Travel insurance

For information about insurance companies able to offer coverage to those with pre-existing medical conditions - such as MDS. And new folder about Health or Life Insurance issues.

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Sophie
Posts: 256
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 14:05
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Travel insurance

Post by Sophie » 08 Jan 2009 16:44

Can anyone recommend some good and friendly travel insurance company for travellers with MDS - and their family ?
Please share your good or bad experience on this forum.

Please also see link below from the Macmillan website for list of several UK insurers offering coverage in theory, but it would be helpful to hear what happens in practice.

Updated link (11 Nov 2010)
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfor ... anies.aspx
Travel insurance companies + general advice on travelling with a pre-existing medical condition.
This link takes you to the Macmillan website.
Sophie - Patient Liaison
Queries:
Call 0207 733 7558
Email info@mdspatientsupport.org.uk

Please do not send me PM messages on this forum - I do not check it often.
This forum is purely for patient to patient communications. Thanks for your help.
Maureen
Posts: 3
Joined: 17 Nov 2008 20:20

Re: Travel insurance

Post by Maureen » 08 Jan 2009 17:30

We have found Freedom Travel Insurance based in Oxfordshire very good - they specialise in holiday insurance for people with haematological illnesses - www.freedominsure.co.uk or tel 01223 454290.
Maureen
Posts: 3
Joined: 17 Nov 2008 20:20

Re: Travel insurance

Post by Maureen » 08 Jan 2009 17:30

We have found Freedom Travel Insurance based in Oxfordshire very good - they specialise in holiday insurance for people with haematological illnesses - www.freedominsure.co.uk or tel 01223 454290.
whiskers
Posts: 18
Joined: 31 Mar 2009 15:41

Re: Travel insurance

Post by whiskers » 04 Apr 2009 20:51

Hi Sophie
I have an alternative web site for travel insurance for people with existing serious health problems, several friends (with heart problems and Parkinson's disease for example) have used it successfully with suitable holiday insurance cover taken out.

Try the web site: ortry 'All Clear Travel Insurance' Tel: 08712 088579

I am sure you will get something suitable and affordable to cover all your needs.

good Luck

Whiskers
Sophie
Posts: 256
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 14:05
Contact:

Re: Travel insurance

Post by Sophie » 09 Apr 2009 14:01

Message updated November 2009
Dear all,

this is the specific link to travel insurance advice, factsheet - and suggestions from the Macmillan website:

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfor ... anies.aspx

They also have a specific travel insurance discussion forum on their website.

The issue for MDS seems to be what "medical condition code" the insurance company uses.
Some insurers don't have one specific for MDS.
Some insurers will ask for haemoglobin levels and/or blood counts.
Get a "fit to travel letter" from you haematologist.

Please share your experience with others:
Has anyone had to claim cancellation of a trip so far for example and did it go smoothly?
What specific condition has your insurance company registered on the forms?
How much have you had to pay - for what cover?

Thanks
Sophie
Sophie - Patient Liaison
Queries:
Call 0207 733 7558
Email info@mdspatientsupport.org.uk

Please do not send me PM messages on this forum - I do not check it often.
This forum is purely for patient to patient communications. Thanks for your help.
whiskers
Posts: 18
Joined: 31 Mar 2009 15:41

Re: Travel insurance

Post by whiskers » 04 May 2009 14:11

Dear All
I am thinking of going on holiday later this year, possibly to the Red Sea, Egypt or Turkey area; so I am now considering getting travel insurance quotations for cover for a two week holiday. I have not obtained a travel insurance quote as yet, despite giving 'All Clear Travel Insurance' as a likely contact travel insurance company, in my message dated 4th April 2009 (see above); as with some companies they quote only one month in advance (I do not know if AllClear do or not as yet). I have MDS and at present I am having EPO and G-CSF treatment to avoid ecessive blood transfusions.

I am asking if anybody has managed to get overseas holiday travel cover recently, what sort of area did you travel to, who did you find would cover you for existing medical problems (such as MDS), and what were the approximate costs. I am asking this as several friends have had terrible experiences of getting travel insurance at reasonable costs if at all. Before I contact All Clear travel Insurance, whom I am told are reasonable, I would like to be a bit pre-armed as to what they may want to know and if there any catches in charges might be added as some insurance companies appear to add.

ANY COMMENTS/ADVICE?

Many thanks

Whiskers
lucy
Posts: 23
Joined: 17 Feb 2009 19:52
Contact:

Re: Travel insurance

Post by lucy » 05 May 2009 09:51

Hi Whiskers,
Last year I managed to get a years cover for Europe with All Clear. The cost was about £120 which included hubby with a pre exsisting condition. They knew about MDS and wanted to know my haemoglobin and white cell counts. Having tried to renew in January they wouldn't give me a year as my white counts were much lower, although they did say they might be able to do a single trip.We haven't bothered and have been ' doing ' England.
Also my consultant told me that it would be unwise to go anywhere too hot because of the risk of getting an infection. Cool was ok, so we did Norway, Spitsbergen and the Baltic.
Good luck, I hope you manage to get cover, getting away from it all helps to make you feel more ' normal '.

