To hate fucking insurance companies

[ReindeerBollocks]

Before I will begin, let me just start by saying I know I'm being Unreasonable.

I'm livid. We were looking to book a holiday to America next year. We want to do the big D (I know, I know) and also travel on the West Coast. Ambitious but much wanted.

All fine, we have some small savings which make this possible. Just about.

Except we didn't take into account insurance for our family. Two people with past and present medical conditions. I understand that this will be difficult but our quote was higher than the price of the holiday.

Fucking Insurance Fuckers.

:(

Reindeer - just a thought... Maybe one of those specialist companies (Make a Wish??) who take families with medical needs could advise you how they deal with the insurance problems...

Don't give up just yet, I bet there is a way...

Thank you QOD for taking the time to look. I really appreciate it.

It was a kidney transplant which is 2+ yrs post op with no rejections for over a year.

I feel the biggest factor is the CF. But its a progressive condition and whilst hes not had the easiest of times hes not on the transplant list nor does he require O2 when well. I wouldnt even let him fly if he were unwell and we would chat with the team about doing IV's before the holiday to ensure his health.

And yes I could do Euro Disney, I suppose.

Nonno we had a wish a couple of years ago - DS picked Dr Who!! He has been lucky I guess to get that.

I will have a serious think about whether its worth saving for, including the insurance - I wouldnt dream of going without!

I'm about to suggest breaking a golden rule of mumsnet, but what about travelling out of season? That could reduce the cost down on the travel side, before you add the insurance.

You could also consider postponing the travelling across to the west coast, that would also get the price down.

Of course it's possible you have your heart set on having "the dream holiday" with no compromises. If that's the case, you might be best just saving for another year.... But whatever you do, don't travel without insurance! But after what your family's been through, I'm sure you're not of the "it won't happen to us" school of thought and we don't need to warn you.

Have you tried Direct Travel? They cover my T1 diabetes with no extra charge, they might be able to help.

Unique is a specialist travel insurer, recommended by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Family Fund has specialist insurance for children with disabilities.

Btw...are you getting all you can for your DS, while we're here? DLA, Carer's Allowance, Family Fund (if you get tax credits), etc.?

Wow, do you lot work for insurance companies?
I travelled the world with no travel insurance. Guess what. Nothing happened. Usually, nothing happens. If it does (very unulikely) you have a bit of a debt, unless you have savings. In my opinion that's better than throwing money at something and getting nothing in return.

Oh don't be so fatuous happy - unless you did all that, sans insurance, having just had a transplant or whilst suffering from a chronic and life limiting condition?

No? Thought not.

happy are you deluded and happy???

Travelling as a healthy 25 year old is a bit different to travelling to the states with a different kidney inside you!!!

Snorting at the possiblity of Take a Break cover...

Have a prem baby in the states and there's £100k of savings disappeared.

"If it does (very unulikely) you have a bit of a debt"

A bit of debt...ok.

Right - think Reindeer needs some handholding and general support... I want you all to have your dream holiday, Reindeerers.

And happy needs some basic education.

Lougle thank you for those links. We were going to phone the CF Trust on Monday to see if they can help - but it still leaves us looking for cover for the transplantee.

I will get a quote from them tomorrow though. We have previously had help for driving lessons (vital for hospital) from the Family Fund.

We are getting DLA and I get Carers at the moment. Everything is due to be reviewed under PIP soon though.

Rue I will get a quote from them tomorrow, thank you.

thecraic I never thought about out of season. However a lot of school is lost due to illness. Head is reasonable so might try one week at Disney if she is amenable. Will also just stick to a simple holiday - see if that lowers things.

And whilst I do understand the suggestions of no insurance, I can't risk it. I am not overly cautious but equally I'm not loaded and wouldn't be able to run the risk of something going wrong. I would panic for the entire time too. I will definitely insure them if we go.

Why is mental illness such a high risk? How do they define it?

I don't know anyone who isn't on happy pills*

*hyperbole.

X-post with Nonno thank you for your support :)

There is also a Disneyland in Hong Kong.
Have you tried to get insurance for there?

Great place for a Holiday!

