Travel Insurance - Medical condition

[ToneG]

Hi again. I have been unable to travel to Thailand for a few years due to a very nasty virus attacking my kidneys and knocking them out.

Luckily for me the GB NHS have given me a second chance with a kidney transplant. Does anybody have any idea how much I'm likely to

get stung for medical insurance for say a three week holiday in Thailand. Thanks for any info. ToneG

[VBF]

I would suggest doing a search for "travel insurance with existing medical conditions" or similar wording. I have seen that there are insurers who specialise in that area but don't recall specific ones.

 

Also, would your GP or NHS specialist give you a letter stating that you are in a fit condition to travel? That MIGHT have some infuence on whether they accept you and on premiums.

 

And if you're taking prescription drugs, be sure to carry copies of the prescriptions in case Custom happen to search you. Unlikely, but possible. Good Luck.

[ToneG]

Thanks for the tips VBF. I understand that It's not wise to travel until after 1 year, so far I'm only 4 months post transplant.

I think after I year without any signs of rejection you are pretty safe to travel. I think the doctors are pretty keen that you get back to living a normal life but going to Thailand may be pushing it a bit I'm thinking. I was wondering if there were any other

Thailand visitors that have gone through a transplant. Thanks ToneG

[Sheryl]

Most travel insurance policies I have seen (and I buy it every year fr my trips back to the US as my regular insurance  excludes the US) do not ask for your medical history, the rates are based solely in age, sex  and country of residence. However, all pre-existing conditions are excluded so if you have problems related to the transplant/kidney disease, no coverage for that - but you'd be covered for anything else urgent.

 

 

[ToneG]

Yes I guess I can not disclose and forgo medical cover if anything happens but I'd like to be covered if it's not too seriously expensive. Thanks for your post though.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Per existing conditions can be covered at 10% of total coverage.  Look at www.TMHCC.com.  if you are under 65, it should be less than five bucks a day for a million USD in coverage, that would cover your preexisting condition up to 100,000 and also cover evacuation.  Deductibles range from zero to 1000.  100k us is still a lot of coverage here.

Edited August 12, 2017 by KhonKaenKowboy

[ToneG]

Thank KKK that doesn't sound too bad. I wonder if anyone from UK has any experience we tend to have a rip off culture here that stings you any time possible. Especially with stuff like insurance. ToneG

[scubascuba3]

Try gocompare.com moneysupermarket.com comparethemarket.com

 

They ask for pre-existing conditions, so i assume you won't be covered for them.

 

Its important to read the T&Cs, otherwise you'll miss the exclusions

 

 

[ToneG]

Yes I know to shop around but I'm not going to think about travelling for another 8 months but just wondering if anyone has any experience declaring a condition like a transplant and what the costs might be. NHS have given me a chance to live a normal life so don't want to blow it for the sake of a few hundred pounds. Rather than take the risk of no medical cover.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

1 hour ago, ToneG said:

Thank KKK that doesn't sound too bad. I wonder if anyone from UK has any experience we tend to have a rip off culture here that stings you any time possible. Especially with stuff like insurance. ToneG

They are rated A/A- by the ratings agencies, unlike most of the companies mentioned here.  T

Tokio Marine also offer direct billing at RAM in CM and several in BKK....they covered my broken tooth, which was 4450, paid electronically, before I left the hospital dental clinic.  You can always call and ask them.  For Americans, sedan buy after or trip has started, you all can't...but you can get extensions up to a total of 364 days...five dollar admin fee.  And they don't cover cancer.  The other one to look at is www.imgglobal.com.   both are backed by Lloyd's.

[ToneG]

Thank you I appreciate your help TG

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

They are rated A/A- by the ratings agencies, unlike most of the companies mentioned here.  T

Tokio Marine also offer direct billing at RAM in CM and several in BKK....they covered my broken tooth, which was 4450, paid electronically, before I left the hospital dental clinic.  You can always call and ask them.  For Americans, sedan buy after or trip has started, you all can't...but you can get extensions up to a total of 364 days...five dollar admin fee.  And they don't cover cancer.  The other one to look at is www.imgglobal.com.   both are backed by Lloyd's.

I don't think any travel policy will cover cancer treatment other than emergency care if needed for initial stabilization (which is unlikely in someone fit enough to travel). They will also never cover things like hip replacements etc. It is important to understand that travel insurance covers only urgent treatment that cannot wait, it is not comprehensive health insurance (which is also why it costs so much less). Most travel insurance will require that you have insurance or equivalent (e.g. NHS cover) in your home country, and will reserve the option to fly you back home for care vs pay for treatment where you are - this too is why it is so much less expensive.

 

I use img for my trips back to US - but luckily have never had to make a claim so can't report on that.

 

 

 

 

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Neither of the two require you to be insured at home.  You will have to specify if you will be in the US or not.  You will be assigned an agent, evenbif you buy direct, so I buy through www.insubuy.com.     anyone, who chats or answers the phone is a licensed agent.  IMG covered a friend's daughter, who flipped her ATV in Mexico.  Medivac copter, spinal surgery.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

35 minutes ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

Neither of the two require you to be insured at home.  You will have to specify if you will be in the US or not.  You will be assigned an agent, evenbif you buy direct, so I buy through www.insubuy.com.     anyone, who chats or answers the phone is a licensed agent.  IMG covered a friend's daughter, who flipped her ATV in Mexico.  Medivac copter, spinal surgery.

I just got a quote for a 21 day trip to the US.  If you are under 70, you get 15,000 in coverage for the acute onset of preexisting conditions.  That is with UnitedHealth, but you will get much better terms if you exclude USA.

[Sheryl]

IMG does require that you be insured in your usual country of residence -- or at least, they do for US citizens travelling to the US.