Health Insurance for long trip. What do you do? (1 Viewer)

[Hils and Glenns]

We are planning to do France Spain and Portugal for 100 days over the winter. Glenn has a medical condition (heart) and we are finding it difficult to find insurance that is affordable. What do other funsters do. Any advice? Glenn is getting frustrated even though its me doing all the leg work. So any help would be appreciated.

 

[Dazzlin]

Try searching for a single trip travel policy for your dates and cancel the baggage and cancellation cover, just leaving medical cover.

Works for us, but we haven't had to claim yet!

 

[Badknee]

We are on the search too. Medical/health insurance preferred not travel insurance as we don't need all the add-ons, delayed flight, lost luggage etc.

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[MR. FUSION]

Backpackers insurance worked for us, but obviously I informed them the overnighting was in the van.

 

[joka250]

No expert on subject but also have struggled with insurance as result of heart condition. Currently a couple of years short of 70 when things may get worse. You don't say how old Glen is but if below 70 try the Caravan Club Red Pennant insurance. They do several different longer term packages. Also I recently had a useful conversation with a lady at Euro tunnel, they do a package called Fit to Travel. If your o k on the day you take out insurance no questions asked, I believe. Worth a call.
When you get sorted don't forget home insurance to cover long term absence, many don't cover automatically.
As a last resort consider an annual policy but with individual trip limits and fly back to Blighty for a day, with planning need not be too expensive. Remember to always check the small print.
All the best.

 

[lifes2short]

Have you looked at shorter or multitrip insurance, works out cheaper. Some leave their motorhome on a site, or even at the airport and fly home. Take out a new policy, get prescriptions, sleep in the house and fly back.

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[joka250]

Forgot to suggest look at websites for the condition you have, e. g. BHF or heartrhythymnalliance for heart, various cancer charities and so on. It can get you pointing in right direction.

 

[PhilandMena]

Carry a EHIC. This will cover you both for emergencies. If you take out private health insurance within the UK it will almost certainly state in the small print that you are required you to use your EHIC in an emergency. It does not cover non emergency treatment but if you have an existing medical condition you are going to pay more.

 

[BreweryDave]

Depends on your age. If under 55 Alpha takes some beating. Under £200 for 2 of us with their £250 xs policy for a year with disclosed heart and back conditions

http://www.alphatravelinsurance.co.uk/

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[joka250]

Carry a EHIC. This will cover you both for emergencies. If you take out private health insurance within the UK it will almost certainly state in the small print that you are required you to use your EHIC in an emergency. It does not cover non emergency treatment but if you have an existing medical condition you are going to pay more.

Agree totally with advice on EHIC but not entirely with the pay more. We spent a lot of time researching when first had problems but cost has come down. We have to research each year because companies change almost year by year but with perseverance we get good comparable prices. Last year similar quotes for annual policy ranged from over £800 to £125 all virtually identical, several major companies refused to quote, but got there in the end.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Thanks everyone for your help. Unfortunately Glenn is 71 so it makes it all a bit more difficult. The best quote I've found is £295 for 100 days. That's just for him. I have Nationwide cover no medical issues but they still want to charge an extra £120 for cover for 100 days.
I'll be looking into all the suggestions today. I'll let you know if I find anything good.

 

[PhilandMena]

Agree totally with advice on EHIC but not entirely with the pay more. We spent a lot of time researching when first had problems but cost has come down. We have to research each year because companies change almost year by year but with perseverance we get good comparable prices. Last year similar quotes for annual policy ranged from over £800 to £125 all virtually identical, several major companies refused to quote, but got there in the end.

I too have come across this on comparison type websites. Cost for the same quote ranging from £150.00 to £6,000.00 plus. It's a rip off market place.

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[MR. FUSION]

No expert on subject but also have struggled with insurance as result of heart condition. Currently a couple of years short of 70 when things may get worse. You don't say how old Glen is but if below 70 try the Caravan Club Red Pennant insurance. They do several different longer term packages. Also I recently had a useful conversation with a lady at Euro tunnel, they do a package called Fit to Travel. If your o k on the day you take out insurance no questions asked, I believe. Worth a call.
When you get sorted don't forget home insurance to cover long term absence, many don't cover automatically.
As a last resort consider an annual policy but with individual trip limits and fly back to Blighty for a day, with planning need not be too expensive. Remember to always check the small print.
All the best.

