Travel insurance tips - sticky thread

Public Archive
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Hi all

The topic of travel insurance comes up so frequently on the forum, that we thought we’d try to create a sticky thread (a thread that stays at the top of the first page) so people can easily access the most recent tips.

I’m going to copy over some of the most recent posts, so you don’t have to re-type them, but if you have recently tried to get travel insurance, please post your recommendations here.

You might have different experiences with the same insurance company, depending on your type of cancer or treatment, so if you can add a few details for context, that might help people. For example, if you have been trying to get insurance with secondary breast cancer, it might be useful to note that.

Hopefully we’ll create a useful resource together. Things do change quite a lot, so keep posting your recent experiences.

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tess27 says on 06 Sep 2010 13:35

I have started using insurancewith.com for my travel insurance, I don’t have secondary cancer, but I do know that they will cover people with secondary cancer and they do cover them in USA.
08452307159
insurancewith.com

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lizcat says on 21 Sep 2010 11:02

Miaonline will usually cover those of us with mets. Not cheap but then the only option is to go without cover isn’t it? Depends on the mets and where you are going from what I gather.
miaonline.co.uk
01268 782 745

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JanB says on 21 Sep 2010 14:54

A few of us have managed to get cover with Columbus Direct when we couldn’t get it anywhere else.
columbusdirect.com/Travel-Insurance/Pre-existing-Medical-Insurance.cfm
0800 083 9503

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Twinmummy says on 21 Sep 2010 20:42

I got cover with Freespirit - not cheap but cheaper than insured with - and have secondaries in bones lungs and liver.
free-spirit.com/
0845 230 5000

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curlylol says on 05 Sep 2010 22:21

I got insurance online from Travel Insurance Web (used before being diagnosed and recommended by a relative). Accepted my DCIS diagnosis, no trouble.
travelinsuranceweb.com/pre-existing-medical-condition.htm

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Jodie1 says on 23 Aug 2010 11:53
INSURANCE COMPANIES

MIA ONLINE (This Company has very good feedback, but I think you do have to ring them) Tel: Operations 01268 783383 – Head Office – 01268 782745

INSURANCE WITH (Also very good feedback)
You have to phone them even though there is a questionnaire online 08448262707 and quote IFT Health

FREE SPIRIT (Have to phone them 08452305000)

ALL CLEAR PLUS – You can get a quote online but I found the premium to be very high. The phone number is 08452505200

FREEDOM TRAVEL – You have to phone them – 01223 454290

IT’S SO EASY – You have to phone them – 08452224205

INSURANCE CHOICE - These people rang me back without being requested. The agents name was Lily and her direct line is 08445577428. She gave me a quote of £250.00 for a European trip to various destinations for 2 weeks. This covered absolutely everything including repatriation if necessary. I was impressed with her efficiency and the trouble she took.

GETMY.COM – They will give you a quote on line, but when I did it, they excluded Breast Cancer cover. However, I understand that a lot of people use this site as it’s very cheap. I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Tel: 08445577624

EHICPLUS – They will give a quote online, but you need a EHIC card which you can apply for online. I have done this for my husband and myself and it’s very straightforward. Tel: 08450555222 There is good feedback on this.

STAYSURE.CO.UK – They cover almost anything, but if it’s cancer related you have to phone them on 08442770844

INSUREPINK.COM – Tel 08000223213 – (I have not seen very good feedback on this company, but it might be worth giving them a call)

MARKS & SPENCER – They have given me a quote online which was very reasonable, it says it covers my existing medical condition, but they asked for very few details, so I’m not convinced. Tel 0800731244

There is also Bromley Insurance – 01282416050, Vital Health Travel Insurance – 08458035434 and Insure Cancer – 01252780190 – but I haven’t checked any of these out yet.

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Hi
Will post my bit again Leah- you have a lot to copy over!

InsurePink were great with me. I had primary BC, lymph involvement, was quoted £700+ for few days cover within Europe with one of the major companies. Insure Pink covered me and my kids for under £50, plus they were really good about all the questions they have to ask.
C

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Thanks cupoftea - I’ve copied over some of the more recent ones, and Jodie1’s post gives details of quite a lot of the companies. But I don’t think I can copy over every post!

Appreciate your help!

Leah

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Bromley Insurance have just insured me for £70 for the US for two weeks in November. They were the the least expensive and will also cover partners.

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Leah this is so useful hoping when active treatment ends can go away and had been trying to save all these to my profile this will be so helpful for lots of us. Many Thanks Jackie

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Insure Pink have just insured me (primary bc, dx a year ago), and my two boys for three weeks in NZ for only £105, which is pretty good.

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Im looking around at insurance why bc cover makes it so hard or price has to rise.Im going use asda insurance very good cover and i tick the choice not to cover bc.as im going away for 2 weeks cant see how bc going stop my trip in that short time.Jane

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Hi Leah,

1/. Just to point out that age makes a great difference. I am over 70. I have used Medici a couple of times and then I found that they were covered by Columbus so changed to them and got a better deal. Other insurers wanted a great deal more money due to our age.

2/. One insurance company warned me that my friend and I should take out the same cover stating that; if I were taken ill and my friend had different cover then she would not be insured to stay with me.

Hope this helps.

E

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Do you need to cover the breast cancer when getting travel insurance. I’ve been given a quote but it doesn’t include my breast cancer of which there is no evidence of it left. Can anyone help me???

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I have used my annual travel insurance with Direct Line for my recent trips abroad to Europe and haven’t disclosed BC as mine was a primary and all active treatment was over.
However, if you’re still feeling unwell with side effects or have a secondary diagnosis I’m sure it is in your best interest to disclose your diagnosis, especially if you are away from UK for a longer period.

I have only ever been away for 7 days so I felt reassured that nothing too severe would happen during that time.
I hope I haven’t been foolish!

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Hello youngwidow,
I “think” it’s a case of:- anything you don’t tell insurance companies about, isn’t covered, should you happen to need it!!

So if as you say, you don’t have any evidence of bc, even if something did suddenly worry you, I don’t suppose you would do anything about it till you got home and could see your own gp?

Sandra x

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I have to agree Elidh7. I too am trying to find a cheap quote for a week in Aruba later this month that will cover me for BC. My husband works in insurance and is adamant that I have cover for the very reasons you have mentioned…and I suppose he should know!

Viv x

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Hi girls i went away to turkey 3 weeks after chemo and had radiotherapy planned when i returned ( which i told them aswell and my husband and i were both covered including the breast cancer diagnosis for £ 50 for a week for both of us with insurepink x i also had a quote with the post office for about the same but it didnt include anything to do with BC related medical problemsxJulie