Travel Insurance

[Ruby2016]

Thank you Ndw32548,

I ‘hugged’ your reply at the time but your words and advice stayed with me.  I have now had to put my hands up and have amended my original post as due to tiredness etc. made some errors in my answers on my online application.

I used to work in car insurance many moons ago and I have ever since, had the personal opinion of ‘how can we not pay’ rather than how can we pay.  They say there’s no fool like an old fool (that’s me) and I thank you again for your sound advice. 

[Ndw32548]

Hello, am thinking of getting up the energy to try again so thanks for the updates and wishing everyone strength. 
i went on a cruise to the Arctic which was wonderful and included helicopter off if needed. Boots annual insurance was good tho I had just finished treatment. They cancelled my policy subsequently as soon as I had brain mets ( tho under control) and insurance companies wanted we ‘stable’ ie no big treatments planned for a good few months. I will use EHIC while still able for European trips and see if I can get anything else later to go further afield or get better coverage. My husband and daughter needed to be on same policy for the cruise to get cancellation so watch that cost too. Make sure you tell them everything - on phone as I found they didn’t connect conversations on my drugs and I got told off about something innocuous. Good luck to all and happy safe travels 

[Ruby2016]

Hi,  we’re going away in a few months’ time.  I did it all online as I am not very confident on the phone.

After 2 insurers saying ‘no’, I tried Boots and I am pleased to say I had success. I also have ‘depression & anxiety’ so there were lots of questions on that too and is another hurdle to get over. What I liked about the quotation process is that you can type in your medications

Update 6/2/20

I belatedly printed off my insurance paperwork and reading it through with a fine toothed comb, realised I’d made several errors in my application. I was tired and stressed when I did the application online (I’d already had 2 online declines) and had also spent nearly 30 mins on the phone to a third firm who at the end told me they’d need to refer me to their Underwriters but our holiday was too far in advance. The sting in the tail was that I needed to reapply within 2 months of the holiday.

Being impulsive, I then applied to Boots, but have now cancelled under the 14 day change of mind. I am now going to thank the lady who responded to my original post as she had wise advice! 

[nicky08]

bumping up

[Ndw32548]

Gives me hope before my next scans, thanks and enjoy the trip 

---

@helen44 wrote:

Just had a really good experience with 'Insure With' travel insurance. Have SBC liver & bones, 7 years in, want to visit daughter in Indonesia and expected to run in to problems getting a quote. First company said no, Insure With said yes & will only cost £220 for a single trip policy with excellent medical/repatriation cover. I was very impressed with them.

Helen x

---

[helen44]

Just had a really good experience with 'Insure With' travel insurance. Have SBC liver & bones, 7 years in, want to visit daughter in Indonesia and expected to run in to problems getting a quote. First company said no, Insure With said yes & will only cost £220 for a single trip policy with excellent medical/repatriation cover. I was very impressed with them.

Helen x

[nicky08]

Hi

The previous message seems to take you to a commercial website which, although has information about travel insurance companies, does not specifically mention travel insurance for secondary breast cancer.  Unfortunately not all insurance companies will insure for SBC so unless it's stated that it does it is a bit of a trawl through all of them to check - which is why this thread tries to concentrate on the companies that we (the forum users with SBC) know about that we can get insurance from.  However I'm sure anyone can check the link out for themselves.

Nicky

[Alia111]

It is a very informative forum that provided the platform for travel insurance information. Here is available the platform where we can post our experiences. The website,  is there for you that provides you the travel insurance facility.

[WMJ]

Thanks Nicky for your lovely reply and reassurance. It’s so good to hear you have enjoyed 11 years of travel and continue to do so. Xxx

[nicky08]

Hi WMJ

Unfortunately this is one big example of how the outside world has not caught up with the reality that people are living longer with secondary breast cancer. The travel insurance industry penalise us with the assumption we are going on holiday because we feel really ill and are bound to make an insurance claim! As if! Most of us are like you, feeling well, carrying on our everyday lives and in more need of a holiday than most people who do not have this awful diagnosis hanging over them.

