insurance advice help

[jim shoe]

My mum suffers from an extremely rare bone marrow cancer.

we are going to Canada and America next year.

she also has health problems like an under active thyroid, blood pressure
osteoporosis nervous tension and painkillers and calcium tablets for her bone density.

would it be against the law for me to take health insurance out to cover mum for her cancer independently from the other illnesses.

eg i mean take a general health insurance policy out then one for her cancer
so she would have two policies, one for if any off her illnesses flared up and one for if she had to get treatment for the cancer.

is this against the law can anyone help

and does any local companies offer this type of cover

thank you

[j4bberw0ck]

See an adviser / phone the AA Travel people. So far as I know there's no laws involved here - you can buy as much insurance in as many policies as you want. But if you insure the same risk on two policies you won't get two payouts - insurers put in a exclusion / declaration about risks insured elsewhere.

The difficulty is in getting an insurer to insure you (your mum) for a pre-existing condition; like as not it'll be specifically excluded - that would exclude her from cover on the cancer, the thyroid, blood pressure, the osteoporosis and the nervous tension - and any illness she might suffer which might be linked to any of those conditions. You'll almost certainly need to get a doctor's certificate certifying her fit to be on an aircraft for 9 hours plus, and to disclose her condition to the airline when you book.

You may end up travelling effectively uninsured - I don't know is whether it's a condition of entry to Canada / America that you have medical insurance and you'd be mad to enter America in particular without it. Sorry - don't mean to sound negative, but insurers won't insure you for something that's already happened. :(

[Angela]

From what I know, it's very difficult even for people who've been successfully treated for cancer to get travel insurance wihout paying way over the odds, if they can get it at all. This is very unfair.

The same is true of much older people, who are basically fit and well, but can be discriminated against because of their age. A friend's parents, in their 80s, travel to visit their son in South Africa with no travel insurance, because they can't get any. Seems scary to me!

I don't think any insurer will want to cover a pre-existing condition though, and you will probably have to pay well over the odds to get cover for your Mum for everything else.

I don't think it's illegal to travel without insurance, but even perfectly healthy people should think twice about travelling to the US without medical cover. Even a trip to the dentist is extremely expensive.

Sorry to be of little help - I would hate to think of you and your Mum trying to get her treatment in America if any of her illnesses flared up and she wasn't covered.

Hope someone else can provide you with more info.

[EDDIE]

Im no expert but if your going to take out any form of insurance its best to be upfront and honest about giving details because if you dont it will come back on you some were along the road

[johno]

IF YOUR MUM HAS A BANK ACCOUNT [bound to] some banks offer travel ins
worth a try , wont hurt to enquire anyway. good luck to to both you & your mum.:cool: johno

[karia]

Like all insurance companies, they are only interested in selling policies to people who will not require them, leaving them quids in.

Visit the Macmillan cancer care site as they are currently fighting the discrimination against cancer sufferers who have the 'temerity' to want to lead as normal a life as possible, and travel. if your mum has a macmillan nurse assigned to her you could ask them.

My mum has terminal cancer and I understand only too well the desire to grant any of their wishes. You should not be surcharged for doing so.
I'm just sorry that you might have a fight on your hands as you neither need, or deserve that.

I hope you have a great holiday in prospect.

Karia

[j4bberw0ck]

Like all insurance companies, they are only interested in selling policies to people who will not require them, leaving them quids in.

I'm sorry, karia; but that's complete and utter rubbish. They balance fair risk against a fair premium; competition ensures it. If you can't find an insurance company to insure against something, it's because experience and mathematics says it's a bad bet. Yes, they're there to make a profit - why not? They wouldn't insure much if they made losses all the time.

Your comment is naive. And that - mods please notice - is being particularly polite.

[karia]

WOOOSH!

Thanks for not laying into me then!!

Do you happen to work for an insurance company, by any chance?
You do seem extremely verbal about the subject.

I am as entitled to my opinion on insurance companies as you, However I am prepared to allow you your views without having to resort to name calling.

Surely the profits made by insurance companies on people who don't have to claim are there to provide for those unfortunate enough to have to.

karia

[j4bberw0ck]

No, I don't work for an insurance company, and I speak as one who's spending time with a close friend in the Macmillan ward locally, while I can. I take issue with your comment about insurance companies only being interested in selling to people who have no need.


Surely the profits made by insurance companies on people who don't have to claim are there to provide for those unfortunate enough to have to.You're absolutely right. But if my house was about to fall over wanted I wanted YOU to insure it for £200 a year, and you knew you had a great risk of having to pay £200,000 next week to replace it, what would you say?

And if you'd say "Yes, I'll insure it, because all those who are lucky enough not to be in this position can share the cost between them", and you put up their premiums to cover the loss you'll suffer, and all your customers decide to insure elsewhere, what will you do?

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not criticising Macmillan for wanting cancer sufferers to be able to travel. I'm criticising only your comment about insurance companies only selling to people who don't need the cover, which, I repeat, is naive.

[karia]

Please don't be 'polite' on my account,

Interesting you felt it necessary to 'tell' the mods you were being 'polite'

This is a place to voice opinions, frankly if you can't do that in a non abusive manner then you will be judged acccordingly by the folk who read the posts.

We always got on fine, why the savaging?

Karia

[Moira]

jim shoe

I'd advise taking a good look at some of the policies being offered at www.moneysupermarket.com (http://www.moneysupermarket.com) If your mum is over 50 the Saga website is well worth browsing. I'd also advise at being upfront with the insurance company you eventually choose about your mum's health conditions. If her various health conditions are stable and she has prescription drugs to take with her for the duration of her holiday, then it might not be the problem you envisage.

