an annual eup and one for a specific two weeks for my annual canada trip, the eup came in about £180 BUT the two week one off was a mind boggling £680 , i got the same sort of stupid results doing mock quotes with other companies as well

[barnowl1950]

paulaud thank you for this.....I'm searching around a bit at the moment for insurance regarding my husbands recent heart attack and one company I spoke to the other day gave us a quote based on a 7 night Caribbean cruise March or April next year and yes it was expensive (but our peace of mind is more important) and cover could start 12 months before travelling.

I left nothing out when going through the screening process.

 

Having said that we may decide on a European holiday instead.

 

Now that I've read through your post on here I will be getting in touch with Direct Insurance too.

[barnowl1950]

Sorry for that tried to add countdown clock and messed it up:o

[Jim The Scot]

Interesting

 

cruise ship passenger that fell into a coma looks to have avoided heavy insurance costs

 

A 64-year-old man who had to be induced into a coma after falling ill during a cruise, has avoided what would have been a hefty medical bill, after a dispute with his insurance company went in his favour.

 

Anthony Thompson had been travelling on his own aboard the Atlantic Ocean cruise when disaster struck, with the holidaymakers falling seriously ill.

 

With his condition deteriorating rapidly, doctors onboard took the decision of inducing him into a coma.

 

The cruise ship was rerouted setting off for Madeira and the nearest medical assistance available.

 

The travel provider, P&O Cruises, contacted his daughter, Mandy Browning to tell her of his condition.

 

Yet, as the Daily Mail reports, the story took a sinister turn when Ms Browning was contacted by a representative from CEGA Medical Group, which was acting on behalf of insurer Aviva.

 

They wanted to begin assessment for his health claim, with Mr Thompson racking up £23,000 in costs.

 

"The representative from CEGA was very unsympathetic and they kept saying they needed to 'deal with the case' - they didn’t realise that this was our dad," she said.

 

After gaining access to his medical records, the company explained that they would not be supporting his claim because of a pre-existing medical condition.

 

They then set about taking all of the required funds from his account, leaving Mr Thompson overdrawn.

 

Fortunately, in this instance, there was a happy ending, with a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman eventually uncovering the fact that the patient had not been told of the terms and conditions of the cover, by which he must inform them of any pre-existing medical conditions.

 

As a result, Barclays has moved to honour his claim, with Mr Thompson moved to a hospital in Portugal over the weekend.

 

The story comes months after a woman launched legal action against a cruise firm after a stray on-deck umbrella struck her, causing serious injury.

[Jim The Scot]

Sorry i have just read some of the other replies on here. Some tips i assure you are important:

 

1. ALWAYS disclose a medical condition. Failure to disclose these might mean the whole policy is void. At best the condition will not be covered. However, some insurers will not insure you at all if you have certain conditions and depending on where you are going. Therefore not disclosing is not an option. There will be no comfort to your partner when you are in a hospital bed with the UK insurer saying were not interested!

 

2. ALWAYS disclose an illness of anyone travelling in your party. They also need to know if there is a close relative who is ill who could cause the cancellation of the holiday if they deteriorated.

 

3. ALWAYS check which insurance company is underwriting the policy cover. This is not always immediately available and you my need to search the wording. Amazingly even the staff do not always know.

 

4. Be wary of using websites where you put your basic details in and they return the cheapest price. Dont want to name them but there are a few. You know who i mean. Really dangerous if ou have pre existing illnesses.

 

5. Travel companies will always try to sell you their insurance policies. They take big commissions. They will never cover pre existing illnesses unless you declare and pay an additional premium.

 

6. Some Banks sell cover as part of a package with your bank acount. Again no cover for pre existing illnesses unless pre declared and agreed.

 

7. Annual policies are fine but you need to ring them and declare anything that is diagnosed during the period of the policy.

 

8. Carribean is classed as USA. Many insurance companies do not want to cover pre existing if you are going here. (As i found out this year)

 

Happy to answer any questions if you have any concerns.

 

Paul

 

Hi Paul

 

Can someone be covered by two travel seperate? insurances?.I`ll try and keep this as uncomplicated as poss

 

If you read my previous posts you will see I have free TI through Nationwide but does not cover my pre existing medical condition.On contacting them they are looking for £80 addition to cover my pre existing medical condition.

 

Now if I was to take out a base TI from another company that covered my pre existing conditions but say did not cover,delays,cancellation,baggage etc can I use my free Nationwide TI if these possibilities occurred?