Travel Insurance ... should I or shouldn't I 'risk' going without it?

[Roby2008]

For non-MH trips we book everything with Mastercard (Gold Card), travel insurance comes with it, even during Covid restrictions, they happily supplied a letter to state we were covered, that was acceptable by the Cruise company's (MSC, P&O) Wifey is a paraplegic and I am past retirement, no problems with cover.
For Europe we are better off than most as the standard German health insurance covers us with MH journeys etc.

Wish you good luck but don´t take chances

 

[Coolcats]

Have never used travel insurance.
Wife makes me take it out but not sure if we have any and certainly don't know who it is with if we have got it.
I completely lost interest in it when going abroad during COVID nullified any we had.

But I m a tad younger than the average on here and never been ill. Though I did do my rotator cuff last year cycling in Paris for a laugh. Took 5 months to mend with no doc involvement

Whilst someone may not consider them selves a risk, my younger self did require an ambulance and an hour in hospital the cost was £5k, a friend fell whilst out walking and while it was a big fall (slipped I’ve the edge of a path) the cost of treatment and re-hab was close to £1m they were in thier early 20’s and athletic

You never need insurance until you need it.

It’s about probability and risk, if you can suffer a few grand or more loss then maybe you don’t need it.

 

[VXman]

Probably won't go down well with some but if it's a minor ailment that's unlikely to affect anything else I'd go ahead with insurance and not declare it. If you had an accident/ilness that required a claim the insurance company aren't likely to investigate your medical history unless was directly related to a previous medical conditions. I.e. you had a heart attack and have a history of heart disease.

So, if it was me I'd get insurance in the normal way and hope for the best. You'll benifit from other non health related aspects anyway.

In 40 years of travelling I've never claimed anyway

 

[Millcourt]

Minxy ….. Unfortunately, the unexpected does happen (Road traffic Accident, Heart Attack, serious Fall……), but not frequently. Given the very high costs of hospital care, repatriation etc, if such disasters were frequent the cost for insurance would be enormous. Only you can decide the level of self-insurance/risk you wish to take. I would not wish to chance an extended motorhome tour and kayaking without travel/health insurance.

Two things which may be useful to bear in mind. Firstly, it is usual for “couple” insurance to be cheaper than the costs of two individual covers. Presumably, it is assumed to lessen the overall risk. Secondly, a good Broker should be able to put your specific circumstances to the Underwriter, rather than just offering the “off-the-shelf/no variation possible” insurance cover often sold on-line or bundled with some Bank Account packages, which I have always assumed seek to minimise the Insurance providers risk to get a cheap price to be at the top of on-line searches.

If you have not already looked at this (I have no personal knowledge), it may be of interest: https://www.medicaltravelcompared.co.uk/travel-insurance/medical/allergy/

Good luck whatever you decide and I hope you can find a way of being able to enjoy your 2-month planned trip.

 

[mikebeaches]

My late brother-in-law went to the Canaries for a long weekend, tripped and broke his hip. He didn't have insurance and I don't think there was much change from £25k with ambulance / medical expenses / hospital fees / additional accommodation for sister (they had to stay weeks until able to obtain a 'fit to fly'certificate). I know you're not planning to fly, but personally I wouldn't chance it. And in any case, the 'risk' would be at the back of your mind the whole time and possibly / probably take the edge off your trip. Just sayin...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

I'd go ahead with insurance and not declare it

No point in having it then as it would invalidate it as you had lied.

 

[Lenny HB]

No point in having it then as it would invalidate it as you had lied.

And if a big claim they will ask for medical records.

 

[Brody]

Have your allergies already been noted down on your file? If they have won't it go down as a pre existing condition?

 

[Minxy]

Have your allergies already been noted down on your file? If they have won't it go down as a pre existing condition?

No idea, I shall have to ask.

 

[Brody]

No idea, I shall have to ask.

I would go down that route, as it is normal to have tests relating to the pre existing condition.

