Health & Travel Insurance

When I was on the NHS spinal path and waiting for an MRI I was told it could be up to a 12 month wait. I had holidays booked prior to the issue, in America, and found no-one would insure me until I had a diagnosis. I paid for a private MRI, with a GPS referral. Fortunately it was clear of the suspected problem and I easily got insured to go on holiday. If the holiday is a priority and you have the resources this could be your answer.

FriedGreenTomatoes2, I am so sorry to hear this and hope 2025 will be a better year for you two.

FaithJ25, I worked in Insurance for some years and can tell you they will find ANY excuse or vague link to try and get out of paying unless you have been 100% clear about pre-existing, even if not yet confirmed. Just not worth taking the risk.

Please do not book without obtaining insurance at the same time, yes, I’d speak to a few and explain.

My husband has Stage IV cancer. Inoperable. Incurable.
But not ‘untreatable’.
He has been receiving chemotherapy for 20 months (all bar 6 of them).
When on treatment he isn’t allowed to go abroad.
When he was able to he was turned down by about 4 travel insurance companies.
He did some research and obtained a policy with ‘Allclear’.
Cost was £1,500 for himself only for 12 months cover.

We always communicate with our insurance company about anything we think may affect our cover. They are pretty clued up on every condition.
We put off booking our holiday to Australia because I had an incident in Sept. I did go privately to a consultant so that I knew what to tell them. That cost rather a lot but the NHS told me it would be about 5months before I could have an echocardiogram. That would have meant no holiday so we paid up.
We are in Australia now visiting family and having a great time without worrying about health.

Not having a diagnosis is a problem. We found this out when I was waiting for a diagnosis but wanted to travel abroad in the meantime. We did finally find insurance but I can’t remember which company. Sorry.

There are some companies that specialise in holiday insurance for people with pre existing health issues - I think we got a list from the British heart association.

Speak to some companies, we always do this, often we have issues cropping up between trips so always ring to check what's still covered and add on if necessary.

it could be a problem in case of a broken bone or accident. I just wouldn't chance it myself.

Try Allclear. I managed to get insurance for my husband although he is waiting for a scan. He won't be covered for any problem relating to why he needs a scan though. (It's relating to arthritis so hopefully won't be a problem)

You probably won't be able to get cancellation cover until you have a diagnosis, if there is to be one.

For cover while you're away you could book the holiday now, especially if it's one you particularly want or a good price, and sort the insurance out nearer the time.

We have travel insurance included with a Nationwide bank account.
We have to notify them of any health issues and medications.
Some don't affect the premium (asthma inhalers).
Some we have to pay a supplement for (blood pressure tablets and statins).

I would just speak to the company. I do not bother with comparison sites now, when I have some medical problems. There are more than enough health insurers out there prepared to insure you - for a price.

DH has a complex heart conditions and we have had no difficulty getting cover.