It is very typical that you will get insurance if you have had primary BC but many companies will not even contemplate insuring you for travel if you have mets, however stable you are. If you have time to read back on this thread there are companies who will insure you however and take a pragmatic view and don’t charge you huge premiums. It is always cheaper if you are travelling within Europe and I assume that will continue even after we leave the EU as medical expenses are not as high as in USA and other countries further afield and, currently, you can use your EHIC card for emergency treatment should you need it.  You will also find that other parts of the travel insurance policy that your bank provides will still be able to be used such as travel delay, lost luggage and any medical expenses not directly linked to your diagnosis so you will have some cover even if you don’t take out a specific policy for this trip. Most times any insurer needs to know you are fit to travel (for everyone to be honest not just SBC sufferers) so you should try to get that agreed before you go on any trip, even if it’s just a note in your file or you get your oncologist to verbally agree so if a claim came up they would know you had been away and help back up that claim.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday it’s so important you, and we, keep doing the things we love to do. It’s good for our morale and also our partners morale and breaks up the horribleness of this situation we find ourselves in - whatever we choose or can do to treat ourselves. If I’d given up travel 11 years ago on my secondary diagnosis I would not have had all the wonderful holidays and memories that I have had both far and wide.

Nicky x

[WMJ]

Hi there,

Thought I would add to this link with my experience. we currently have travel insurance with Barclays. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with secondaries to bone and liver last week and due to go on holiday tomorrow. My husband rang the bank to let them know and was told I am no longer insured for my secondaries. what does that even mean? Without the primary, bc I wouldn’t have the secondary.  They did offer to reimburse us if we cancelled the holiday, very generous and so encouraging. 

My my real gripe is this. I have only just been diagnosed and my consultant is positively encouraging me to go away, to be fair she said my insurance company would probably not insure me. Furthermore I am currently feeling well and keep myself fit, go to the gym etc ( at the moment) & we need to live in the moment. Once my husband came off the phone I felt utter despair and anger.  Clearly I was not expecting to be in this situation and have a few trips already organised. I  think I am feeling discriminated against because of the cancer curse and other people who abuse the system.  Surely if your consultant says you are fine to travel you are. Furthermore as a society we should be encouraging people to do what they can when they can because who knows what’s around the corner. I am Thinking of heading up a campaign against insurance companies about this!!! 

Rant over.....

btw... I am going on this holiday tomorrow, the last few months have been awful with tests and waiting on results. I also intend to go on the other trips we have booked. 

XX

[Anniej]

Hi Rosieamber, you’ve picked a tough one there with a cruise. Much easier for insurance to stay in a hotel. With the cruise they have to factor in airlifting you off the ship if anything should happen, and that does come at a price, I’m afraid. You may also need clearance from your Onco for an insurance company to take you on. On theBoots form it actually asks you if your consultant deems you fit to travel. Hoping you find something. X

[nicky08]

Bumping up

[LYNDYLOO]

Hi Helen

I found Insure With good. I have not used them for a yearly policy as we tend to go abroad once a year. 

Anyway how are you getting on? Are you still on taxol? 

Hope you get your insurance sorted.

Linda 

[Anne30]

I found Boots very good. Best wishes Anne 

[helen44]

Just tried to renew my annual Eurotunnel insurance & they have now made it a condition that you have a booking on Eurotunnel within the next year. I have just used them for my trip to France but that doesn't count because it has to be a future booking. Apparently this condition was brought in a few months ago but Eurotunnel do not inform you as an existing customer  - I have told them they should have done so!

Now to find another policy.....

Helen x

[nicky08]

Bumping up 

[Ndw32548]

Hello, just to add my experience which may put things in some context but doesn’t help get insurance if you have treatment planned. I had annual insurance for Europe and cruise with Boots after chemo, radio, big neck opp and ongoing IV  treatment with H and P. When I had to have gamma knife treatment on my brain Boots cancelled the insurance and told me I was uninsurable - they later agreed they were insensitive in the handling but would not budge. The other insurance companies I spoke to also would not insure me. After some pushing for information, I believe the situation is simply that they won’t insure you if you have upcoming treatment ( on going treatment including IV or planned checks like MRI seem fine) - in my case the gamma knife (even though there are no side effects and out same day) and will reassess in 6-8 weeks to see if they will insure me.  What the previous reply called wanting you to show you are ‘stable’. I presume premiums then will be high. Other companies may of course be different but I was getting a reasonably consistent message from the 3 or 4 I tried. My cynical view is that insurance companies who turn you down give you a list of other companies to contact just as a means of making themselves look helpful and passing the buck.  the ones I got from Boots all said the same.  I’m travelling to Europe with the EHIC in case I needed basic treatment but would not travel outside the EU without insurance.  I feel well and walked a lot on holiday but in January had to suddenly spend a week in hospital with sepsis when my picc line got ineffected so realise I have to be sensible. Good luck to everyone wanting to travel - especially for the hen night- and as someone reminded me there are wonderful places to see in the UK. Who knows, when I am considered ‘stable’ I may be able to go on adventures further afield  again. 

