Travel insurance

[drdspg]

Letrazole is technically chemotherapy. It is far better to list everything on travel insurance rather than get caught out.

[c_ellis11]

See, this is what I cannot understand. I take Anastrozole & AD-CAL, but the lady at Thomas Cook said, as I haven't ungone an operation or treatment in the last 6 months, I'm ok?

Surely the tablets class as ongoing treatment?

[libby_2010]

As Eurotunnel have ceased their annual worldwide insurance I have had to look around. Next Weds I have an appt at my bank to consider changing my account to take advantage to their upgrade account. Some 5 years ago they did not want to know, now it is looking different. I had a long conversation with a lady about health issues , on the phone and they will now cover me with an extra amount, but this is looking a lot less than a one trip cover. I have hope that I can change my account. My only health issue is continuing on Arimidex plus arendronic acid and AdCal D3 

[RoadRunner]

Yes you are covered for pre-existing conditions via Eutotunnel.  Quote from their policy terms and conditions:

"If at the time of purchasing this insurance or booking your journey (whichever is later) you have any existing medical conditions, you should discuss your travel plans in advance with your doctor. 1 You will be covered for claims arising directly or indirectly from any existing medical conditions, so long as your doctor can confirm that at the time of purchasing the insurance or booking the journey (whichever is later): • you were fit to travel; • your medical condition(s) were stable and there was no sign they would get worse; • you had not been diagnosed as suffering from a terminal illness • you did not know that you would need medical treatment or consultation at any medical facility during your journey; If you need to make a claim arising directly or indirectly from any existing medical conditions, your doctor will be asked to confirm all of the above in writing. 2 You will not be covered if you travel against the advice of a doctor or where you would have been if you had asked for their advice before beginning your journey. 3 You will not be covered if you travel specifically for the purpose of obtaining and / or receiving any elective surgery, procedure or hospital treatment."

They always ask you if you are fit to travel, as long as you are - and your doctor would back you up if necessary - then you are covered (unless you have a terminal diagnosis which is different)

[imac55]

Yes it's hard answering the probing questions. If you are going to Europe, eurotunnel is cheap and no questions to answer. You are not covered for anything pre existing though.

[Egret]

Hello,
The EHIC card still covers emergencies in EU countries at present but if you have chemotherapy you need to think about wherher you can reach a hospital on time, and possible translation issues. I used EHIC in Spain on a broken ankle with zero hassle, no payment asked.

Currently, I am 8 months post chemo and radiotherapy. After looking around, I have just started a Nationwide Flex Plus account @ £10 per month, I declared BC as precondition (got through medical screening on the phone) and as I travel with my husband I wanted to include him. He haS high blood pressure and is on two pills. I take anastrozole. I was quoted £115 (and a few pence) to cover our preconditions, but in fact this amount was only for my BC. My husband high blood pressure did not count because it was well controlled with no incident, no hospital admission etc.
Total: £235, for a yearly worldwide insurance max stays of 31 days, I found that this was the best deal for us, as we were older (67 and 72).
The reason why I wanted to go through a medical screening was that if for example I broke my ankle in Japan, I don't want my travel Insurance to say it is of Anastrozole making your bones more fragile, then refuse to pay!

Right after the diagnosis and the lumpectomy, I had a bad time with AXA when I made a claim for £234 for two flights my husband and I couldn't take because of hospital appointments and MRI and bones scans. With the excess, I could claim only £134. AXA refused the hospital evidence (free) point blank and insisted on my GP letter (charged £27) Finally my GP felt sorry for me and didn't charge for filling the form. It took over six months to be paid.
Good luck, travelling is really good for one's
moral.

[c_ellis11]

I've recently booked to go to New York, via Thomas Cook. They've quoted £108 for two of us, including an extra £5 because my daughter is asthmatic. 

No problem with me as the lady said It's not an ongoing condition, I was diagnosed 4 years ago.

Does this sem right?

[drdspg]

We recently used All Clear travel insurance for a holiday to Italy. Whilst there, we tried to contact them to find out if we were covered for an activity. They were really difficult to get hold of and couldnt give us an answer in time..

[emz680]

Hi,

I went to Turkey in April this year after chemo finished but before radiotherapy started. I declared my breast cancer to Puffin Travel insurance and I paid £10.42 for a 7 day holiday. Hope this helps.

