Cruise Insurance with Pre-existing medical condition

[reedy8]

Its not just Astor....

You cant board a P&O UK cruise ship unless you have Insurance. You either accept theirs or quote the policy number of your own cover.

If anything happens to you and you dont have Insurance ,why should the cruise line be expected to carry the can?

In some ways I can see CMV's point, if it would require an alteration of a ship's itinerary it wouldn't be fair on the other passengers, but this is really only a 2 day cruise and I would know well beforehand if I wasn't well enough to get on the ship. If I lost my $559 its not a huge loss.

[reedy8]

We had to provide evidence from our doctors that we were fit to travel and evidence of insurance cover for our Antarctica cruise, but that is understandable.

 

Have you spoken to the cruiseline to see if they will accept a letter from your doctor that you are fit to travel, for such a short cruise?

 

seniorsholidaytravel.com.au, which advertise their extensive travel insurance for seniors, may be worth a try.

I just tried Seniorsholidaytravel that referred me to a travel insurance site, and they said No. Thank you for the tip anyway.

[reedy8]

Thanks, perhaps I should read T&C more often - cannot get insurance for heart condition but not staying home and waiting to die - will just keep on cruising as long as I can - and if travelling P&O will proceed as in the past

YES!!!! I agree, I refuse to stay at home and wait to die as well, will just have to look at another cruise line, even if a lot more expensive. As they say I can't take the money with me. Just a bit more pricey when travelling on your own.

[dillpickle48]

Have you tried Covermore? They cover my pre-existing. Good luck.

[reedy8]

I have decided to give up and my travel agent has contacted CMV who have kindly decided to refund my deposit under the circumstances. Such a pity, just a few days away would have been lovely.

So, I will now start researching somewhere else, never been to Sydney or Qld!

 

Thank you all for your replies and assistance.

[Tara Jane]

Reedy8 - Quite a few companies will cover for breast cancer if it hasn't spread beyond the primary site and all treatment has been over a certain period of time I am thinking something like 6 or 12 months. Not relevant to me anyway as mine had spread to lymph glands.

Sorry to hear you had to cancel.

[LokiPoki]

Reedy, sorry you've decided to cancel. In case it helps in future, or someone else happens upon your thread and its useful to them - have you tried Southern Cross? I haven't any personal experience with them - works out cheaper for us to get corporate cover through the family business - but have had a few friends use them (all with a variety of fairly severe medical conditions).

 

Can't recall what insurance through them would have cost me - but wasn't too bad, and NOBODY wants to cover me: I'm 'medically stable' but kept that way in part by an intrathecal pump (drugs straight into my spinal fluid) - fantastic system, but if something goes wrong with it, means ICU/HDU kind of situation - and if I'm o/s - potentially med-evac back to Australia for my specialist to deal with it (not likely...but can understand why no one wants to cover the possibility :eek::rolleyes: )

[happysnapper]

What a disappointment you have had to cancel your trip. There is no reason why you cannot get travel insurance which would cover cancellations, luggage loss and other acceptable medical conditions or accidents. Most companies will give you travel insurance however they will not cover certain very specific medical conditions, but that does not mean you can't have insurance for any other thing that may go wrong, your BC would just be excluded from cover, and as you implied things won't change very quickly. Thus you have an insurance policy to quote to the shipping company.

Edited July 19, 2016 by happysnapper

[Aussieflyer]

What a disappointment you have had to cancel your trip. There is no reason why you cannot get travel insurance which would cover cancellations, luggage loss and other acceptable medical conditions or accidents. Most companies will give you travel insurance however they will not cover certain very specific medical conditions, but that does not mean you can't have insurance for any other thing that may go wrong, your BC would just be excluded from cover, and as you implied things won't change very quickly. Thus you have an insurance policy to quote to the shipping company.

 

The problem for reedy8 is that the cruise line's T&Cs specifically requires insurance for pre-existing conditions and there is only one company which will cover them for a mega cost for the three days. (More than the cruise cost). They have decided it's just too expensive.

