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Travel

Can't find travel insurance

(127 Posts)
Grandmama Tue 23-Apr-24 19:21:45

DD1 and I are going shortly to Italy for a week. I'm 76, active, not overweight, no health issues that impact on my life but I can't find travel insurance. In September I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. It is now normal but am awaiting a further consultation to see if it is familial hypercholesterolemia. Since September I have been monitoring my BP and sending my results regularly to my GP. It fluctuates between normal and high and generally averages out around 135. She has not yet recommended medication but has put me on the list for a 24 hour monitor and then decide if medication needed. Awaiting diagnosis and tests goes against me on insurance applications. I feel in the best of health. A gransnetter mentioned Spectrum but that's out of action at the moment and sent me to Albert and Eddie. They turned me down. I'm waiting for a reply from a couple of other companies. Any suggestions from gransnetters?

DrWatson Fri 26-Apr-24 05:46:19

Money Saving Expert site has lots of hints for Travel Insurance -- and indeed many other things!

Mojack26 Thu 25-Apr-24 21:54:11

Staysure.excellent

Primrose53 Thu 25-Apr-24 21:18:02

Marydoll

Primrose53

Tilly8

We ended up opening a Nationwide Flex account and paying £440 for a years worldwide travel 🙁. Better safe than sorry.

And did you have to answer loads of questions like …. Any hospital appointments in last 6 months, any booked in for next 6 months? How many meds do you take for a particular problem?

Primrose, that is standard procedure for any companies I have used. It used to take me hours to fill in the forms, only then to be told I had to speak to a manager.

Yes I know thanks Marydoll but I have heard from some people that these “add ons” with building society accounts expect you to provide answers rather than them asking questions and often people don’t.

Siope Thu 25-Apr-24 21:15:02

welshgirl2017

Or you could try this comparison site which specifically compares for people with pre-existing conditions and older travellers.

www.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/travel-insurance/over-70/

I’ve just tried that with my husband’s existing conditions. I got all excited as they offer up to 90 days cover for each trip , which is twice as long as we have now.

They said no, damn them 😂

Marydoll Thu 25-Apr-24 21:09:26

Primrose53

Tilly8

We ended up opening a Nationwide Flex account and paying £440 for a years worldwide travel 🙁. Better safe than sorry.

And did you have to answer loads of questions like …. Any hospital appointments in last 6 months, any booked in for next 6 months? How many meds do you take for a particular problem?

Primrose, that is standard procedure for any companies I have used. It used to take me hours to fill in the forms, only then to be told I had to speak to a manager.

Primrose53 Thu 25-Apr-24 20:59:13

Tilly8

We ended up opening a Nationwide Flex account and paying £440 for a years worldwide travel 🙁. Better safe than sorry.

And did you have to answer loads of questions like …. Any hospital appointments in last 6 months, any booked in for next 6 months? How many meds do you take for a particular problem?

ruthiek Thu 25-Apr-24 20:44:13

I had a 24 hour health monitor and am having to wait 10 weeks for my results

ruthiek Thu 25-Apr-24 20:43:08

I hsve existing health conditions and am 71 , I managed to get a policy with staysure

Tilly8 Thu 25-Apr-24 20:37:59

We ended up opening a Nationwide Flex account and paying £440 for a years worldwide travel 🙁. Better safe than sorry.

welshgirl2017 Thu 25-Apr-24 18:38:17

Or you could try this comparison site which specifically compares for people with pre-existing conditions and older travellers.

www.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/travel-insurance/over-70/

welshgirl2017 Thu 25-Apr-24 18:11:02

I used Admiral - a number of pre-existing conditions (one being high cholesterol). I even got winter sports cover and cruise cover with them - they go up to 80 for winter sports!
www.admiral.com/travel-insurance/medical-conditions

Hope this helps :-)

Cambia Thu 25-Apr-24 17:37:26

We have a Nationwide Flex account which gives us worldwide travel insurance. You pay a bit extra at 70 but when I had a heart attack last year we rang them and they were so helpful. They honoured a holiday already booked at no extra cost and they gave us travel for a year at an extra premium of just under £150 which was very reasonable against other travel insurance quotes. You also get car breakdown cover too. Highly recommend.