Lucy

whiskers
Posts: 18
Joined: 31 Mar 2009 15:41

Re: Travel insurance

Post by whiskers » 05 May 2009 15:35

Hi Lucy
Thanks for the information, very useful. Unfortunately we did 'Cold' to Norway (Cruise on the QE2 right up to Spitsbergen) last year, although very enjoyable we fancy something warmer this year. I think I will wait and have a word with my consultant, after what you said about 'Hot areas and infection', before we progress any further holiday ideas. The other thing of course is what about vaccinations? I have had usual jabs in the past such as typhus, polio, hepatitus, tetnus, dipheria, with only one due for booster this year, but do not know whether this will be acceptable. We were going to South America but I was told I cannot have Yellow Fever jab as it is a live baccilus and therefore life threatening to someone with MDS. So I supose vaccinations are another obstacle-any ideas?

Best wishes

Whiskers
Treasurer

Re: Travel insurance

Post by Treasurer » 07 Jun 2009 11:38

Hi All
I've always taken out annual travel insurance with Airmiles. They have continued to insure me since being diagnosed almost 3 years ago. I only take out insurance to cover Europe, this is because I have been advised not to fly because of my extremely low white blood cell count. I now pay an added premium, around £ 290 per annum. So far I haven't had to make any claims.

Sharon

whiskers
Posts: 18
Joined: 31 Mar 2009 15:41

Re: Travel insurance

Post by whiskers » 08 Jun 2009 15:28

Hello Everyone
You may have seen from a previous message (4th May - above) that I have been contemplating going on a summer holiday this year but have been somewhat uncertain, mainly because of my MDS, where would be most suitable from my selection.

I have finally booked a two week holiday in September to a 5* hotel by the sea in Kusadasi in Turkey. My consultant at King's College said that this was alright and was happy that I am trying to carry my life as best I could, that's very comforting. He did advise, however, not going to Egypt because of the higher infection possibilities and particularly in some areas the lack of good medical facilities, which is very sensible.

The main reason I am writing this is to further information on travel insurance
. I tried several of the recommended insurance companies that insure people wit
h existing medical problems as discussed in previous messages (above), the resul
ts gave various quotes between about £100 to £300! The one I settled on in the end is 'Saga Travel Insurance'. Their travel insurance, which if you declare existing medical problems, covers existing problems, including MDS, etc; and includes costs treatment for any problems with MDS or anything else, including flying you back home if the treatment you require is urgent and cannot be met satisfactorily in the country you are holidaying in; and full cancellation cover (including return of deposit - less £10) if you cannot go because of illness, whether it be due to declared existing problems , or something new. Their quotation for both myself and my wife, for two weeks in Turkey was a total of £78, now I thought that was very good indeed for a very good comprehensive travel insurance.This includes the following cover for 'each person' travelling with nil excess except where noted: Cancellation Charges of up to £5,000; Missed Departure up to £1,000; Scheduled Airline Failure up to £1,500; Delayed Departure- £35 for the first 12 hour period, £15 for each 12 hour period after that (maximum of £215); Emergency Medical and Associated Expenses up to £10,000,000 (£50 excess); Hospital Benefit £25 for each 24 hour period (£1,000 maximum); Personal Accident up to £30,000; Baggage up to £2,500; Delayed Baggage £250; Abandonment (having to return home before your scheduled return date) £5,000 (£50 excess); Personal Money up to £500 (£300 limit for cash; £50 excess); Loss of Passport £350; Legal Expenses and Advice up to £50,000; Personal Liability up to £2,000,000; Hijack and Mugging (if you cannot reach your destination or return to UK due to hijacking of vehicle/plane; and or if you are in hospital due to injury through mugging) £50 for each 24 hour period (£1,000 maximum); Pet Care £25 for each 24 hour period (maximum £300) for Vet's fees if your pet takes ill or is injured whilst you are away. Cover starts immediately you take it out i.e., from now.

I hope this gives some satisfaction and hope for others who are thinking of travelling abroad, it does not have to cost an arm and a leg if you shop around, but make sure it is a good policy with a well known insurance company. Why I didn't think of Saga Travel insurance before I do not know, we have had several excellent holidays with their company in recent years and always recommend them for their holidays, although they appear expensive sometimes they have a lot of hidden extras.

I am still persevering with my EPO and G-CSF treatment but it does not seem to be working, accordingly I have just had to have three units of blood transfused last week as my haemolglobin levels had dropped down low again despite the treatment. My consultant said I will have to come off of the Epo & G-CSF treatment in a few wekks time if no improvement is made and I will have to go onto a programme of regular blood transfusions and iron chellation treatment thereafter, goodness knows how long this will go on for, perhaps to the end!

Well that all for now, best wishes to everyone, keep you spirits up and look to the future as well as today.

Whiskers

Saga Travel Insurance tel nb: 0800 015 8055 (new quotations)
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