[Varsha]

Hello am new to this as just got diagnosed and booked for mastectomy in  next week but had booked holiday in sept already my insurance has refused to cover me . So am looking for cover wanted to know what to be aware of ? 

Regards

varsha

[Minimunchkins]

Peeps, I'm a Santander 123 customer & just got Worldwide Annual cover for £147.70 with them  

There's no medical excess as long as you've not had treatment or medication within last 2yrs so BC is covered.   Also, bonus for us as we are cruisers, there's no additional excess' like other companies I've tried (including Insurewith).

We've been with 'AtlasDirect' for years & enjoyed annual worldwide cover for £79 but as hubby is now 65, they won't cover us    However, I would recommend you give them a try - we were with them pre dx in 2011 but stayed with them because they were happy to cover at the same renewal price - just without BC cover.

Good luck

[riversidedawn]

I used eurotnnel, £79 for annual cover for family of 4 with declared BC.!

[FJ]

Many thanks, I have just gone with M & S this time on a single trip policy but will try InsureWith next time.

Happy Travelling!

[Happytraveller]

Hi FJ, not sure if you've sorted your travel insurance yet, I've just managed to get some with InsureWith (Worldwide) with medical screening online.  Hope this helps.    ☀️

[FJ]

Any one found a good quote for insurance since Eurotunnel pulled out of offering worldwide travel insurance?

Started to google but upsetting having to go through the questions again and again.

Thanks J x

[Moya]

Eurotunnel have stopped doing world-wide cover. A real shame!

[Matty2]

Thanks to this thread I have just started looking for travel insuramce.

First attempt was yesterday with the bank, I found the questions intrusive and upsetting and was surprised at my reaction.

Anyway as soon as I asked what insurance would be with cancer cover the premium for a year doubled to well over £100.

Will continue my research better prepared to cope with the questions I will be asked

B

[LSM72]

Hi, I had to claim in October last year for 2 breaks we had booked. I had no trouble at all. All very quick, efficient and fast payment. In the end I was very lucky as I was given the all-clear but they were very easy to deal with throughout.

[Atat]

I think it's very good, altho dont know anyone who's had to claim

[Charity11]

Hi we also have travel insurance through nationwide flex plus account. I got covered for 12 months last October whilst in active treatment as wanted to book holiday for June this year, they charged me £100 for the year which I was glad to pay as I don't want to give up my holidays. Am just on tamoxifen now so we'll see if this reduces when I renew this year.

Charity11

[Matty2]

Ooooh

Now that's a side effect I didn't think of -

Looks as if I will have to shop around - sigh - just as OH and I are in a position to begin to travel 

[Atat]

Nationwide flex plus account £10.00 per month includes annual multitrip world travel insurance etc. To include Breast Cancer, lymphoedema diagnosed within past year an extra £130 I didn't think this was bad since some companies charge this amount for a single trip. Also includes USA, Cariberan, cruises, skiing.

[kayanlau]

Hi,

I am going to Turkey and Hong Kong for the Christmas season so I will be gone for 3 weeks. I also had to search high and low for an insurance company who would cover me at a reasonable price. Eventually I found InsuranceWith (www.insurancewith.com) who was the cheapest at £85. The others were quoting me hundreds of pounds! Hope this helps.

[Jean301050]

I've just arranged travel insurance for my self 11 months since WLE etc taking Letrozole.  My first yearly che kup was brought forward so that I could  make my arrangements.  My husband also has some pre existing problems.  The cost is £197.00 this is for annual cover because we are going away for a month its cheaper to go for the annual cover.  However, I am not covered for the 'breast cancer'.  I am going to India. Hope this helps.

[Atat]

Hi
I tried Staysure. They would cover me but very expensive. £100 for a week in Malta. Insure Pink - £50.00 for the same week. Only use public hospitals but the healthcare in Malta very good. May just use my current travel insurance without Cancer cover and use EHIC for any emergency. Eg mosi bites getting infected on op arm.
Atat.

[Sodastream]

Hi. I've just done my insurance through Eurotunnel on recommendation from another cancer patient. I paid £15 for 6 days cover to Malta and the Annual premium for worldwide was £70. My friend got annual cover for herself and her husband for worldwide travel and including winter sports for £135. Like Lucy says they just want to know you are fit to travel and in the event of a claim that your doctor has said you were fit to travel.

