Re. Travel Insurance???

[Reg]

Hi All!

I am posting to see if anyone is able to kindly offer any advice regarding travel insurance and/or can recommend any particular travel insurance companies that might specialise in insurance for people with crohns, or with whom they have had good personal experience and a reasonable quote!

It's actually for my dad who has been a long sufferer with the condition but only recently had it confirmed and diagnosed in the last few weeks.

He is 64 years old now, and also recently had surgery (for the second time, the first being in 2005) for small bowel strictures in September last year.

He will be flying (this week!!) with my mum to SE Asia for 3 and a half weeks, as we are sending them away on holiday as a treat for both their wedding anniversary and my mum's birthday.

Many thanks in advance for any help/information/advice that anyone is able to offer...

Reg

 

[Catherine]

What country are you in?

 

[Reg]

We are in the UK. The problem we are finding is that he has also had relatively recent surgery so any further advice (beyond just for having crohns) specific to this situation is also greatly appreciated...

Thanks for your help,

Reg

 

[Catherine]

Are either of your parent still working? If so is there any chance there employer would have a corporate travel policy.

 

[Reg]

Yes, they are both still working, wasn't aware of that possibility and so will look into it, thanks for the tip!

 

[monkey]

I find the only way to do it, especially with the recent surgery is to have a policy where you 'opt out' for any crohns related illness. The downside obviously is that if theres any flare or problem it won't be covered!!
You probably need to get on the phone and have the discussion with them... I had a thomas cook policy which was pretty good and cheap but I don't know if you have to have a holiday with them to get it?? Worth a shot!!
Good luck!

 

[blackli]

My experience with travel insurance is that you won't be covered for ANY pre-existing conditions, which would now include crohns for your dad since he has a diagnosis. My GI advises me not to travel unless I feel I am in full remission, and even then, I am extremely careful what and where I eat and drink. Best of luck to him, he can't be too careful in a foreign country.

 

[Reg]

Thank you both for your replies :smile:

We have actually managed to get a quote already (from Freedom Insurance), and declared the crohns and surgery when doing so, it's just that it's over £600! Which seems a lot! So we were wandering if we are missing something and if there's a company or companies that specialise in providing cover for people in our dad's circumstances, and therefore are able to provide a more competitive quote...

 

[rygon]

Try these links

http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/...cations/Info-Sheets/Insurance-and-IBD.pdf.pdf

http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/...ps/MiltonKeynes/Documents/2007 newsletter.pdf

http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/...s/Publications/Info-Sheets/Travel and IBD.pdf

All info found from http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/

If you need to get an EHIC card (A definite if you havent got one all ready or it has run out) get it from https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do as it is free and you should never pay for it (which other websites charge for getting it)

 

[SarahD]

The forum wiki also has some suggestions you could look into:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Travel-insurance

 

[Ratty]

Hi, I work in travel insurance and if you can get cover for the CD where it's unstable or there's been recent surgery, it's only ever going to be at a much higher premium. Just to put it into perspective, medical repatriation from SE Asia would cost in excess of £20000 and then you've got treatment fees whilst there if necessary.

Unfortunately, the reality is that your dad is much more likely to require treatment abroad having recently had surgery than somebody in good health.

A couple of companies to try would be MIA insurance, Free Spirit, Millstream Direct and Able2Travel. They may well offer cover and at least give you a fair comparison against your current quote.

Good luck.

 

[Axelfl3333]

I got cover fairly easily last year but obviously the premium went up.

 

[Ratty]

I got cover fairly easily last year but obviously the premium went up.

I get cover easily too, but I've been in remission for a while. It's where there are regular flare ups, recent surgery or just general instability of the CD or any associated illnesses that the issues start.

Some insurers don't carry out medical screening and just say that any pre-existing conditions are excluded but that's a big gamble with medical costs abroad.

I've seen medical bills exceed £100k for things that you would think are relatively minor so if the choice is paying extra to get better cover including pre-existing conditions or potentially losing my home because a foreign hospital has won the legal case to recover assets from me, I'll pay the insurance premium.

 

[rygon]

I would second that. I remember reading about a skydiver from UK going to USA for jumping and broke his Femur. For all the medical help it cost him between 20-50k !!

 

[Reg]

Thanks again for everyone's responses. It turns out that my dad does have cover through his employer and the corporate travel policy as suggested, but we have also been able to get a much better quote through Leisure and Lifestyle Insurance (£160) which I think is what we will go for. He can't have both running at the same time so he will be asking for the corporate one to be put on hold whilst he is away and covered by Leisure and Lifestyle...

 

[SupportiveMom]

The forum wiki also has some suggestions you could look into:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Travel-insurance

Thanks SarahD! My kid is traveling to the US next week. Although covered by employee insurance, this is a great tool to look at.