Medical insurance (1 Viewer)

[bernardfeay]

I am guessing some of you have a solution to this situation.

I am about to become 68 and my wife is 66. About a dozen years ago the doctor decided I should take a blood pressure pill and I take it. About 8 years ago he decided that everybody over 55 should take a statin so he prescribed one for me.

My wife has a vitamin B something or other deficiency and she takes a supplement for that. She also takes a happy pill (as I call it) and it works.

Our annual multi trip insurance used to cost about £80. All of a sudden it is up to £800.

My inclination is to travel without insurance. I run 15 miles per week, I'm not overweight (well nearly not) and I do land's end to John O Groats on the push bike. two half marathons last year.

I tend to take the view that even if I take out a policy there will be some small print lingering in the background that says I'm not covered anyway.

 

[williamb]

I know what you mean we are in the same situation you take these pills to prevent these things the are penalised for doing so. I don't know the answer to this problem I think there most be thousands of people around our age group in the same situation.

 

[injebreck99]

Ditto!, the insurers seem to think that once you reach 65, you are in imminent danger of keeling over at any time and will not risk it, I have offered to take a medical at my own expense to prove I still have a pulse, not interested!

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[Puddleduck]

The specialist at the hospital I attend had the view that if things haven't caused any problems so far then what are the chances of problems whilst you are on holiday? In Europe take your health card for emergency treatment. If it isn't an emergency you can generally fly or get home some other way fairly quickly. That was only her opinion of course.

Only you can weigh up your risks as only you have the full details of your health and your attitude to risk.

 

[Mack100]

That's a huge amount of money, I'm a year younger than you and take similar medication.
The CC insured us last year for annual multi-trip for just under £300. That includes paying an extra premium for each quoted medical condition.
I haven't asked a quote for this year but I'd be amazed if was at the level you were quoted.

 

[Puddleduck]

My brother-in-law has replacement heart valves. They were replaced 30 years ago and have never caused any problems. His health insurance for going to New Zealand cost more than the airfare for him and his wife.

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[chaser]

I don't follow this , I'm 66 and had blood pressure pills for about the same time, but at staysure I pay£80 most don't bother about bp as far as I thought, Julie's is the same:thumb:

 

[flatpackchicken]

LLOYDS bank do travel insurance for up to 80 years old. Only criteria is that you have to have at least £1000 p/month coming into your account, + tell them any aliments that you already have, This is the only reason I opened a LLOYDS account just for the travel insurance, but I also get
1. AA cover in UK only with full UK wide recovery and home start on a personal basis (not featured on 1 vehicle)
2. Phone insurance,
3. Sentinal bank and credit card ins,
4. 5% interest on balances from £3000 to max £5000 with a supplement called Vantage that you ask the bank to apply to your account for free which can give you up to £250 per year interest although the charge for this account is £17 per month (£204 p/a) but still leaves you with £46 per year extra interest and all the above items for free cant be bad, but even if you do not have up to £5000 in savings in the account, it costs £204 per year (account charge) for Worldwide travel ins and all 1-4 of the above. All this is for the PLATINUM ACCOUNT
Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

 

[Puddleduck]

I don't follow this , I'm 66 and had blood pressure pills for about the same time, but at staysure I pay£80 most don't bother about bp as far as I thought, Julie's is the same:thumb:

I've found that the Post Office are pretty good. If you only take one BP medication they are fine with that but once you take a second tablet or a statin the lights start flashing red.

I've also used Club Direct in the past. I'm not sure what the maximum holiday length is but it might be worth checking out.

I'd never thought about The Post Office but they had a stand in Perth Post Office and I said to the chap that I had existing conditions so they probably wouldn't be interested - he phoned their medical line for me and there was no fuss or bother at all. They wouldn't cover one of my conditions but that was fine as it isn't anything that is likely to cause sudden or short term problems. They only reason they couldn't cover it was because it is so rare and they have no risk index.

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[chaser]

Strange thing this internet, frightening even, since I posted about staysure, their advert keeps coming up the side.

 

[Mack100]

Strange thing this internet, frightening even, since I posted about staysure, their advert keeps coming up the side.

Apologies for off topic but this tracking is awful. I use Ghostery to stop websites tracking my visits for referrals etc.

 

[hdvrod]

Try comfort I take I am 67 take various pills,was no where near that amount!

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[Scout]

this thread caused me to chase up a hostpital cardiology appiontment that has never come, just as well I did, its Tuesday.


They never sent out vthe appionmtment letteroh:


dred to think what my insurance we be untill all tests are done

 

[bernardfeay]

I have noticed a few responses from people in their mid 60s who still have modest premiums. I'm sure we would all expect that a big bump would happen at 65 or 70. To find it happening between 67 and 68 seems odd and I can't explain it.

It is possible to go on a comparison website, just for fun and make your age 69 say and see what happens.

In my experience Insurance companies like to "word" their advertisements so that you believe you are covered for everything but "word" their policy so that you are covered for nothing. I exaggerate to make the point.

I will carry my Europe medical card with in Europe and pay for my own return flights when I am in USA if the need arises. They will get nowt more out of me.

 

[Ber090]

Had a leaflet recently from CC on Red Pennant 2014. They appear to have changed their methods on existing conditions. Last time we insured through them we had to ring and get all pre existing conditions signed of by them.
Now it says if you can answer the few listed questions ok it is sorted. Worth looking on the cc website.
Cheers
Bernie

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[chaser]

I have noticed a few responses from people in their mid 60s who still have modest premiums. I'm sure we would all expect that a big bump would happen at 65 or 70. To find it happening between 67 and 68 seems odd and I can't explain it.

It is possible to go on a comparison website, just for fun and make your age 69 say and see what happens.

In my experience Insurance companies like to "word" their advertisements so that you believe you are covered for everything but "word" their policy so that you are covered for nothing. I exaggerate to make the point.

I will carry my Europe medical card with in Europe and pay for my own return flights when I am in USA if the need arises. They will get nowt more out of me.

Sorry didn't realise you were including usa:Sad:

 

[Bollard]

Over 65 insurance.

The most difficult thing if you decide just to 'chance it' using just the EHIP CARD is no re-patriation if you are taken ill abroad. If you had ADAC before they stopped taking NEW UK members the cover included repatriation as part of the cover. Mentioned to us was the EHIP PLUS an add on to the EHIP card which covers more than the basic card . . . Look on the website "EHIC PLUS'. I hasten to add the plus part is not run by the government but an insurance company, it might be worth a look. We covered ourselves with 'Just Travel Cover' multi-trip upgraded to silver = £356 with existing conditions ie nothing mega just the usual old age bits and bobs as previously mentioned, ages 65 and 66 due for re-newal this September! Good Luck.