[nicky08]

Oh no, that’s such awful timing - mind you there’s no good timing for a secondary diagnosis.

A lot will depend on how you’re feeling with the chemo as to whether you feel up to your holidays, so be kind to yourself and make sure you look after No 1 as your main priority .

If you do want to travel you could use a single trip Eurotunnel policy for the hen party (assuming it’s not in Jamaica). Travelling across the Atlantic is much more difficult to get insurance for, due to the high health care charges both in USA and Caribbean (they are usually lumped together as a zone). I have used AXA PPP both recently and previously. It is an annual policy (and would therefore cover you also for the hen party trip if you were to do both). You would need to speak to them I think to clarify whether you are covered or not but I can’t see why not. Otherwise you will find many travel insurance companies will not insure secondary BC for USA etc except at an extortionate rate.

I hope you had travel insurance in place before your diagnosis for these 2 trips as you would be able to claim for them if you are not able to travel as your current diagnosis wasn’t in place.

Good luck

Nicky xx

[Elliejane]

---

@helen44 wrote:

Bumping up for 1972Rach

---

Hi guys

i was diagnosed with secondary in bones and liver 3 weeks ago.  I am due to start with taxotere, herceptin and perjeta next Wednesday (17th April).  

I have 2 holidays booked, a hen weekend on 3rd may and Jamaica on 25th June for my friends wedding and I'm a bridesmaid.  Has anyone got insurance while still going through chemo and if so who with.  I really hope Iam able to attend, doctor has said probably not for hen weekend and will see for Jamaica, both depending how iam doing on the treatment.

its bad enough that I have to live with this disease I'm devastated I may miss my holidays and my friends wedding.

anyone got any advice

xx

[Elliejane]

Hi guys

i was diagnosed with secondary in bones and liver 3 weeks ago.  I am due to start with taxotere, herceptin and perjeta next Wednesday (17th April).  

I have 2 holidays booked, a hen weekend on 3rd may and Jamaica on 25th June for my friends wedding and I'm a bridesmaid.  Has anyone got insurance while still going through chemo and if so who with.  I really hope Iam able to attend, doctor has said probably not for hen weekend and will see for Jamaica, both depending how iam doing on the treatment.

its bad enough that I have to live with this disease I'm devastated I may miss my holidays and my friends wedding.

anyone got any advice

xx

[Elliejane]

Hi guys

i was diagnosed with secondary in bones and liver 3 weeks ago.  I am due to start with taxotere, herceptin and perjeta next Wednesday (17th April).  

I have 2 holidays booked, a hen weekend on 3rd may and Jamaica on 25th June for my friends wedding and I'm a bridesmaid.  Has anyone got insurance while still going through chemo and if so who with.  I really hope Iam able to attend, doctor has said probably not for hen weekend and will see for Jamaica, both depending how iam doing on the treatment.

its bad enough that I have to live with this disease I'm devastated I may miss my holidays.

anyone got any advice

xx

[helen44]

Bumping up for 1972Rach

[helen44]

Bumping up for Victoria sponge 

[Stillhere]

Thanks Nicky that's helpful advice. I will crack on with phoning them, best to be sure now than finding out you are not covered. Not sure what they will think about clinical trials, no tick box for that!!