No idea, Morris. I know when I went away last year they seemed far more concerned about the depression than about my asthma that had suddenly got worse and I had only just managed to get back under control. I know which I was more worried about ending up in hospital with.

Hope you manage to get something sorted, OP.

Nonno - I am happy - that I'm not brainwashed. Call me deluded if it suits you way of thinking.

One third of America doesn't have health insurance - that's for 365 days of the year, and therefore a much bigger risk than 7 or 14 days. Most of the world doesn't have health insurance.

I agree with ihatethecold - Hong Kong is a great place for a holiday, much better than America. I lived in both places.

*your way of thinking.

Yes but happy, that's because they can't afford it. Just because of 33% of American have no healthcare plan in place does not mean that it's something the OP (or any traveller) should just leave out as an "optional extra", as if it's extra legroom or something. The family is traveling with a child with CF- just even thinking about the germs etc that that child will be exposed to on the flight over would put most responsible parents off taking the risk, never mind anything else.

I do work in insurance btw- not travel, home and business. And sometimes insurance has literally saved people I've dealt with from bankruptcy or losing their home. If you think an ocean won't stop a US hospital from collecting on a bill, think again.

Positive thoughts for you, OP!

CraicDealer - but the OP can't afford it either. Most people can't afford travel insurance that costs more than a holiday. Even if they could, who in their right mind would pay it?

I agree with the OP - Fucking Insurance Fuckers. Rip-off merchants. Someone somewhere is getting very rich at the expense of others. I wouldn't pay it. Either go somewhere else in the world where insurance/heathcare is cheaper, or take a chance and travel without it. Don't waste all that money, especially if you don't even have it to waste.

CraicDealer - Paying out insurance for this that and the other has contributed to lots of people having less money and lots of people losing their homes as a result. On top of other living expenses high insurance costs can tip peoples' finances over the edge into the red.

I too hope the OP gets a nice holiday.

The difference is those people can't just up and move to somewhere with free healthcare, whereas the Op doesn't have to go on holiday. She has a choice to postpone until they can afford to cover all eventualities, which is sensibly what she's doing. Her family's circumstances, which you don't seem to be taking into account, mean that there are two members of her party who may require medical care whilst away. And I guarantee, even if only one of them is taken ill then their care will cost over and above the premium charged by Insurers. Tens or hundreds of times more is not an over exaggeration.

From personal experience, my DM was asked for Insurance documentation when we were in Florida, which I've said about above. If you don't have any arrangements in place they schlep you off to the less salubrious hospital down the road once you're stable. I really do hope that you're never in that position.

Try the post office.

My mum was quoted a huge amount for a trip to France (several medical conditions including 1 terminal).

The post office were very reasonable.

But you could be a liability, why would your premiums be low?

Actually you don't know if someone is a liability. My main health condition is arthritis. The chances of me ending up in a hospital abroad are virtually nil because it is well controlled and I take care of myself.

It also means I won't be

riding a motorbike
skiing
paragliding
getting drunk and climbing on balconies

So why is my premium higher?

Will somebody please take happy out and educate her cos she is making me incredibly cross.

happy here's my not so happy story to make you think twice:-

I was young, healthy, happy and carefree on holiday with my very healthy and happy dad. He died as the result of a tragic accident.

It was horrendous, I pray I never have to face an experience like that again. If I'd had no travel insurance (because after all I was happy healthy and young and in the EU!) It would have been thousands to bring me home, and my dad may not have ever come home and may have been buried out there. It was tens of thousands.

My yearly policy is 18.50. Really why would you risk it? If a happy healthy adult can afford the holiday, they can have the insurance.

Now OP having hijacked ur thread, but travel insurance really gets my goat!!

Could you try some of the charities like Make a wish type ideas to see how they get cover, if they could recommend someone? Or the CF charities might be able to suggest something?

Last year my uncle damaged his back (agony) on holiday. No previous problems. He was in California and his total bill was nearly $100,000. Luckily his insurance covered it. They sent a nurse to fly home with him. Ambulance met him at Heathrow and transferred him to hospital.

Nice bit of debt for you there Happy. Do you have an extra 100k lying around?