travel insurance

JJ28

I've just found this group, and have been looking through the posts. I have had RA for about 5 years now and it is managed fairly well by hydroxychloriquine and methotrexate.

However, when I tried to arrange travel insurance, they were unable to categorise the fact that I have compromised immunity due to the methotrexate - and said they couldn't go any further with my application. This was a company who claim to specialise in helping people with medical needs.

Please can anyone point me towards a travel insurance company who really will understand the facts and actually insure me (Ihave never had cause to make a claim) I am desperate to begin travelling again!!

MammaBuckz

Hi @JJ28

Welcome to the Online Community, We're glad you found us! You'll find a friendly group of people with different types of arthritis who are happy to help.

You've mentioned you are looking for an insurance company who will understand your situation and ensure you are fully covered. You'll definitely need travel insurance and you must tell them all about your condition. If you don't, they might refuse to help if your condition flares up.

Shop around for the best travel insurance quote. Most companies appreciate that a lot of people have a pre-existing condition, so the premium shouldn't be too high. Price comparison websites are a good place to start.

Before you go travelling, do some research. Top-quality guidebooks have useful information. Find out where the nearest chemist, doctors' surgery and hospital to where you're staying are located.

I'm sure that our members will be able to point you in the direction of reputable insurance companies too, but in the meantime, I'm able to share an insurance company that we are aware of.

https://www.fishinsurance.co.uk/product/single-trip-travel-insurance/pre-existing-medical-conditions/

Good luck with your search and happy travelling!

Best wishes, MammaBuckz - Moderator

stickywicket

How odd! And unhelpful. Admittedly, I've not travelled since covid but we used to fly out to our son's in California every year and, although I, too, am on meth and hydroxy, have never had a problem.

I do make a point of telling them everything as the last thing one wants is to be left high and dry in dire straits. l'd assume that, if we mention a disease that requires immunosuppressants, they would accept that that's what we take. I know they ask how many meds per condition/disease and that it's best to not be on more than two for each(!) but I'm not sure I recall being asked which. They've always been more interested in joint replacements and the absolute nono is an 'undiagnosed condition'. I once had to postpone a visit until I'd seen the gastroenterologist and been given the all-clear.

One thing I always do is ring them up and let them do the paperwork to ensure i miss nothing. (I once, admittedly after over 20 years in the clear) forgot to mention I'd had breast cancer and had to ring up and explain. They weren't interested as it was so long ago.

After several years we started to use brokers rather than just insurers. I might (or might not!) be able to find a name if you want. I'd have to PM you with it though as we can't advertise on here.

One thing we learned - if you are going with someone else and would want both of you to stay in an emergency, you need to be on the same policy. Understandably, it costs more but well worth it we think.

JJ28

Thank you for the reply. I have never before told them that I am immunosupressed - like you, I told them my condition and how many medications I take and...as that was all they asked...I didn't elaborate. For some reason, this time I explained about the lack of immunity due to methotrexate (and adilimubab, forgot that in previous post) which put them into panic mode. I now wonder how much information is shared between companies (like it is with car insurance) as am very tempted to just get another quote and not elaborate more than they ask......

Wendy52

Just be careful about getting a new quote as you may be asked whether you have ever been refused insurance cover in the past….just answer the questions as they are asked, which is pretty obvious.

Hope that helps and that you get sorted.