[nicky08]

Hi stillhere

I only wrote what I thought the amount for a European annual policy was so I may have got it completely wrong! If they have quoted under £80 and you have informed them of your mets then I'd say its correct.  Interestingly I read the policy booklet they send me yesterday (I hadnt got round to checking the specifics) and they do rely on you having an EHIC card for European medical care (if it's needed whilst away of course).  This is the same for Eurotunnel's Annual European Travel Insurance and they quote about the same amount, £80, (I had the policy last year before they removed travel to islands which I believe they did).  Btw I did check with AXA and their European cover does include islands and cruises but please check with them and not rely on my memory - too much chemo is not good for certain things!  Obviously none of us know exactly what will happen with the EHIC after Brexit but it sounds like a reciprocal agreement would be in place and as I (we) have taken out our policy before this happens I'm assuming the cover is still valid whatever happens after Brexit.

Btw Ndw32548 I don't know any specifics regarding brain mets but you may be able to try AXA.  However their clause about being 'terminal' means you are expected to live for a year after the start of your policy which would be difficult for many of us, and our oncologists, to work out! I have used them on the basis that my current treatment would be likely to ensure I am alive in a year and therefore I can use it to cover my travel immediately however I certainly wouldn't be using the policy towards the end of that 12 month period (of the policy) if my health had deteriorated. In fact I wouldn't be travelling at all.

Nicky x

[Stillhere]

Hallo, this reply is to Nicky re AXA PPP. I went online to get a quote for a basic annual travel policy to Europe.It barely asked any questions about secondary breast cancer (it did acknowledge it in the quote) which came back at under £80. Surely this isn't right, it seems so low! I've been a bit cavalier about insurance on short trips to Europe but we have 2 planned this year so I have my sensible head on!

Could this be right? Yes, I will phone up but I hate talking about my health to a stranger.

[Ndw32548]

Hello.

I had annual travel insurance with Boots. They were competitive and quite helpful.  Unfortuately I have been diagnosed with 'tiny' brain tumours but very able to travel and clear from the neck down.  Boots have since refused to cover me after 6 months, though they will refund some of the premium.  Would suggest anyone getting annual cover checks what would cause them to cancel the insurance.  If anyone has cover for brain tunours please let me know as I'm now starting all over again which is very frustrating. Thanks.

---

@nicky08 wrote:

Hi buddyfan 

It used to be a ‘sticky’ thread but this tag got removed a few months ago. I agree it needs to be as it’s very useful to share with other secondary ladies.

I was going to add my latest info on it a few weeks ago but couldn’t be bothered to search for it in the new forum format as I was also having problems using the new format on my pc. However now the thread is on the first page I’ll add my info.

I have just got an annual policy from AXA PPP for £460. This covers both me and my husband and is a worldwide policy including USA. I have bone and liver mets although they don’t ask any questions at all. They do an annual European policy which I think is about £295 but I can’t remember exactly what the policy cost was.

Nicky x

---

---

@nicky08 wrote:

Hi buddyfan 

It used to be a ‘sticky’ thread but this tag got removed a few months ago. I agree it needs to be as it’s very useful to share with other secondary ladies.

I was going to add my latest info on it a few weeks ago but couldn’t be bothered to search for it in the new forum format as I was also having problems using the new format on my pc. However now the thread is on the first page I’ll add my info.

I have just got an annual policy from AXA PPP for £460. This covers both me and my husband and is a worldwide policy including USA. I have bone and liver mets although they don’t ask any questions at all. They do an annual European policy which I think is about £295 but I can’t remember exactly what the policy cost was.

Nicky x

---

[nicky08]

Hi buddyfan 

It used to be a ‘sticky’ thread but this tag got removed a few months ago. I agree it needs to be as it’s very useful to share with other secondary ladies.

I was going to add my latest info on it a few weeks ago but couldn’t be bothered to search for it in the new forum format as I was also having problems using the new format on my pc. However now the thread is on the first page I’ll add my info.

I have just got an annual policy from AXA PPP for £460. This covers both me and my husband and is a worldwide policy including USA. I have bone and liver mets although they don’t ask any questions at all. They do an annual European policy which I think is about £295 but I can’t remember exactly what the policy cost was.

Nicky x

[Anne30]

Please people are getting insurance and are off having fun. I got a quote from Saga and found them helpful and reasonable. I have secondaries x

[buddyfan]

PS why isn't this thread pinned? Or is there a pinned thread.