[Kess]

if you have cover through your bank its worth giving them a ring. I did and for a comparatively small extra premium I was able to get by BC covered, even though I am still having treatment at the moment. Butterfly - my cover is with Nationwide as well so might be an option for you. Its more, but not as much as any of the others I got quotes from....

[lucy12]

Hi Lady-in-Red

You are right to want to sort insurance out. Insurance companies will use any trick they can not to pay a claim, so best to declare everything and make sure you are covered, even though the risk is very small.

EuroTunnel will offer travel insurance to America (as long as your trip is for less that 28 days), either on an annual policy or single trip, even for thise on active treatment. The only medical question they will ask you is if your GP says you are fit to travel. They don't need proof of this but will contact your GP in the event of a claim so speak to your GP and get him to pop it on your notes. They are really reasonable prices, compatible with standard policies and not inflated as most of the specialist medical policies are.

You have to do it over the phone, on-line is only for those booking insurance connected to a Eurotunnel booking.

Lu x

[Butterfly318]

Evening Ladies

I have a travel insurance with Nationwide Building Soc.  (comes with an account) but since my Diagnosis October 2012 they won't cover anything connected with the Breast Cancer, particularly anything from the Chemo which can affect vascular / respiratory / heart so highly unlikely that i would be covered for anything at all really.........

On speaking to them they consider Tamoxifen, which i am on for 10years, to be ongoing treatment as do Scottish Widows and Legal & Gen.  However in Europe your EHIC card will cover you for emergency NHS reciprocal treatment.  I know a few people who have used EuroTunnel for travel insurance.

Good Luck    Gilly x

[Atat]

You also have to consider implications of having had a SNB ie you could develop lymphoedema while you are away, then cellutis if you get an infection. Insurance won't cover cost if you've not declared BC.
Similarly, if you fall and break your wrist, and you've not declared that you're A I's, they won't cover cost.

[Janet_BCC]

Hi lady-in-red

I've attached a link to the section of the website with some information about travel insurance in case you haven't already seen it:

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/impact-breast-cancer/finances-practical...

There's also a thread discussing travel insurance:

http://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Work-finance-and-travel/Travel-insurance-tips-sticky-thread/...

I hope this is helpful.

Very best wishes

Janet

BCC Moderator

[lady-in-red]

Problem is that the question is either (1) have you EVER had cancer - and then it asks how recently or (2) have you had hospital treatment of any kind in last two years or are currently taking medication.  Either way you get caught.   I agree its entirely unfair, but I'd watch that your bank insurance covers you.  Mine expressly states that it doesn't cover anything pre existing unless its screened.  I wouldn't bother but for slightly increased risk of DVT whilst on tamoxifen.   I'm fairly relaxed about it in Europe but in the USA, going without cover for all things related to BC makes me nervous.

[SamLee]

Can't particularly help with the specific insurance companies concerned, but maybe I am stating the obvious or being naive here, and correct me if I am wrong, but if you are only on Tamoxifen you have now finished active treatment, so surely you don't have to declare anything currently to do with the BC, as you don't actually have it anymore.  Surely you just need to say you had it in the past?

I have travel insurance with my bank as general cover and have never mentioned anything re my cancer.

Am sure that others will correct me if I am wrong here!

[lady-in-red]

First time on the forum!   Just thought I'd share my experiences.   DX 14 months ago, had WLE and SNB and 19 radiotherapy sessions.  Now on tamoxifen.   Got insurance very easily for Cyprus this summer (through M & S insurance, which I thought was impressive), but now struggling a bit more to get something for USA - we're planning two trips in 8 months, so multi trip makes more sense.   All Clear are currently offering me the best options.  Freedom won't offer me multi trip cover but are quoting (a lot) for single trip cover.   In plenty cases multi trip to the US is cheaper than a single trip policy for an 8 day trip!   When you google breast cancer travel insurance one of the top sponsored links is Stay Sure.   I'm lucky enough to have good prognosis, yet they won't cover me at all.   When I phoned to complain that that seemed odd for a specialist insurer, it was suggested I try again after a few years.   Anyone had a better experience with them?  Or have any suggestions for others that might quote based on recent experience?