I went down a rabbit hole, easy when I'm supposed to be cleaning Apparently you are supposed to declare varicose veins and even acid reflux.....who knew, I bet there's lots that don't!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Odd-no-more]

No point in having it then as it would invalidate it as you had lied.

If the claim had nothing to do with the allergies then they should still pay, but I've always told them everything so they have less wiggle room

 

[Minxy]

If the claim had nothing to do with the allergies then they should still pay, but I've always told them everything so they have less wiggle room

It's the wiggle room that's the issue, last thing I want is to have a policy voided because they have something to wiggle about.

 

[Nanniemate]

Probably won't go down well with some but if it's a minor ailment that's unlikely to affect anything else I'd go ahead with insurance and not declare it. If you had an accident/ilness that required a claim the insurance company aren't likely to investigate your medical history unless was directly related to a previous medical conditions. I.e. you had a heart attack and have a history of heart disease.

So, if it was me I'd get insurance in the normal way and hope for the best. You'll benifit from other non health related aspects anyway.

In 40 years of travelling I've never claimed anyway

Unfortunately as soon as asked to quote there are now records

 

[Hoovie]

Travel Insurance can be very useful not just for medical costs, you know?
I had some when I went skiing for the first time... Broke my leg, as you do and apart from getting plastered from toe to thigh, I was also able to claim for loss of income once back home as couldn't do my job in that condition

That £2 a week to cover my paper round wage was handy (yup, I did claim!)

 

[DavidG58]

No idea, I shall have to ask.

And what did they say?

It will soon be next Thursday

I am sure a ‘real’ person will find a solution, but still think a generic bank related policy might cover what you need

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Reallyretired]

Is the tunnel policy still available. I seem to remember they didnt ask too many questions.

 

[Funnymunny]

A few years back a mate who never believed in insurance and in a similar situation as yourself in regards getting health cover was taken I’ll in Spain, he died a week later and his wife was left with the problem of having to cremate him in Spain to save cost and also had to pay heavily to get the Motorhome recovered.
I hate to think what the final cost was. My advice would be get insurance and peace of mind

 

[gus-lopez]

What happens if you do not have a doctor? Or you haven't seen them for 25 years?

 

[Minxy]

And what did they say?

It will soon be next Thursday

I am sure a ‘real’ person will find a solution, but still think a generic bank related policy might cover what you need

I looked into bank ones previously and apart from them working out more expensive they too have the same exclusions as they are just 'resellers' of existing policies.

Is the tunnel policy still available. I seem to remember they didnt ask too many questions.

I'll be going via ferry, no more tunnelling as it's way too expensive without the frequent traveller scheme.

 

[Old Gibber]

Coming back from Spain this year I had a stroke which required an operation, fortunately a few hours back in the UK from the ferry. I had to cancel an expensive holiday this May until I find out when I can drive again. Medical insurance covered the £700 for the cost of the holiday I wasn't able to recover from the travel company. Paid out no fuss. Looking at it another way, that was the last 4 years medical insurance costs.
Can't begin to think what the cost would have been had I had the stroke abroad, with the similar caveat of not being able to drive afterwards.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Hoovie]

Coming back from Spain this year I had a stroke which required an operation, fortunately a few hours back in the UK from the ferry. I had to cancel an expensive holiday this May until I find out when I can drive again. Medical insurance covered the £700 for the cost of the holiday I wasn't able to recover from the travel company. Paid out no fuss. Looking at it another way, that was the last 4 years medical insurance costs.
Can't begin to think what the cost would have been had I had the stroke abroad, with the similar caveat of not being able to drive afterwards.

Insurance is a total waste of money....


.... until you use it. Then the payout you get can equal many many years worth of premiums

 

[bigtree]

Do it, you never know we might get lucky.

 

[Old Gibber]

Insurance is a total waste of money....


