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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to go on holiday without travel insurance?

106 replies

AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 14:54

I have a number of pre-existing medical conditions, the severity of which appear to have scared the hell out of everyone's insurance algorithms: to insure me fully would cost over £400, and that's the cheapest quote so far. That said, the likelihood of any of the said conditions causing problems whilst I am abroad is vanishingly minimal... and if I were to become ill, I would almost certainly be able to get a quick flight home for about half the price of what I'm quoted for the insurance.

AIBU simply to take my chances and travel uninsured? I can't decide...

OP posts:
Yogagirl123 · 31/07/2017 15:23

Many years ago I used to work in travel insurance, it really is essential to ensure you are covered, I also have a pre-existing medical condition so I know how this increases the premium etc.

As others have said you may been taken to hospital for something related to your medical conditions, accident etc.

Should you need to be repatriated, this would run into thousands of pounds, also by having travel insurance, you will have an experienced team to get you home safely.

And of course the worst case scenario, if you should die abroad, to bring your body home, sorry to be depressing! But it happens.

It is definitely worth having travel insurance. I wouldn't consider traveling without it.

PersianCatLady · 31/07/2017 15:25

OP - If you do not declare your existing conditions you won't be covered AT ALL.

You have two choices - declare them and pay to cover them OR declare them and ask them to be excluded and verify that they are willing to cover you for everything else.

If you travel without doing either and you are hit by a car on holiday you won't be covered AT ALL.

witchofzog · 31/07/2017 15:26

So sorry Hoof I can't even imagine what you went through Flowers

Op would you be prepared to disclose on here what your health condition is? I have a heart condition and use moneysupermarket to compare policies. It is usually a small add on per condition depending on what the condition is

Original poster
AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 15:27

@hoofwankingspanglecunt I am so, so sorry Flowers

OP posts:
PoppyPopcorn · 31/07/2017 15:32

Totally unreasonable and ridiculous. Unless of course you have approx £10k down the back of the sofa to pay for an air ambulance back to the UK if you fall ill.

WreckTangled · 31/07/2017 15:45

Have you tried flexicover? Only because I have a fair few medical conditions and I got covered for a month in nz for about £35.

ForeverBubblegum · 31/07/2017 15:46

Have you looked at bank accounts with travel insurance included? My DM's in a similar situation and her nationwide account covers her for most things. They did exempt one of her conditions but any other health problems or accidents/cancellations etc she's cover for. Better than nothing and not that expensive, especially if you would use any of the other perks

LizB62A · 31/07/2017 15:47

and if I were to become ill, I would almost certainly be able to get a quick flight home for about half the price of what I'm quoted for the insurance.

Are you sure you'd be physically able to fly, and that the airline would let you fly?

YABU for even thinking about travelling without insurance

halcyondays · 31/07/2017 15:49

YABVU

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 31/07/2017 15:54

Thank you witch and Angela. Sorry, I didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer Smile I just saw the words holiday and insurance , didn't think it through.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/07/2017 15:56

Yes, diagnosed anxiety is a declarable condition for medical travel insurance

And while the "exclude some conditions / cover the rest" thing sounds good in principle, it doesn't always work as the first thing most companies consider is how to avoid a payout

Have diabetes? That fall/broken leg must be due to blood sugar related unsteadiness

High blood pressure? Dizziness again, which is why you fell under that speeding car

That ankle surgery you had last year? Certainly the cause of your DVT

And so on Hmm

Roussette · 31/07/2017 15:57

Please look at www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/travel-insurance/guides/medical-conditions-travel-insurance-reviews and get insured.

My DH has had a medical procedure which upped our travel insurance. However, I spent hours and hours researching and contacting different Cos and got a good policy that wasn't a ridiculous price. It's painful doing it because it takes so long, but so worth it in the end and I think you'd be potty to travel without it.

badbadhusky · 31/07/2017 16:02

I wouldn't be travelling completely uninsured, but the insurance I already have attached to my bank account would exclude the pre-existing conditions. So if we were in a car accident or I got food poisoning, I would be covered.