4allweknow Thu 25-Apr-24 16:40:41

Refusals could be due to you waiting on results and still under management of Drs. If your health service is anything like where I live I know my friend had to wait 14 weeks, yes, you read it right, for the result of her 24 hour monitor recording. They aren't treated as urgent. I have no health issues and use Staysure.

Primrose53 Thu 25-Apr-24 16:38:53

In my TV guide today was a leaflet for an insurance firm called goodtogoinsurance.com

They say they are experts in cover for medical conditions and no age limits! They are rated Excellent on Trust Pilot.

We are going to get all our medical stuff to hand then contact them. Fingers crossed.

AliSut1959 Thu 25-Apr-24 16:20:05

Try MIA travel insurance. It stands for Making Insurance Accessible. My late brother-in-law used them for a month long trip to Japan when he had a glioblastoma. He, my sister and their son wanted to do a last family holiday together before he died. The insurance premium wasn't extortionate either.

Here's the link to their website:
www.miatravelinsurance.co.uk/

I hope it helps.

Nannarose Thu 25-Apr-24 16:19:05

Wiser

I take statins so I no longer have high cholesterol. Should I declare that if I apply for holiday insurance. I also take blood pressure medication. So my blood pressure is now normal. It seems odd to me that I would declare that if it is controlled?

Normally you are asked if you have 'ever been diagnosed with....'. So you say 'yes', then they ask if you are on medication, if it is controlled etc.
For common conditions they have a simple algorithm that works out risk.

Joyce22 Thu 25-Apr-24 16:12:36

I've just bought insurance with holiday risk.com as it's the cheapest we've found for over 70 with pre existing conditions. Give it a try.

Ktsmum Thu 25-Apr-24 16:11:40

Check out British Heart Foundation website for recommended insurance, or medicalert

Georgesgran Thu 25-Apr-24 15:02:23

Wiser.
I declare highBP and what meds I take to lower it. My insurer also asks how long I’ve been on this med and if the dosage has been changed.
Should you be hospitalized and not in a position to tell them/take your BP meds, you’d be at an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.

I think it’s best to declare all.

Primrose53 Thu 25-Apr-24 15:00:50

Wiser

I take statins so I no longer have high cholesterol. Should I declare that if I apply for holiday insurance. I also take blood pressure medication. So my blood pressure is now normal. It seems odd to me that I would declare that if it is controlled?

I think you do have to but say it is controlled.

Wiser Thu 25-Apr-24 14:49:52

I take statins so I no longer have high cholesterol. Should I declare that if I apply for holiday insurance. I also take blood pressure medication. So my blood pressure is now normal. It seems odd to me that I would declare that if it is controlled?

scrapgran Thu 25-Apr-24 14:36:44

Try Staysure. I am 77 and they are fine though I don't have any long term health issaues

Helenlouise3 Thu 25-Apr-24 14:26:08

Have you tried Staysure or Virgin Money?

Babytige Thu 25-Apr-24 14:23:26

Don’t know if anyone has mentioned them but I use All Clear for travel insurance and have friends with pre existing conditions that also use them.

Nannarose Thu 25-Apr-24 13:58:02

Tamayra

Do you not have a European Travel card
Covered me in France smile

The 2 issues here are:
1. your cover is the same as a French national - and whilst details vary, this normally means paying 20% of costs - not a huge amount for a simple consultation, but could escalate. And in other countries it can be significant - some don't include nursing costs for instance.
2. repatriation - which in the case of a catastrophic accident can be huge. Imagine paying for a medical flight!
Whether you're happy to risk this is individual.

I know that some people can find insurance that excludes certain known conditions. If, for example, you are being treated for cancer, you can ask for that to be excluded. But you do need to be wary as insurance companies will do anything to get themselves off the hook.