.... until you use it. Then the payout you get can equal many many years worth of premiums

There is also the peace of mind that comes with having a policy.

 

[Minxy]

Sod it ... still no news on the blood tests so ... I've booked a crossing!!!!!

I had another shuftie at the LV travel insurance policy (we were with them last time) and in the questions ref medical stuff it said the below which I answered 'yes' to and then it allowed me to give details of my CFS:

I'm 'reading' that it should cover my 'investigations' as it's related to my CFS; I told the hospital consultant when she rang me that I want to get to the bottom of why I'm like I am so it is already a 'diagnosed condition'. As the likelihood of me having to make a claim is miniscule I'm not gonna worry about it anymore as it's driving me loopy!

LV offered us multi-trip insurance for £144 (90 days away at a time) so I bought it ... hopefully we'll never need it!

Sooooo ... ferry booked for next Friday morning which is a day later than originally planned due to having to have a 7 day gap before travel in order to use my Tesco Reward Partner codes but I can live with that.

France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland etc ... here we come! Just gotta get the van packed and sorted now.

 

[Nanniemate]

Sod it ... still no news on the blood tests so ... I've booked a crossing!!!!!

I had another shuftie at the LV travel insurance policy (we were with them last time) and in the questions ref medical stuff it said the below which I answered 'yes' to and then it allowed me to give details of my CFS:

View attachment 751476

I'm 'reading' that it should cover my 'investigations' as it's related to my CFS; I told the hospital consultant when she rang me that I want to get to the bottom of why I'm like I am so it is already a 'diagnosed condition'. As the likelihood of me having to make a claim is miniscule I'm not gonna worry about it anymore as it's driving me loopy!

LV offered us multi-trip insurance for £144 (90 days away at a time) so I bought it ... hopefully we'll never need it!

Sooooo ... ferry booked for next Friday morning which is a day later than originally planned due to having to have a 7 day gap before travel in order to use my Tesco Reward Partner codes but I can live with that.

France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland etc ... here we come! Just gotta get the van packed and sorted now.

Please you've booked seems you need the break check and double .check your policy I bought with LV in December and when I needed to claim due to fligh cancellation the said I had cruise cover but not flight as cruise cover is free !! cancelled the policy as it was within the 14 days and spent the money .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Please you've booked seems you need the break check and double .check your policy I bought with LV in December and when I needed to claim due to fligh cancellation the said I had cruise cover but not flight as cruise cover is free !! cancelled the policy as it was within the 14 days and spent the money .

Yup I will, fortunately our MH doesn't fly or sail so we won't need either flight or cruise cover!

 

[Nanniemate]

Yup I will, fortunately our MH doesn't fly or sail so we won't need either flight or cruise cover!

So it not true then about your heavy right foot

 

[Engineer999]

I looked into bank ones previously and apart from them working out more expensive they too have the same exclusions as they are just 'resellers' of existing policies.


I'll be going via ferry, no more tunnelling as it's way too expensive without the frequent traveller scheme.

We used euro tunnel insurance last year as quote for wife was nearly 2k for 3 months. The main and seemingly only criteria is that your GP would if asked be happy / have no objections for you to travel.
This may well out way any additional tunnel cost.
Have to book insurance at same time as tunnel though, can’t add it afterwards

 

[Minxy]

We used euro tunnel insurance last year as quote for wife was nearly 2k for 3 months. The main and seemingly only criteria is that your GP would if asked be happy / have no objections for you to travel.
This may well out way any additional tunnel cost.
Have to book insurance at same time as tunnel though, can’t add it afterwards

I've tried them before and they come out stupidly expensive, the ferry is £96 but the cheapest crossing with ET is £174 at a stupidly late time which when adding the pooches at £22 each makes it even more expensive (£66 for them as opposed to £45 on the ferry). How I wish the FT scheme would come back!

 

[Minxy]

So it not true then about your heavy right foot

Are we talking about using too much power to drive it or my giving it a good kick?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}