[Tara Jane]

I had taken insurance with Southern Cross for our european trip in 2011. I was later diagnosed with breast cancer and they were horrid to deal with when I had to put a claim for cancellation due to my cancer surgery and treatment. They said it was pre existing and therefore not covered. My wonderful GP fought long and hard for me and eventually they paid out. I had no indication of any issues and was up to date with mamogramms etc. I advise everyone to stay away from them.

[OzKiwiJJ]

What?!? How can they say unexpected breast cancer is pre-existing! Jeez! They might as well say that all women have the potential for breast cancer so it's always pre-existing! :eek:

 

So pleased your GP went to bat for you and that they paid out. :)

 

I wonder if they'd pull the same stunt on guys with prostate cancer! :rolleyes:

[Bpos]

My experience with travel insurance has been good and bad - but as someone posted above - get insurance for what you can and so you do have some cover perhaps not for all your pre-existing problems.

 

What is the alternative - stay at home - not likely. If prior to travel. I did not feel up to it - I would not go and accept the loss.

 

I do wonder though, if you break a leg, end up in a USA hospital (or any overseas hospital) and then as a result, have heart complications (which say are pre-existing) just what will your cover be???

 

Some years ago I spent four days in a New Jersey public hospital, fortunately after a cruise - for a pre-existing heart condition (which I had cover for) - cost $130,000 for four days.

It took three years to get the account paid, the hospital sold the debt to a "debt collector" in Switzerland which added to the complications of getting it sorted out. In the end I was getting phone calls in the early morning demanding payment and summons issued almost monthly threatening to sell me up etc in order to get the payment made.

 

I won't mention the insurance company here but it is one of the biggest in Australia for all types of insurance.

 

It is about time insurance companies give us a fair go.

 

Since then have had an artificial aorta valve fitted so with a previous claim, pacemaker and valve I have yet to find any insurance cover at all for pre-existing heart conditions and I have tried many.

 

It is a real problem for many of us who are getting older and love to travel and are at a time in our lives where we have the means to do so.

Edited July 19, 2016 by Bpos

[OzKiwiJJ]

That sounds awful, Bpos.

[Tara Jane]

Terrible Bpos

Are you prepared to name and shame? Don't think its against the rules. I think everyone needs to know which companies to stay away from. That's why I happily tell everyone to stay away from southern cross. Yes ozkiwi they did claim it was pre existing and yes it was probably there when I took out the insurance but how would I have known? If overdue for mammo then I guess they would have a point. Who knows what's going on inside every one of us at this very moment.

We only know how good a company is when we make a claim and by then its too late but is useful info for our next trip.

[windsor26]

I have decided to give up and my travel agent has contacted CMV who have kindly decided to refund my deposit under the circumstances. Such a pity, just a few days away would have been lovely.

So, I will now start researching somewhere else, never been to Sydney or Qld!

 

Thank you all for your replies and assistance.

 

As you are only leaving the coast for a few days not going anywhere Medicare would be available in a crisis Have you also tried your credit card company's travel insurance and asked what their addition for pre existing would be?

[happysnapper]

Recent overseas travel for my husband and myself was paid for using a Platinum MasterCard. This credit card provided us with free overseas travel insurance. My husband has 2 pre-existing medical conditions. We applied to the insurance company via a credit card link for cover for these and it only cost $50.

[ozscot01]

In future, consider 1Cover. They do cover a great many pre-existing conditions. Hope you are able to travel soon.

[reedy8]

Reedy8 - Quite a few companies will cover for breast cancer if it hasn't spread beyond the primary site and all treatment has been over a certain period of time I am thinking something like 6 or 12 months. Not relevant to me anyway as mine had spread to lymph glands.

Sorry to hear you had to cancel.