I was faced with a similar scenario last year - it all worked out fine and was nowhere as expensive as we'd first thought it might be. What we paid was well worth the peace of mind. Good luck - hope you have a great holiday :)

[EDDIE]

I'm sorry, karia; but that's complete and utter rubbish. They balance fair risk against a fair premium; competition ensures it. If you can't find an insurance company to insure against something, it's because experience and mathematics says it's a bad bet. Yes, they're there to make a profit - why not? They wouldn't insure much if they made losses all the time.

Your comment is naive. And that - mods please notice - is being particularly polite.

I think what karia is meaning is the person selling the insurance policy is more interested in the commision of the sale than what the customer needs which i agree with

[j4bberw0ck]

Please don't be 'polite' on my account, Interesting you felt it necessary to 'tell' the mods you were being 'polite'

This is a place to voice opinions, frankly if you can't do that in a non abusive manner then you will be judged acccordingly by the folk who read the posts.

We always got on fine, why the savaging?

Karia

What savaging? I said your comment about insurers was naive. That's not a savaging! As for abusive; I don't think so. Suggesting a point of view is naive isn't abuse, even in these over-sensitive days.


I think what karia is meaning is the person selling the insurance policy is more interested in the commision of the sale than what the customer needs which i agree with

Eddie, sorry that I need to disagree with you too. Karia didn't talk about the seller of the policy (who gets commission regardless) but the insurance company which bears the risk.

[karia]

Okay, So only the healthy and those in invincible houses should seek out insurance, to be fair to the totally altruistic and fair minded insurers.

And, you still have to resort to calling me naive !

if you can argue your point properly, it stands by itself and you never have to call the person with another view anything derogatry. It belittles your argument. I may not agree with you, but i respect you enough not to insult you.

Please feel free to have a 'go' at my spelling, instead of the actual issue under discussion

Respectfully, Karia.

[karia]

Have a read at your original post, where not only was I naive, but my opinions were 'complete & utter rubbish'.

In civilised discussion,...i'd call that a savaging!

Karia

[j4bberw0ck]

Read my pm, please.

[Tony]

I'm sure I heard something on the news recently about a woman who had breast cancer and could not obtain travel insurance as a result. She hoped to go on holiday with her family for a break (Spain I think) and all the companies she tried refused even though her doctor gave her the all clear to travel.

[karia]

For those of you following this debacle, Karia & j4bberwOck have had a wee chat & are now the best of pals,..a day in the life of the ORG!

there are precious few places left to exchange opinions, and make pals.:D

Cheers, J4bberwOck!

Love Karia

[j4bberw0ck]

:lol::lol: No probs, Karia!

[Moira]

Thanks Karia

My BB connection is intermittent tonight - I've not managed to remove any "squabbling" posts here tonight. Can I just leave them now?

[crayola]

Mein Gott! The w0ck has become entangled in yet another Wagnerian tussle of his own making but, and it pains me from the bottom of my soul to say this, but, but, but, his logic is faultless. Oh dearie me, I have come over all feint ......................

[j4bberw0ck]

Mein Gott! The w0ck has become entangled in yet another Wagnerian tussle of his own making

And you'd be the Valkyrie? :lol: What else..........


but, and it pains me from the bottom of my soul to say this, but, but, but, his logic is faultless. Oh dearie me, I have come over all feint ......................

Or even, faint. I hope your soul's bottom is in good order after such a concession :lol: I live to fight another day.............. perhaps.

[Moira]

Apart from you feinting here -or is it fainting? Do you have anything to advise our original poster here on the question on health insurance?

[crayola]

I have become so feint that I cannot begin to consider the practicalities of health insurance. I am fading fast.

[j4bberw0ck]

I have become so feint that I cannot begin to consider the practicalities of health insurance. I am fading fast.

Then don't expect to get insurance at normal rates......... and if your travel plans include your broomstick, there may be a premium loading for working at heights :lol:

[jim shoe]

Thank you all for your input

i have been in contact with Raigmore and spoken to the haematology receptionist and i have been sent out a list of insurers.

I have been quoted in excess of £6,000 FROM SOME

MEDILINK QUOTED ME £600

all my mums other conditions are stable and her cancer is well controlled

with steroids chlorambucil or getting blood transfussions

I WOULD NEVER GO ANY WHERE WITHOUT INSURANCE AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE VERY SOUND ADVICE

IF ANYONE NEEDS THE MEDILINK INSURANCE NUMBER JUST E.MAIL ME OR OST ON HERE.

THANKS AGAIN JIMMY CHOUS:lol:

[Angela]

Jim, I do hope you manage to get it sorted, and that you and your Mum have an enjoyable and memorable time. :)

[BRIE]

my sister has cancer & is off on her travels as we speak she found getting insurance very difficult & also very expensive! but she had a talk to her specialist & the macmillans & if your mother isnt recieving treatment at the moment she may be able to travel on normal insurance its worth asking.:)

[Dadie]

i hope you and your mum manage to get on your holiday as time sounds even more precious and you have a good time and bring back happy memories and lots of photos
good luck and happy hols
xxx

[johno]

glad that you got the ins sorted, its still a big expense on to the price of the holiday but at least you know that if you need it {god forbid } you have the comfort of knowing your covered .always best to be honest where insurance is concerned. hope you & your mum have a wonderful holiday.
best johno.