Anybody know of any holiday companies that will insure people with secondary breast cancer still undergoing treatment - on Xeloda but only on first couple of weeks - hoping to go away for a week in October
Hi Diane
Try Medici insurance. They specialise in pre existing conditions. Don’t think they will if Xeloda counts as chemo, but have a look.
Good luck
Dilys
Hi Diane
Try Miaonline based in Raleigh Essex. Can only be done on phone at mo, website still being built, but number on there. If you need the number though then let me know and will send it to you. I am going to Tenerife next week and was quoted £44.50 for 2 weeks with £150 excess.
Hope u get some sorted.
Dawn
x
Thanks i will try them
Diane
x
I have used mia as well for the past 3 years (2 of which have been whilst I’ve been on Xeloda) with no probs at all.
Just come back from South of France and, like Dawn, was charged £44.50 for just over a fortnight.
Pinkdove
Hi Dawn
Could you please post Mia’s phone number - am off to Cyprus next month (was going to risk it without insurance!) By the way, I’m not on chemo, so don’t know if that makes a difference.
Enjoy Tenerife and keep well.
Jen x
Diane
Let us know if you get a decent quote. have you asked your Onc if you can go abroad because mine wont let me until I have finished my 6 cycles of Xeloda due to riak of infection.
Maddison
Hi Jen and Everyone
The number for Miaonline is: 01268 783383
Not sure wot happens if on chemo, but worth a pop.
Good luck and let us know how u get on.
Love
Dawn
xx
I’ve been on chemo constantly for the past 22 months (Xeloda) and have gone abroad in that time with the consent of my oncologist and it hasn’t been a problem for me from the point of infection or any other problems.
I am about to head off to the south of France, I have an annual travel policy withM&S but breast cancer is excluded and they wouldn’t cover it anyway. I reckon that if I did have a problem from there I could get home and sort it out but I will have a look at miaonline if I am going further afield.
I am on Xeloda and will start my 4th cycle when away, my oncologist has no problem with my holiday even though we are cycling!!
My problem is the state of my spine and my oncologist strongly advised me to have insurance for it. Before then I used to exclude it as I felt the same as you Katie in that I could get back if I did have a problem. I think if it was just my liver involved then I might think about it differently but can’t take the risk with my spine.
Enjoy your holiday in South of France - we’re off again on 16 August for 2 weeks and can’t wait! We only came back on Sunday but it was really hot (upper 30’s) so struggled a bit with the heat to start with.
I have recently been to Portugal and used Miaonline. They were very helpful. They insisted , in my case (possibly in everyone’s?) that you organise the insurance within 2 months of travelling (no earlier) and that your oncology team agree you are fit to travel and put that in your notes (very important in case of a claim). They also insist that you take your EHIC card and use the nearest state (not private) hospital/clinic [they do inform you where the nearest one is] I was very pleased with how they treated me. I was on chemo (XELODA) when I went, also on Bondronat, you must declare that to them when you apply. Good luck and have a great holiday.
PS: I do not know the situation for a non-EU country. I particularly chose Portugal as a member of EU!!
PPS: I have secondaries in bone, liver and lungs.
Hi everyone,
I got a quote today from MIA for two weeks in Turkey for £63.50.I spoke to two lovely ladies who were very helpful and polite.I can highly recommend them.
I have secondaries in lymphs and liver and have finished Chemo.
Alli x
P.S. The admin no is 01268 782745
Hi
I have just taken out cover with MIA for my 3 weeks trip to Northern Cyprus for £74 (not all companies cover this area for normal insurance, so really pleased with myself). I will definitely use them again.
Happy jollies to everyone.
Jen x
Hi jumpforjoy
You’re right - they will only do insurance within 2 months of travelling which makes sense really. I normally send an email to my oncologist and she notes it in my file that she’s happy for me to travel.
Mia also let you know the nearest hospital to you (which I assume is what everyone gets)
I’ve been using them for a few years now and have always found them very helpful.
What are the dangers of foreign travel? When I travel for work I am covered by their health insurance but travelling on my own I have assumed that if I had the cash to take a first class flight home I would be OK. . I have lung and liver mets and have assumed that as long as I am feeling well the main danger is infection if following chemo. Do we worry too much?
Interesting question - I travel alot for work myself. I think f you have bone mets you can imagine falling and breaking something pretty easily…then you have to get it set etc. Also i worry about feeling really ill and being stuck somewhere… And then i worry about sudden brain mets causing a seizure etc. So thats alot of worries!
A first class ticket home on BA from USA would be alot - but medical treatment in the USA could run into the tens of thousands.
I am covered by my work insurance for everything so I am lucky - but I came to the conclusion I would travel in Europe with out insurance but not in the USA.
I used to think I would be OK to travel and do whatever, but, two years ago was about to book a flight to stay at my sister’s house in Menorca when I was diagnosed with a serious life-threatening condition (post-chemo) and spent the time here, in hospital, instead. (Plus three month recovery period on anti b’s). I am now far more wary about taking uninsured breaks abroad - though I do agree, that we could probably easily be flown home reasonably cheaply and quickly if need be - especially from within the EC.
Jenny
Danger of foreign travel: well I agree that in EU with EHIC card we could get emergency medical treatment, but there could be the costs of flying home…no not First Class but on a stretcher.
I risk it in Eurpoe but wouldn’t go further without cover, particularly not to USA…as Katherine says medical costs in US soon creep up to hundreds of thousands. My fears would be say falling over breaking a major limb cause of bone mets or collapsing because of brain mets (I don’t have either right now…but either could happen suddenly.)
But then we each way up risk differently for ourselves.
Jane
Hi All
My Onc wouldn’t let me travel at the beginning of my treatment 2 years ago as she was concerned for me and the medical teams abroad, but now she has no problems I always tell her where I am going. I have been travelling on normal insurance with bc being excluded but will look into Mia next time.
Beli x