The travel insurance that comes bundled with bank accounts is really basic - and they will refuse to pay out on a claim if you haven't made a full disclosure of pre-existing conditions. It happened in my family and left close relatives having to make some really tough choices. If you can't afford to insure yourself properly, rethink your trip - for your family's sake.

badbadhusky · 31/07/2017 16:05

Bluebell - I declared anxiety on a new worldwide, annual policy this year. It added about £70. It's worth declaring pre-existing conditions, as they'll usually be covered for an additional fee.

Original poster
AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 16:10

Thanks, all of you.

I have tried flexicover: they cannot insure me at all.

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 31/07/2017 16:26

OP - Phone the company that provide your bank account insurance and ask them how much it would cost to include your pre-existing conditions.

picklemepopcorn · 31/07/2017 16:29

Have you tried Boots, Angela? They were quite effective for us.

Nearly10to9 · 31/07/2017 16:30

I think I phrased my OP very badly, for which I apologise. I wouldn't be travelling completely uninsured, but the insurance I already have attached to my bank account would exclude the pre-existing conditions. So if we were in a car accident or I got food poisoning, I would be covered.

You're probably not covered if you have pre existing

SpartacusSaiman · 31/07/2017 16:33

If you havenr declared pre-existing conditions the insurance probably wont pay out. Even if its unrelated.

Its really really daft to go away without insurance.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/07/2017 16:37

So if we were in a car accident or I got food poisoning, I would be covered

Only in theory I'm afraid - the cover for food poisoning may well be safe, but also see my post at 15.56

I should perhaps explain that this was prompted by my late father's experience, when he did exactly what you're proposing and was refused a payout on the basis of a clearly ridiculous "link" which the insurers tried to claim

To be fair he got his money in the end, but only after nearly two years and having taken it all the way to the insurance ombudsman. Doubtless others would have given up - and doubtless that's what the insurance company were banking on Hmm

Hillingdon · 31/07/2017 16:53

I know this thread is sounding like a horror story of scenarios and the chances are that you will be fine but what about the next time you choose to risk it.

You see people trying to crowd fund when the unthinkable happens and its selfish and unfair if a child is involved. My sister tried to go away without insurance. Claimed she couldn't afford it and I literally read her the riot act saying that if something happened she be the first on the phone to relatives bleating to be brought back home (at someone's else's cost of course).

Having said that I hear that 25% of people go on holiday without insurance so you aren't the only one. I think its the 'it wont happen to me' or 'I will blag it and of course another country wouldn't let me die in the street' that makes people think that its acceptable to do so.

Almostfifty · 31/07/2017 16:56

Have you tried AllClear?

One of my DC cannot be insured by normal insurers, AllClear gave him two separate covers for two separate holidays and it cost under £20.

peonyinparadise · 31/07/2017 17:02

Here's a real-life worst case scenario for you and the reason why I always buy health insurance now. A few years ago I helped a friend who had a serious accident on holiday (not in the EU). He was on death's door/in ICU for 3 weeks & then needed to be flown home. We had to book 10 seats on a commercial flight plus pay for a nurse to accompany him. Some airlines accept medivac patients and reconfigure the seats to accomodate a stretcher, in this case 5 rows of two seats were used. The whole drama cost a fortune. Travel insurance is a bargain in comparison.

Bumbumtaloo · 31/07/2017 17:07

I have several conditions and found getting insurance when I visited my dad in Canada a nightmare! In the end I went with staysure. I could choose which conditions I wanted included or excluded.

Double check the insurance that is offered with your bank account, many years ago I worked for a high street bank and the travel insurance was a big selling point for there package accounts but you would automatically be denied cover if your you have any pre-existing confound.

SisyphusDad · 31/07/2017 17:13

You might want to have a look at insurancewith (www.insurancewith.com/). They specialise in covering people with a less than perfect medical history (I think there are other companies who do similar but this is the one I've dealt with and they were OK).

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