Travel Insurance Shop around!

[JohnRJ]

Hi

My wife is diabetic and i have pre- existing medical condition's also.
The first 2 years we went abroad we insured through the insurance company with Diabetes UK.
That was fine a single trip about £73 that was for 7 day's the following year 2 weeks cost us £80 that was fine then with no change to my or my wife's conditions they wanted £408 for 2 week's all holidays were in the EEC.
So we found another company they covered us for the condition's we payed £83 for 2 week's and the same last year.
But my wife had a heart attack in September 08 and our insurance company wont insure us, 2 other companies would many pre-existing medical insurances wouldn't but one of the 2 that would wanted £1,2oo and another wanted £750 that was for 2 weeks we then contacted the Heart foundation and we were given one of there insurance companies and they have insured us both for all our condition's ie diabetes heart and vascular problem's and high cholesterol and many more condition's and the cost £271 underWriters AXA for both of us.
So shop around.
I would have stayed with Diabetes UK insurance but to expensive.
Kind regards John

 

[Dennis]

Hi John,
You are absolutely right to say shop around. But I would also say to anyone looking for travel cover, please read the small print. Many of the bigger insurance companies over the last year have decided that they will no longer insure pre-existing conditions. What that means is that they will offer you insurance, but if you had to make a claim, e.g. for medical expenses arising from your diabetes, or any other condition you had before the insurance started, then they will not pay.

But there are specialist insurers who will cover all your pre-existing conditions. This year I switched to the insurer recommended by this web site after my regular insurer for many years, Norwich Union, decided that they were no longer prepared to cover the medical conditions that my wife and I have. I was surprised to find that not only was the new insurer's cost less (for 12 months cover) but they offered more than NU would (e.g. double the medical costs, winter sports at no extra cost). My own policy cost £144 for a full year, unlimited number of trips, and all pre-existing conditions fully covered. NU, who are still one of the cheapest, wanted £148 but no winter sports cover and more importantly, no cover for any claim arising from my wife's or my own medical conditions.

So please shop around, but don't assume that the smaller specialist insurers will be more expensive, because they can offer much better value.