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Travel insurance when undiagnosed

44 replies

aodirjjd · 18/04/2024 22:07

I think I’m trying to distract myself here. But I’ve got a holiday booked early June that I stupidly don’t have travel insurance for yet. Plan was to sort of this weekend. I’ve just found a breast lump. I’m only 35 so it’s almost definitely nothing but still going to gp asap but I’m really worried I won’t have it diagnosed as “nothing” in time to get travel insurance for my holiday. I don’t mind paying more for insurance if I need to but from googling it seems most places won’t cover you if not diagnosed?

anyone have any advice? Ignoring it for 7 weeks and seeking gp after isn’t an option. I’d be gutted to lose the holiday but I wouldn’t dare travel without insurance.

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aodirjjd · 19/04/2024 00:36

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the request of the poster.

Yes the lump moves around with my boob it’s not stuck to my rib cage or anything but it doesn’t feel free floating is that good or bad sign?

thanks for the estimated cost that’s very helpful. £600 I can do for peace of mind. I’ll see where I get to with gp initially and start looking at companies like Nuffield and spires cancellation policy. I might book an appt with a company like spire for around two weeks time and then cancel it if nhs one comes through in decent time.

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samarrange · 19/04/2024 00:47

If your holiday is in Europe then your GHIC will cover you for any emergency or ongoing treatment that you might need during your holiday.

exexpat · 19/04/2024 01:06

The NHS is actually pretty efficient when it comes to the two week referral for breast cancer, in my recent experience. So the likely timeline is, if you contact your GP, you will be referred for scans/biopsies at a breast clinic within two weeks; it could well be sooner.

If the clinic finds anything suspicious, they will tell you on the day, and if they are fairly sure it is cancer, they will book you an appointment with a consultant, which should be within another two weeks.

If surgery is needed, it should be around four weeks after that. So in total, you are looking at around eight weeks from first contact to surgery, if needed. This may turn out to clash with your holiday, if it is early June, so you will then need to decide if you want to cancel, or to wait an extra week or two for surgery (ask advice from the doctor about this). You are unlikely to need emergency medical treatment for a breast lump while on holiday.

I think if you haven't taken out travel insurance already, and you are aware of the potential issue when you buy a policy, the insurers would be justified in refusing to pay out for cancellation - be prepared for questions about when you first noticed symptoms. This is why you should always buy insurance at the same time as you book a holiday.

Of course, the chances are that it will be something benign like a cyst, and you will be able to go on holiday, relax and forget about it.

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2024 09:44

Penguinsa · 19/04/2024 00:19

I think if you don't declare the whole insurance is invalid.

Yes, correct. But if you claim for a lust bag how would they know you'd been waiting for a diagnosis?

Riverlee · 20/04/2024 09:53

A lot of travel insurance policies have sections about undiagnosed issues.

You could get a policy today and not mention it. However, if you go to gp tomorrow, and say you found your lump yesterday, and the gp records the date you found it, then this could invalidate your travel insurance, as the dates don’t match (if you need to claim).

Hope everything is alright.

aodirjjd · 20/04/2024 10:32

Thanks everyone. I’ve been to gp and got two week referral. I’m going to put off insurance until I’ve had the breast clinic appt (hope that it’s actually two weeks, if it’s ages I’ll go private) and that I can apply for insurance and inform them of a “benign lump”. If it’s actually something awful then I’ll probably call a specialist one if I can still face the holiday.

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Riverlee · 20/04/2024 10:40

I actually think it’s still worth getting the travel
insurance now. Yes, it may cost a little more than (but may not be too bad) an all-clear diagnosis insurance policy. However, in the unlikely event that you may have to cancel if you need treatment, then at least you’re covered.

Hopefully all will be fine. Fingers crossed.

aodirjjd · 20/04/2024 10:50

Riverlee · 20/04/2024 10:40

I actually think it’s still worth getting the travel
insurance now. Yes, it may cost a little more than (but may not be too bad) an all-clear diagnosis insurance policy. However, in the unlikely event that you may have to cancel if you need treatment, then at least you’re covered.

Hopefully all will be fine. Fingers crossed.

my understanding is that any insurance would exclude cancer as a reason for holiday cancellation from the policy.

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Tukto · 20/04/2024 14:34

my understanding is that any insurance would exclude cancer as a reason for holiday cancellation from the policy.
I think you are right. If you had taken out insurance when you booked it would have covered you for cancellation for something that wasn't known or suspected at the time.
I had an annual poilcy with Staysure (many pre-existing conditions including a history of breast cancer). When a new problem cropped up they agreed to cover me for everying except the undiagnosed condition. This was for a holiday booked before the symptoms. They also said that they wouldn't cover me for any further travel for any conditions until I had a diagnosis.

