Travel insurance

ALLStoker48, do take care with this. I am 73 and despite feeling fit and well I do have a past medical history and declare it ALL when applying for travel insurance, especially abroad. They might want to know about ailments you have had in the past that, although now resolved, might cause problems in the future. For example, about 35 years ago I suffered badly with a back problem that was eventually diagnosed as Scoliosis. Apparently up to 80% of the population has a curved spine but most do not suffer as a result. I did, but after extensive physio I conquered the pain, and still do the exercises regularly, and could easily forget that I ever had it. But as I later found out, the condition can reduce your lung function and insurers need to know that.

It is far better to fill in their forms and make sure you are open about anything and everything than to find yourself in the middle of the Mediterranean having to be airlifted in a helicopter and having to pay for it all yourself.

I have just come back from a holiday in Europe. I used a company called All Clear who were excellent. They specialise in providing insurance for people with illness and I would certainly use them again.

I paid about £35 for the week

The insurance is pointless if you don't get cover for pre-existing or new health conditions . I have a lot of health conditions and have tried many insurers over the years. I'm now using nationwide. It worked out cheaper to pay an £18 monthly account fee plus £300 because of health conditions than using other insurers. All clear quoted £600+.

RedRidingHood

The insurance is pointless if you don't get cover for pre-existing or new health conditions . I have a lot of health conditions and have tried many insurers over the years. I'm now using nationwide. It worked out cheaper to pay an £18 monthly account fee plus £300 because of health conditions than using other insurers. All clear quoted £600+.

I'm with Nationwide too but we only had to pay £30 (x2) extra for one health condition for each of us. One age supplement covers both so just £90 total. Given that covers USA and the rest of the world as well as UK travel for a whole year I don't think we could get better. Stoker48 I'd certainly pay the extra in your position, peace of mind is priceless, and you know you'll have full cover for any mishaps. Of course we all hope that insurance will be 'a waste of money' but having had to claim in the past it softened the blow of a medically cancelled holiday to not be thousands of pounds out of pocket too.

Thank you SO much for very helpful replies.
Sorry about the predicted incorrect text - dont know where “Travelodge Lodge” came from!
I wasn’t sure if I could name the company but some of you have, so obviously that’s ok.
It was Nationwide I was referring to.
Reassuring you gave it the thumbs up 👍
Thank you, once again.

Stoker48 we'd only joined Nationwide 5 months before having to make a claim. The insurers paid the claim by return of post with absolutely no quibbles at all. We've not had to claim under Aviva (the new insurer) but wouldn't expect it to be any different. Incidentally we also had a car breakdown and were recovered under the insurance and again it was seamless. Enjoy your cruise!

We've had the Nationwide insurance for many years.
We get an annual renewal notice and have to declare any medical conditions, it's not optional!

There's an extra charge for my husband: blood pressure tablets and statins.
There's no extra charge for me: asthma inhaler and antihistamines.

There's an extra charge for cruise cover (thank you for reminding me!).

Never skimp on travel insurance.

Mum and Dad were on a Ramblers walking holiday in Corsica one year. He felt a bit "funny" up a mountain.

He ended up being helicoptered off the mountain, flown to hospital, transferred to another hospital in France, then flown to a hospital in the UK accompanied by a doctor and nurse who'd flown out to escort him home.

I can't imagine what that would have cost without adequate insurance 😳

DH is 87, I'm 77, it cost us £850 for a week in Morocco. He has many health issues, charmingly referred to as co-morbidities in hospital letters. It takes ages going through everything on the phone with insurance companies.