[buddyfan]

We're doing a two week cruise in caribbean. Best I found was Boots by phone not online. I have bone mets discovered pretty soon after starting treatment, husband has various typical ailments but not cancer or anything awful. They asked way more questions so I thought they'd turn us down. Other insurers were £1500, £1900 and others wouldn't insure us at all. Boots is £488 , so I asked about annual and get this, it was cheaper £400 for annual worldwide couple plus cruise add on. Excellent!

[nicky08]

Bumping up 

[Kate21]

Hi Helen, just to say I took a policy with MIA when I went to America, while I was there I fell and dislocated my finger, appreciate it wasn’t cancer related but found them really reasonably priced, competent and easy to deal with. The hospital initially said my bill was a lot less than it turned out to be due to a mix up with my paperwork but they settled without question. Would definitely use them again. Kate x

[helen44]

Just read Kenzo's post about travel insurance and came across the same with Eurotunnel when I went to renew my annual policy on Monday. Basically they now only cover for mainland Europe, no islands (bit ironic - I live on an island!!). Pain in that we are going to Majorca in September but visit France a lot so I have renewed & taken a single trip for Majorca with MIA.
Happy holidays everyone x

[Juma]

Thanks didi62, I did try to go through this site but it doesn't seem to be set up for secondary dx. We leave around 6am on Monday so don't really have time to call them. I finally found cover but they scorched me on the winter sports supplement! x

[didi62]

Hi I used Insure Pink for cruise cover this year and got 2 weeks cover for £115 which I thought was reasonable.

Insure with and Boots are meant to be good too.hope you manage to get cover for your holiday best wishes Didi 

[Juma]

Sorry if this duplicates my post but the first doesn't appear to have uploaded.

Can anyone recommend a travel insurance company? My husband and I have decided a last minute ski holiday flying on New Year's Eve to France. The best quote I have found is £466 - a bit of a hike since last year's £10.99!! Thanks J

[nicky08]

Hi imac55

Have seen your other thread - to be honest this one should be called the same - 'Travel insurance with secondaries' as it makes it clear the struggles us secondary ladies have with travel insurance and some of the very kind posts from primary ladies unfortunately do not apply to us as we can't get reasonable/any insurance from many of the companies that will insure them.

You mentioned Eurotunnel.  I would still give them a call and ask what they mean by 'terminal' in their policy wording.  I have asked on two separate occasions when I have taken insurance out with them to clarify and on both occasions have been told that it means there is no more treatment left and you have been TOLD you have weeks to live.  They do record their phone calls so also ask for the operators name and note the date and time of the call so it coud be checked if you do take a policy out and had to make a claim.  BTW I presume everyone has a terminal diagnosis the day they are born 😉 Being flippant here but until immortality is the norm I guess none of us can be insured.  Hope you are successful with getting insurance and do update this thread with any info that will help any of us.

Nicky x

[imac55]

Can't help as looking for advice myself, but just wanted to wish you luck and hope you get insurance and enjoy Lake Garda, I hear its a wonderful place, and you deserve to be there! X

[imac55]

This was really helpful. Wish I'd seen before writing my thread! Thanks Nicky!

[didi62]

Hi Dora I went on a 2 week cruise in Europe this June and got insurance with Insure Pink.

It cost me £115.21.excess of £75 and medical excess of £200.I was pleased with the quote as expected much higher.I have never needed to claim on any holiday insurance thankfully.Hope you have a wonderful cruise- only way I like to holiday now.best wishes Didi 

[nicky08]

Hi

I know being insured for cruises can cause more expense, I assume because you are not on dry land and therefore there could be additional costs if you had to get back to shore quickly, however it could be worth contacting Boots if they gave that quote to Rosie53, as we all know very few companies insure people with SBC. What's so frustrating is that we wouldn't be going on these holidays if we felt unwell! I would love to know how many people with any form of secondary cancer have made a claim based purely on their cancer, I doubt if it would be many therefore we're penalised for having this condition, yet living for years with it and not making any claims. Grrrrr, the insurance industry needs to wake up. Rant over.

Nicky x

[Maz61]

Hi. The insurance I had was not worldwide and was for single trip. However the charges for insurancewith were extremely competitive. I like that they load the excess rather than the premium up front. At least you then only pay extra if you make a claim. Hope you find what you're looking for and that you have a fab holiday.