FWIW the one stop 2ww breast clinic that I went to had consultants, radiologist, and nurses. They scanned and biopsied on the day and told me they were 90% sure it was cancer. You should get a pretty good idea on the day. Expect it to take 3 or 4 hours.
Good luck

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2024 19:19

aodirjjd · 20/04/2024 10:32

Thanks everyone. I’ve been to gp and got two week referral. I’m going to put off insurance until I’ve had the breast clinic appt (hope that it’s actually two weeks, if it’s ages I’ll go private) and that I can apply for insurance and inform them of a “benign lump”. If it’s actually something awful then I’ll probably call a specialist one if I can still face the holiday.

Edited

I had a recall recently, I was at the breast screening service in just over a week and got the results right there (was a lymph node and some "tangled" breast tissue) after several 3D scans and an ultrasound.

aodirjjd · 20/04/2024 20:17

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2024 19:19

I had a recall recently, I was at the breast screening service in just over a week and got the results right there (was a lymph node and some "tangled" breast tissue) after several 3D scans and an ultrasound.

I am really hoping it’s that. I am bouncing between picturing two scenarios 1) the conversation when I tell my poor family I have cancer and 2) feeling embarrassed for thinking it could be that

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VanGoghsDog · 22/04/2024 09:57

aodirjjd · 20/04/2024 20:17

I am really hoping it’s that. I am bouncing between picturing two scenarios 1) the conversation when I tell my poor family I have cancer and 2) feeling embarrassed for thinking it could be that

I did that for a few days. My friend said I was catastrophising. I said I was forward planning.

I wasn't especially worried, that stats were very much on my side. But it did make me think about some stuff which was useful.

I wasn't embarrassed, there's no need to be, it is normal to think about the potential outcomes.

aodirjjd · 22/04/2024 10:14

@VanGoghsDog thank you. I’ve felt rubbish all weekend. I’m not falling into floods of tears or anything but I’m just on constant doom and gloom in my mind . I keep thinking I know statistics are on my side but I have a bad feeling. As if my bad feeling has more weight that the statistics. I hope it comes some as I don’t feel like I can think of anything else at the moment.

Did you go to screening appt alone? I might have to anyway and not sure what I’d prefer.

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Tukto · 22/04/2024 21:19

Did you go to screening appt alone?
I did. I also didn't tell anyone, not even DH. That backfired because they told me on the day they werev90% sure it was cancer. So I had to break that to DH. I had had two weeks catastrophising to prepare for it.

Penguinsa · 22/04/2024 21:22

I had to go alone as it was in covid rules time and the tests were OK but at the end they said it was cancer. They gave impression it was cancer in first minute I was there saying they would get a treatment plan then quickly if its needed but could tell from the looks. My DH was waiting in the car and that worked OK.

exexpat · 22/04/2024 21:25

The waiting room at the breast clinic usually seems to be about 60/40 women with a partner/family member/friend, and women alone. Of course some of them would be there for follow-up appointments rather than initial screening.

I went alone (long distance DP, but I would probably have gone alone anyway), but when it was bad news there was a sympathetic nurse to hand to offer a cup of tea and a chat.

I would not keep it a secret from a partner in the run-up, unless you have a particularly unhelpfully anxious or catastrophising partner who would just make it worse for you.

aodirjjd · 22/04/2024 21:34

Thank you. My partner does know what’s going on . he might not be able to come anyway if he’s working (emergency services so not as simple as booking a day of work). I will hopefully find out when appt is tomorrow at least so I can plan.

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VanGoghsDog · 22/04/2024 23:21

aodirjjd · 22/04/2024 10:14

@VanGoghsDog thank you. I’ve felt rubbish all weekend. I’m not falling into floods of tears or anything but I’m just on constant doom and gloom in my mind . I keep thinking I know statistics are on my side but I have a bad feeling. As if my bad feeling has more weight that the statistics. I hope it comes some as I don’t feel like I can think of anything else at the moment.

Did you go to screening appt alone? I might have to anyway and not sure what I’d prefer.

I went alone. I only told two people - my bf and my boss (for the time off work). Told my friend afterwards. Not told anyone else I don't think.

Bf wanted to come but I couldn't have coped with his cloying concern on top of my own worry! It was bad enough him texting me every five minutes.

Even if the result itself is bad, the next steps still have a reasonable prognosis.

I didn't get told I was "going to have" an appointment, I just got an appointment through the post about three weeks after my mammogram and it was within the following two weeks. I felt bad telling my boss because I'd only that morning told her I was working from home as I had a chest infection.

aodirjjd · 26/04/2024 08:39

I’ve still not been given an appt. I’ve rang clinic a few days in a row and got give different info each time. Yesterday they said I should hear by next Friday. Aka two weeks since i was referred before I even get booked in. Calling private providers today.

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