Hi Sara Jane

 

That was my issue, it has spread, (lungs, bones) which was why just a little 2 day cruise would have been good as if I went downhill between now & December when the cruise sailed, it would be no big deal if I couldn't go. Thats unlikely as they keep telling me I'm stable. I wouldn't even ask the insurer to cover me for that period, just the cruise itself as required by CMV.

[reedy8]

What a disappointment you have had to cancel your trip. There is no reason why you cannot get travel insurance which would cover cancellations, luggage loss and other acceptable medical conditions or accidents. Most companies will give you travel insurance however they will not cover certain very specific medical conditions, but that does not mean you can't have insurance for any other thing that may go wrong, your BC would just be excluded from cover, and as you implied things won't change very quickly. Thus you have an insurance policy to quote to the shipping company.

Yes, when I have travelled previously, I've had cover for everything excluding my illness,

I cruised for the first time (big smiley face) with Royal Caribbean last November and their small print doesn't demand cover for pre-exisiting.

[reedy8]

What?!? How can they say unexpected breast cancer is pre-existing! Jeez! They might as well say that all women have the potential for breast cancer so it's always pre-existing! :eek:

 

So pleased your GP went to bat for you and that they paid out. :)

 

I wonder if they'd pull the same stunt on guys with prostate cancer! :rolleyes:

 

Yep, a travel agent once said to me slightly sarcastically that some Travel Insurance companies will try and pin almost any occurence down to your pre-existing. Oh, you broke your leg, it must be related to your heart condition.

 

And yes, I can confirm that they pull the same stunt on men with prostate cancer. had lunch yesterday with a much love friend with the condition and he can't get cover to insure it either.

Edited July 23, 2016 by reedy8
spelling errors

[happysnapper]

Yes, when I have travelled previously, I've had cover for everything excluding my illness,

I cruised for the first time (big smiley face) with Royal Caribbean last November and their small print doesn't demand cover for pre-exisiting.

 

Seems to me it's specific to the cruise company (CMV) you had booked with, shame to them. I truly hope you can find another way to have a short holiday.

[GUT2407]

Yep, a travel agent once said to me slightly sarcastically that some Travel Insurance companies will try and pin almost any occurence down to your pre-existing. Oh, you broke your leg, it must be related to your heart condition.

 

And yes, I can confirm that they pull the same stunt on men with prostate cancer. had lunch yesterday with a much love friend with the condition and he can't get cover to insure it either.

 

Unfortunately I think the TA was right.

[cruisine21]

I've been researching travel insurance and a lot of people seem to recommend Australia Post. I couldn't find anything in the PDS mentioning Medivac from a cruise ship so I sent them an email.

 

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please note that evacuation, should it be deemed medically necessary by our Emergency Assistance Team, would be considered an additional transport cost. As such, these costs would be assessed under the Additional Expenses benefit in the event of a claim. Please note that the Additional Expenses benefit is an $Unlimited benefit.

[Ferris42]

Hey Bpos,

 

I have 2 mechanical prosthetic valves, a pacemaker and obvoiusly take Warfarin.

 

I have successfully used SureSave and Cover-More

 

in general, though, I am not sure why a Cruise line would insist on insurance?

Someone mentioned ships forced to change itinerary because of a medical case.....

Insurance wont cover this anyway.

I fail to see how having insurance or not changes the cruise line risk profile ????

 

Cheers

Edited August 31, 2016 by Ferris42

[Bpos]

Hey Bpos,

 

I have 2 mechanical prosthetic valves, a pacemaker and obvoiusly take Warfarin.

 

I have successfully used SureSave and Cover-More

 

in general, though, I am not sure why a Cruise line would insist on insurance?

Someone mentioned ships forced to change itinerary because of a medical case.....

Insurance wont cover this anyway.

I fail to see how having insurance or not changes the cruise line risk profile ????

 

Cheers

 

Thanks for that will make enquirers. I think my problem is that I had a claim for $100,000 USD for the pacemaker so no one wants to take the chance I will have another claim.

 

Either way - I keep on cruising but always have a check up a couple of weeks out and would not go if advised not to do so.