[Dozy Dora]

Was your insurance £87 for world wide and for the year as I am going on a cruise and I need insurance?

[nicky08]

Hi Anniemay

Sorry to hear about your progression and the added frustration this causes, especially when planning to travel.

I have used Eurotunnel insurance for a few years now, both worldwide (when they used to offer that type of policy) and European travel.

Their criteria for cover for pre existing conditions is based on a few questions, the main one in your case would be the matter of stability. However I think they will cover you if your consultant/GP states that you are fit to travel. It might be worth giving them a call to see what they say? You can always read their T's and C's on their website to check what the criteria is. As they don't go through the whole medical questionnaire rigmarole you don't have to answer about your specific medical issues, just meet their criteria. If you meet their criteria their cover is considerably cheaper than other companies. Other than that you could try some of the other companies mentioned in the last few posts on here although probably pay a bit more for cover if they will insure you.

I have the double problem of chemotherapy induced cardio myopathy (now sorted through surgery) as well as having SBC so know how frustrating it is to get cover, let alone cover at a reasonable price. I have had Eurotunnel insurance for quite a few years now and have spoken to them to make sure I am covered before buying a policy.

Hope this helps and wishing you luck - with getting cover and also with your continuing treatment.

Nicky x

[Anneemay]

I have posted previously on this thread and received good advice but my sbc has progressed further so here I am again. I have booked a weeks coach holiday to Lake Garda with my husband later this month and have ordinary annual travel insurance with our bank but this does not include cancer related problems which may or may not occur. I was diagnosed September 2015 with secondaries in my pleura, lung and bones and have been on different treatments since then. My CT scan in April showed progression to my liver, left axilla lymph nodes and uterus and started weekly Paclitaxol in May. I was also having pain in my right shoulder MRI in June showed deposits in my shoulder joint and referred to another consultant for radiotherapy. My recent CT scan at the end of July showed further progression in my liver, no evidence in the uterus and all other areas stable. The Paclitaxol was discontinued as a consequence of the liver progression and I received radiotherapy to my shoulder and T3 vertebra in the spine nearly 3 weeks ago. I will be seeing my oncologist on Thursday to discuss next chemo treatment probably Eribulin, she was aware when I saw her last month that we were planning a holiday prior to starting treatment again.

However I am a bit concerned that I have not got adequate insurance cover now, I have still got pain in my shoulder although not as bad as it was and I am on twice daily opiates to help with this and take short acting opiates for break through pain. I also have lymphodema of my right arm and wear a compression sleeve, also have some peripheral neuropathy especiallly in my right thumb from the se of Paclitaxol. I have also noticed that since the chemo was discontined I have have recently become SOB on excertion and plan to discuss this on Thursday, as I am not sure whether this is due to worsening of the pleural effusion that has always been evident on scans. We are not planning to walk for miles or climb any mountains when we are away.

Having said all that I feel fit enough to travel and everything else is functioning normally, well as normal as can be expected. Also at the moment apart from monthly Denusumab which is due next week and the regular opiates, I am not on any cancer treatments so what do you think of my chances of getting further cover to include my secondary diagnosis and related problems. Any suggestions or advice gratefully received. Ann xx

[Maz61]

Hi Everyone. Great to see all these replies. I have now found a company called insurewith. It was founded by a woman who had breast cancer back in 2007 (I think). I've just got a policy for £70.00 for 2 wk hol to Croatia, includes husband on policy. They ask diff questions from most and instead of loading policy premium up front they put an excess on me of £150 if I claim. I have bone Mets which they have covered and anything indirectly related. Hooray!!!!! Max 61 X.

[rosie53]

Hi Nicky, yes unfortunately it a bit of a long drawn out phone call and they did want lots of details but it wasn't too bad and I feel comfortable that they have all the right info about me and I'm happy with the price too.
Hugs Janette xx

[nicky08]

Ooo that's interesting! Did you have to go through the whole secondary BC rigmarole or did they just accept the fact you are fit to travel etc etc? It would be good to know another company will insure us for a reasonable premium. Thanks for the updates ladies.

Nicky x