Coop do 60 days empty house as standard, I used Towergate but also Swinton have specialist section for long term unoccupied. Dont forget to turn off the gas and water, I used couple of oil rads to heat the house connected to an Internet switch, Less complex than central heating should anything go wrong and no water circulating around the house.

 

[Speve]

We have found these very good
International Travel and Healthcare Limited, West House, 46 High Street, Orpington, Kent BR6 0JQ Tel: 01689 892 228 Fax: 01689 892

 

[spitfire]

Staysure ?

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[Hils and Glenns]

Staysure ?

Tried them. Not cheap.

 

[joka250]

Thanks everyone for your help. Unfortunately Glenn is 71 so it makes it all a bit more difficult. The best quote I've found is £295 for 100 days. That's just for him. I have Nationwide cover no medical issues but they still want to charge an extra £120 for cover for 100 days.
I'll be looking into all the suggestions today. I'll let you know if I find anything good.

Don't quote me but I think Caravan Club insurance works on some kind of average risk for those of us of a certain age result being that those of us with the less minor problems come out on top. Also a little concerned with Nationwide insurance, Janet has it available but when we checked she was told it wouldn't cover if her claim as a result of my pre existing condition. I'm not best to say this but we should all check the small print. Don't rush into anything, both of you stay cool calm and collected their is an acceptable solution out there, it just takes a little time and perseverance. Keep at it.

 

[nicholsong]

In answer to OP's question, I have often taken the attitude that if one can afford repatriation to a country where one has free health care then over the years it is cheaper to self-insure.

I also take this attitude with other insurance risks - e.g did not insure my boat for 3 years while it was stored in a safe yard and in a well-constructed steel cradle.

I also have never had life insurance, even when the Mortgage company tried to insist on it, which I resisted as the asset was worth more than the liability - they just want a quick way to collect. Also for a long time I had no dependents and when I did my assets far exceeded my liabilities.

Those insurance savings might have contrbuted somewhat to my assets

But it does depend on circumstances

Geoff

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[joka250]

In answer to OP's question, I have often taken the attitude that if one can afford repatriation to a country where one has free health care then over the years it is cheaper to self-insure.

I also take this attitude with other insurance risks - e.g did not insure my boat for 3 years while it was stored in a safe yard and in a well-constructed steel cradle.

But it does depend on circumstances

Geoff

With a lot of medical events prompt repatriation is not an option at any price. One hopes that it never happens but many of us live with conditions that can result in requiring intensive therapy, cost in that situation, for repatriation can be many tens of thousands even from neighbouring countries. I Would be very reluctant to follow that suggestion.

 

[spitfire]

Tried them. Not cheap.

Oh dear I have used them for Australia and that was reasonable

 

[namwaldog]

We used money supermarket as a search engine. They send you an email of the top twenty quotes. Make sure you select no contact at the end so you don't get them all ringing you.
Go through the process of applying for any you fancy to the stage where you give them your email. Once you have completed a few more details but BEFORE you commit to buy, just close the page down on your PC.
By giving those companies your email you are opening the way for them to contact you.

We did this with four companies and three of them emailed us with offers of discounts up to 15%.
We eventually bought from Debenhams Finance. For two of us 67 & 70 years it cost us £288 for 151 days with no declared conditions. About 95p each per day for a bit of peace of mind!
Good luck

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Have a look at Holidaysafe,although its also travel insurance they cover for 6 months and take into account preexisting medical issues,the premium are reasonable with excesses dependant on your past history,you can check it out on line www.holidaysafe.co.uk

 

[Lizi]

/www.goodtogoinsurance.com/ was mentioned on a camping forum although they only cover for a max of 3 months but is meant for people with existing conditions.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Had a look about for insurance again yesterday and did a few comparison sites but didn't buy any. Interestingly Flexi cover emailed me later offering me a reduction on their previous quote. They are cheapest so far £275 for 100 days. It looks like if you hold out they may offer a better price.

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[gus-lopez]

http://www.europesuretravelinsurance.com/
with fit4 travel if required

 

[Jenben]

We get annual insurance @Hils and Glenns , we have used insure and Go recently, I think they have 3 levels, silver, gold and platinum. When we did a long ski trip their cover wasn't for long enough but we rang them and 'bought' an add on to their policy.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

http://www.europesuretravelinsurance.com/
with fit4 travel if required

Just tried this one it came out at over £4600 just for Glenn

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