Best travel insurance

I am constantly watching for insurance, discounts and any other information about them because my health is not what it used to be. I often read insurance tips on one blog, american-reia.com/insurance-news/insurance-twisting-churning-and-sliding-how-to-not-let-cunning-agents-twist-you-around/, and there's a discussion here about how not to fall victim to insurance fraud. You should read more about this too.

gangy5, sorry I’ve had the dreaded cold from hell all week so I’ve not looked at GN at all. The travel company I’ve used was Just Travel, hope you get sorted with them.

Agree with Katie59. I needed cover for 35 days in the USA for Nov/Dec. to stay with family. I have medical conditions. I've had quotes from £868 to £5,000. Seriously! Then I found that I could upgrade my Nationwide account, to get travel insurance. I'm 75, so they did a medical assessment, and I was offered annual insurance for about the same price as Floradora. This is a bargain!

Many thanks Esspee I too have got my policy from payingtoomuch and am extremely pleased with it. A very good recommendation!!

That’s why it is so important to answer all their questions truthfully Party4 Insurance companies think they are in business to avoid claims.
I have a heart condition for which I was once hospitalised…….70 years ago. It still affects my premiums.

Many thanks for your suggestions.Will probably only need cover for Europe not looking for a bargain just adequate cover with no hidden loopholes.I would prefer to pay for my GP to complete medical questionnaire as I panic on phone in case I give wrong info.Some friends suffered great financial hardship when insurers refused to cover full costs after they innocently failed to declare an illness some 20 yrs previous.Has anyone ever read or attempted to read their full policy it's a minefield of loopholes.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I am sure that with your help I will find something.
*Luckylegs' - could you please give me the name of your insurer?

Thank you everyone for all these hints, tips and insurance company names.

We are currently looking for annual travel insurance, Europe only, but DH had heart bypass surgery a year ago and the quotes we are getting are horrendous. Like you Luckylegs, we have a second home. In our case in Normandy, so we can get to a ferry terminal in an hour and like you baggage and cancellation do not really come into it.

How apt that this subject has come up now, as often happens. I’m trying to find new travel insurance but as I have pre existing medical problems, it’s not as easy as it once was. It’s so expensive now, I tried everyone that I could think of, even a broker. In the end, I’ve gone down the route of excluding most of my conditions (as they are not the sort to cause an emergency and we could always fly home). Even this was coming up at almost £700 but I have found a firm who will only charge £350 ish for the year, Europe only, which covers us in case of an accident, etc but not for cancellation, baggage, my unusual medical things. As we own a property we don’t care about baggage or cancellation, just as long as we are covered in case of needing repatriation etc,

If your annual insurance is worldwide for 2 people without restrictions I suggest £ 400 is good value.
If you need restricted cover, eg Europe only or excluding USA it will be much less, also it depends on your medical record and age

Thanks for that info, Esspee. Just looked at Payingtoomuch and got a quote of £247 for a couple / multi trip / Europe (DH has a heart condition). Looking forward to France next Spring now!

I have been through the mill trying to arrange travel insurance and have written about it on here at length just recently. To save me having to repeat everything may I suggest you look in the travel forum under “Travel insurance USA post Covid” dated 11th October. By post Covid I mean since the travel restrictions have been lifted (and it doesn’t just apply to the USA.)
Very brief summary - the best quotes came from Allclear and Staysure but Staysure has a connected company called “Paying too much” which supplied a variety of excellent quotes. I recommend using ”Payingtoomuch” then checking the company offering the best option with Trustpilot. We saved a huge amount of money.

These are the insurers suggested / recommended by the British Heart Foundation

mumofmadboys

You can do an internet search for single holiday insurance

Curiously the quotes I got recently for a 3 week stay in the USA were actually more than the annual worldwide policy I eventually purchased.
No, I don’t understand that either.

I think there are a few insurers who will insure you with a waver which excludes cover for existing conditions. Has anyone used one ? I have had a 'normal' quote for 1 week in Europe costing £630 for 2 of us oldies

Insure and go paid up when we got stranded in Australia last year.
I would say though that we booked our trip with Trailfinders and they were absolutely fantastic in the way that they helped with our return to the U.K. I think we will also use th3m for insurance too next time we travel across the world.

I had a regular good deal with Staysure but I never had a claim nor any problematical health problems. I feel the only fair assessment is when a claim is made. Then insurers show their true co!ours.

We need annual cover because we go to France a lot. We were covered by Nationwide as I ahve an account there and DH paid extra. Now they have written and told us that this particular banl account benefit has been withdrawn. The problem is DH had a heart attack and bypass surgery last year, then got an infection that affected his lungs.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Everybody wants a good deal, but the sad fact is that if you’re older with medical conditions you are more likely to get ill. Cost of insurance is based on the likelihood of you needing treatment while you’re away.

That’s the way it works. I’d rather go with someone reliable than take a chance on the cheaply but then I’m the belt and braces type.?

I have trouble getting accepted for travel insurance due to previous medical problem.Prior to covid my consultant was happy with me and on my next visit was considering stopping my meds but of course I have seen no one due to Covid for 2years..When Covid appeared the insurance I had managed to get, for a 10 day hol later in the year was cancelled by Boots leaving us unable to claim refund of £650deposit (family hol).
I have not required a GP since Jan 2020 (throat infection) but as we now wish to take the original family holiday next year to celebrate our 70ths can anyone with pre existing conditions give recomendations.

I would also complain to Nationwide for a reasonable refund and if you don’t get anywhere go through to the financial ombudsman service. When you complain be clear about how you want them to resolve it and what you will accept.

This is of course if you haven’t complained already.

Use a comparison site to look at options. You don’t need to use Nationwide.

I use Coverwise. They have Covid19 cover, they cover business travel and they also do single trip or annual multi trip insurance.

I've found the prices really good too.

Good travel insurance is so important so I hope you find a policy that works for you.

You can do an internet search for single holiday insurance

We had our last annual policy with Staysure and it was very reasonable. We didn't have any need to make a claim so not sure how good they are at paying out claims.