Diabeteic Travel Insurance Price Horror

[hellbell84]

going to thailand end of feb and have just called a few insurers to get quote for me and the boyfriend,

was shocked to see ?160 for annual cover

the cheapest was ?67 for a single trip

who do you guys use to get your travel insurance from? (that was with insure and go and freedom insurance)

help muchas appreciated!! thanks🙂

 

[Copepod]

You don't say how long you are travelling for, nor what you intend to do in Thailand eg mountain trekking above 2000m (unusual, if not impossible in Thailand - I haven't checked a topological map recently), SCUBA diving etc, plus wanting cover for expensive camera or other electronic equipment can all push up the premiums. Annual cover may not be appropriate for trips longer than their time limit, of say 30 days for each trip. Some activities eg moped riding, may be excluded completely, and people have found their insurance companies refused to pay out after they had moped accidents. One tip than can help you to save money is to find a company that offers "worldwide, excluding USA", as it's the USA bit that ups the cost, dueto their health system, rather than the entire world.

The only horror is if what you (with diabetes, assuming no other problems eg asthma, nor complications, nor recent hospitalisation for diabetes) were quoted a higher amount to your boyfriend, assuming he doesn't have any long standing health issues? If you live together, then travel insurance for a couple is often less than double for an individual. To be honest, ?67 doesn't sound too bad for, say 1 month.

But worth checking the aspects I have mentioned - and have a great trip, with adequate insurance cover.

 

[Einstein]

Hi, there is a deal with Diabetes UK through their insurers Heath Lambert I recall, details on the Diabetes UK website...

I now have a bank account with Natwest that includes '5 star' travel insurance, which to my surprise, they didn't want to charge me penalties for my diabetes.

Are the figures of ?160 and ?67 just for you or both of you? I recall the insurance through Diabetes UK for two weeks in Europe for me was about ?30 a couple of years ago. I know non-diabetics don't always have such high premiums, so it might be worth considering two seperate policies and of course travelling outside of the EU I guess becomes more expensive for them to insure.

Also check the excess, some cheaper policies have a far higher excess, if you do need to claim you'd end up paying more than the more expensive policy with a lower excess.

Of course I hope you have a great time and the insurance was a nice to have, but never needed!

David

 

[aymes]

The last few years I have gone with the Diabetes UK one and have found it to be pretty reasonable. In the past I have also used Lloyds which included one pre existing condition with no extra charge, don't know if they still do though.

 

[hellbell84]

it was for a single trip, 2 weeks, nothing adventurous, no mountain climbing and he has no pre=existing medical conditions!!

did it through diabetes uk last year, and it was ?60,but that was to USA and only for a week

going greece for sisters wedding so will prob be best to get an annual

thanks

 

[Einstein]

If its for the two of you, then I think its pretty fair.

Yes, the annual policy only needs one more trip over the next 12 months to justify itself - what more of an excuse for a holiday do you need?

Enjoy!

 

[carolyn]

Hi. I am type 2 and have had diabetes since 1990. I have always had difficulty in getting any insurances for both my car and travel but I have found that my insurance provider now is quite good (www.Insure and go) ?90 for the year for 2 adults, they do add some extra cover on for the diabetes or try nationwide on the net they used to do it for me.
Carolyn
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Mercedes-Benz Om603 Specifications

 

[Ikklemo]

When I got my car & house insurance through Direct Line - they were not interested in the fact that I had diabetes, they did not seem to think it was a problem, although that was 8 years ago, so I assume things could have changed. I have not tried them for travel insurance though, as I don't go abroad.

 

[Copepod]

Ehic

Hell Bell If you don't already have one, then apply for a free EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) - info online and link to apply online at http://www.nhs.uk/EHIC/Pages/About.aspx
This applies to all countries in EU, EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland, which includes Greece, but not Thailand!

 

[carolyn]

Ehic. Thanks for that info I have just applied for mine on line. I didn't know about it. As I am new to this site already it has given me alot of information, I'm not the only one who suffers with people who do not understand how you feel when you have low sugars. Thanks for listening.
Carolyn
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Home Made Vaporizor

 

[Copepod]

E H I C - for everyone travelling within Europe. not just with diabetes

I should add that EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, but insurers will not cover for costs that would have been covered by EHIC. Also, everyone travelling within EEA & Switzerland should get an EHIC, regardless of diabetes, although it is particularly useful for those with long term medical conditions.

When I worked in a travel clinic, I did tell patients about it - but was rarely consulted by people travelling within Europe. So, any practice nurse / GP should mention it if you tell them you are travelling within Europe.

 

[hellbell84]

thanks for all that info guys

yeah i have an EHIC card which does give me a bit of reassurance for when travelling in EU!!!

i will just stop being so tightfisted and do the annual with diabetes, ?60 for two for two weeks or ?87 for two for the whole year, bit of a no brainer

Funny you should mention other insurance though, when i bought my house in 2007, my mortgage broker woman thing tried to get life insurance for me and aboslutely NOONE would touch me as i have diabetes, not so much of a problem as i have it at work but even still, feel bit disheartened with noone wanted to cover me!! sob sob

car insurance hasnt been a problem, with admiral and that has been really cheap for me (so far, not crashed, may have just jinxed myself though)

seems a bit unfair to those who are stable with their condition that they bump their prices up as the boyfriend has got cover for thailand for ?7 and another ?4 for our trip to greece, him and his perfect health... (hmpffff)

 

[Daisy]

I have used mediquote and I call round them all!! Their average is about ?18-24 for a fornight to Europe/States. I now have a yearly policy with my health insurance from Standard life who do not load the premium because of diabetes. In my personal experience the insurers through Diabetes UK have always come out the most expensive for everything - I no longer even call them - they once quoted me car insurance for ?900 I got the same policy from Admiral for ?200!!!! Hate 'em.

 

[hellbell84]

Daisy, i totally agree, think specialist companies use it to their advantage as people think they will get extra special cover for paying a bit more for it, but after researching everything, turns out they are becoming the most expensive!!!

my health insurance is through Pru Health (work benefit) so i might give them a call and see how much they reckon itll be

really begrudge paying that much for insurance that i hopefully wont need to use!!

 

[Copepod]

DUK insurance / donations

I too steer well clear of DUK insurers - the prices are higher because they pay money to DUK for each policy taken out. If you want to support DUK, it's better to make donations so that DUK can claim tax relief, assuming you earn enough to pay tax.