Travel insurance for those in the UK

[Misty-Eyed]

I think for those of us in the UK, getting travel insurance is always a pain in the arse. Pun intented. We know we're going to have to pay more.. but how much is too much?

I'm off to Cyprus for a week and I knew my wallet was going to end up with a huge dent in it as I was hospitalised in Feb with a bowel obstruction and had the whole of my colon removed and now have an ileostomy as from October.

My first port of call was my usual insurance brooker who went through a specialist insurance company for those with pre existing medical conditions. After the medical screening process I was told I'd have to shell out £168!!! That was more than my flight! Needless to say, I wanted to get some more quotes.

In the end I called another company who said the cost would be £20.50 depending on the outcome of the medical screening (uhoh!). So called them and they said because of my ops etc I'd have to talk to a nurse who would call me the next day. She did and she was very helpful. Because she actually understood that I'm actually at LESS risk of claiming now I've had the op, they only charged me £15 extra! So that's £35.50 in total. Bloody good going, in my opionion.

The company I used was as follows if it helps anyone! They were very friendly too!
http://www.leisureandlifestyleinsurance.co.uk/specialist-travel-insurance

Please feel free to share your travel insurance experiences!

 

[Mr Bedfordshire]

I think it's best to do your homework and not leave anything to chance with travel insurance for crohnies.

For those that just go on comparison websites and get the cheapest they can without declaring they have crohns/colitis are just asking for trouble even before you've boarded the plane!

However, there are still people and companies who prey on people like us so be careful, read the small print and double check your covered for anything and everything. If you ask for clarification, make sure you take a note of the person you spoke to and even ask them to send you a quick email.

I take a copy of my travel insurance in my hand luggage AND in my suitcase just incase it gets lost.

Nothing's ever easy for us lot!

 

[bushydougie]

I get my travel insurance through my bank account (The Co-op) and it states that Crohn's is one of the list of pre existing conditions that it doesn't need to know about. I'm not sure if this changes if you've had an ileostomy or not but for me this is great!

 

[rygon]

NACC has a list of crohns friendly insurance companies

I used Columbus last year for my holiday and found it to be pretty cheap

 

[littlemissh]

'Its so easy' travel insurance ...cheap, can do on line even with crohn's and surgery etc. Its recommended by NACC and also scottish patients association. I was nearly put off by the name but I have used them 3 times now and it was so easy to arrange.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Yeah, I got hold of the leisure and lifestyle number from the ileostomy association but they also had the number of the company that gave me my first quote too :/

I understand why we may have to pay more than the average person and obviously it's very important to be covered but it's annoying when I've never claimed for anything from holiday insurance. It's a shame they don't do no claim bonuses!