General Chat

WHAT A WASTE OF TIME>>>>

Just spent 4 days trying to get a travel insurance for a trip to USA......On line & on phone.

Despite these companies shouting that they consider/cover most medical conditions..... they seem to expect you to go through their ritual & then say SORRY>>>NO>>>to both or just one of us...... Why can't they just ask simple questions like "do you still have these conditions... are they under control / remission etc.
Company that said yes in February now says NO...... Am even healthier now than then..!!!!!!

Was hoping to spend xmas with grandchildren for 1st time in 10 years

I just don't understand....... Upset/annoyed/frustrated/Disappointed just does not describe how I feel right now....

Bloody annoying isnt it .

Our sister lives in Canada and had major surgery for an aneurysm that nearly took her. She is monitored by her hospital and is OK . stopped smoking which was one of the causes of her problem , She has been back at work now for 5 years plus and travels for her company to places like Manila and is covered by her jobs insurance BUT trying get cover to come home to see her family is a nightmare too for her

I agree OH been refused so seems we are stuck. What gets me is when we both went on to Statins they upped the payment ...But we are both under 4 so no real problem yet there are plenty of people who I know who won't get themselves checked therefore don't pay a high premium but I bet some have high cholesterol... daft I call it :-S

Shirley...... I can get basic travel insurance but not the medical part....... As you will know the medical cover is zillch in usa....... Ambulance won't even put you in the vehicle unless you pay upfront. That 's before you get to a hospital.... So Medical cover essential.......
My OH thinks that it is grossly unfair that visitors to UK can call on the NHS. But their countries don't reciprocate.

I do so agree with your hubby Margaret.

Our sister and BIL have taken Canadian citizenship cos that was more beneficial to them having lived in Canada since the late 1970,s

That means they cant use the NHS if they come over without paying

I've never mentioned that I'm on statins as my cholestoerol is completely under control - without statins I'm in double figures

I'm insured through my Barclays bank account and they ask nothing about my health

That's interesting..... Didn't realise that Shirley...... We hear so much in the media about health tourists don't we......(Just read in the paper the other day that a lot of African women come over to have their babies.!!!!!) . So we were under the impression that we are treating the world..... Maybe not then....

This is what she was told

Health Care

There is no reciprocal agreement on health care between the UK and Canada.

In the United Kingdom

Canadian visitors to the UK:

Obtain insurance coverage - medical, life, disability, driving, vehicle - before leaving Canada
Only emergency treatment at a hospital is free of
charge to visitors

It is members of the EU countries whose people get free health care here.

You have to be very careful about telling them everything because if you are taken ill and have not mentioned medication or illness etc they will use it as an excuse not to pay out, even if what you are claiming for has nothing to do with what you neglected to tell them. In some cases you are expected to volunteer the information they haven't asked for.

Margaret my mum has quite a few medical problems,she has a ongoing holiday insurance with her bank tsb,mind you they do put up her yearly premiums when she has any problem that come to light.
this insurance covers her for 1 year and she goes away to Europe a couple of times a year.

this may be the way to go for you,mums policy is by axa ,give them a ring to see if they can help,not saying it will be cheap but it could be worth a phone call.

Hello everyone..... Thank you all for your replies. I have taken on board all your suggestions...

Well Shirley... I live & learn..... When I lived in Canada many more years back than I care to remember I seem to recall you could then... Mind you I didn't take out citizenship......

Will have to look into the bank idea,...... I seem to recall being asked at the counter some years back if I was interested , but then was told that it was only available for people up to 65 years old..... I wish. Never see that birthday again

We can get european insurance easy enough but our darling son decided to emigrate to USA 10 years ago..... Thats the problem ..Sky high medical bills... Costs him $500 just to walk through the doctors door before he sees him !!!!!!
As we both have medical issues anything going wrong would cost us a fortune & they don't let you out of the hospital so I am told until debts paid. Mounts with each day they wait for their money.... Maybe we should adopt that system... Save the NHS some money..

Hi Margaret

yes before sister took citizenship then she could get medical treatment if needed she would be treated as a visitor in the area ,the same as if you went away on hols here and needed a doctor .

She took citizenship before she had her big medical problem .

Both her and her hubby are entitled though to their pension based on NAT ins paid in whilst they lived and worked here.

Her hubby has now retired and took his pension as a lump sum because it wasnt a large amount and to be paid monthly would devalue according to R/E

Margaret
We have an annual insurance for travelling to USA.OH has quite a few medical problems.

Going online and answering questions I found was a complete waste of time.
You need to phone the companies and try more than one.
You often get a better deal that way. Playing off one against the other. ;-) ;-)

Have sent pm.
Good luck
Von

Margaret

I haven't been on for a day or two so have only just seen your query. If you are not already sorted Medisafe Insurance might be worth a try. I know they cover all sorts of medical conditions, including cancer and heart problems, without an upper age limit, though I don't know what they would charge.

Vera

A local couple were recently on a cruise. The man had a heart attack.

He had to be taken to New Caledonia by emergency helicopter, then (not sure how long he spent in NC) a flight back to Australia.

Thank goodness they had insurance.

Thank you all for your replies....... I have phoned about 10 or so companies with no luck......

No.. Correction..... One did offer me 10DAYS for £2,400 Thats £ 240 per day!!!!!!
Just for me too.... Didn't ask for OH.

We have decided to stay in England for Xmas with our other son & try again next year. Perhaps march...... So glad I was planning xmas as a surprise & hadn't told US son so they are not disappointed.
Ah well back to skype...... to watch them open their presents.

Thank you again Margaret

That's sad Margaret.
Insurance can be a nightmare.

Back in June, my daughter was going to wedding in Canada.
She flew to Chicago for a few days, and then was due to fly ontto Toronto for the wedding.

I am in Scotland and by monitoring the flights,I knew BEFORE she did that her flight had been cancelled, even although she was standing in O'Hare airport watching for it to be called.

To cut a long story short, all next day flights to Toronto were full and she was finally put on a flight to Ottawa with a connecting flight to Toronto
She finally arrived at her hotel about 3 or 4 hours before the wedding.
Unfortunately, none of her luggage made these flights. ( luckily though,her boyfriend was carrying her dress in a suit carrier as hand luggage!)

With only a dress, and the dirty travel clothes she was wearing, she had no other clothes, underwear, make up, toiletries, shoes or bag.

On day 2 the luggage still hadn't been located and she had to buy some clothes.
It took a further 2 or 3 days for it to be delivered to her..

When she got home. she made a claim on her travel insurance.
It was refused !
Reason: Her travel Insurance only covers for lost/delayed luggage on an
"outward" journey.
In other words she was covered when flying from Glasgow to Chicago but not for the next stage which was Chicago to Toronto!
Her insurance company and neither Airlines would take responsibility.
She estimates that it cost her around £200.