Travel Insurance for lung cancer

[strawberry blonde]

A belated Happy New Year everyone.

Haven't posted in a while as DH was diagnosed with lung cancer in the Summer but today we had his CT results which showed that the tumour has drastically shrunk and the consultant has said that we can book for Florida in May IF we can get insurance.

We're thinking of booking last minute if the insurance isn't horrendous. Will start phoning around but does anyone know who we could try?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ONLY FROM MY TRAVELS (over 4½-Million Airmiles):
1) The insurance seems to be priced per-trip.
2) However, travel insurance typically excludes pre-existing illnesses.
3) Maybe someone else has better experience.
4) Maybe your first call should be to your travel agent or airline and ask.

 

[Donald - my hero]

That is wonderful news for your family

Something i only found out once it was too late ... if you buy the insurance through Disney when you book your trip the " pre-existing condition" clause does NOT exist. In other words, as far as they are concerned you have NO pre-existing conditions. My suggestion would be to call the people who actually handle the insurance and confirm that this will still apply in your situation. I was so super frustrated to notice this AFTER i had turned down the insurance on the silly assumption that it wouldn't help me if i needed to use it.



The phone # 603-328-1322

Good luck, & again i'm so happy for the good health news

 

[lanejudy]

That sounds like good news that I'm sure you've been anxiously awaiting!

It appears you are traveling from the UK. I believe travel insurance options are different there than in the states, so you might also consider posting your question on the UK Trip Planning Forum. I have heard of annual travel policies offered there, which aren't available here. Here in the US, to get "pre-existing condition" waivers typically means purchasing the policy within a few days (varies, maybe up to 2 weeks) of making the initial deposit. You also want to consider exactly what is covered. As a PP mentions, WDW policies only cover components purchased directly through Disney -- if you purchase airfare or make other ground travel and hotel plans outside of the actual WDW plans those wouldn't be covered. So you are correct to shop around and find what best suits your needs.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[aaarcher86]

That's great news! Good luck and enjoy

 

[anonymousegirl]

With apologies to the knowledgeable Rusty Scupper, the people to call are the travel insurance companies themselves. In many states, travel agents are not allowed to sell insurance unless they are licensed (and many are not).

Try calling a couple of major companies and give them your exact scenario. Get an explicit definition of "pre-existing". For example, many policies cover pre existing conditions IF there has not been any changes to the condition in the last two months. A simple change in prescription meds can invalidate a policy!

Also, cancer is a very special situation, so calling directly is best.

Good luck and congrats on a positive diagnosis for your DH.

 

[strawberry blonde]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes and advice. I posted on the UK boards first but thought I'd try here too.

So off to start phoning around. Fingers crossed.

 

[SteveMouse]

There can be a difference between travel insurance and health insurance whilst on travel. Most travel insurance is focused on recovering the costs of travel (plus comparatively little support for actual medical costs incurred whilst on holiday, with the notable exception of medical evacuation costs).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

With apologies to the knowledgeable Rusty Scupper, the people to call are the travel insurance companies themselves . . .

I bow to your expertise. Thank You.

 

[Lewisc]

The OP is from the UK. He (probably) needs travel insurance which includes health insurance I don't think medical coverage in the UK extends coverage in the US.

You should post on the UK board. US based travel insurance isn't really applicable to your situation.

Many US travel insurance policies covey pre-existing conditions, as long as you buy the policy within a certain number of days after you book (in some cases shortly after you make your final payment).

ONLY FROM MY TRAVELS (over 4½-Million Airmiles):
1) The insurance seems to be priced per-trip.
2) However, travel insurance typically excludes pre-existing illnesses.

You may have flown over 4 million miles....I suspect you don't buy travel insurance .

 

[asc]

I have taken and will continue to take a break from Disney but will respond to OP.

I was in the situation where I was looking to purchase insurance for my MIL living in Canada currently being treated for stage 4 non small cell lung cancer. She had been taking iressa for about 12 months before our planned trip when it started to show a mixed response and ultimately, disease progression was noted. That said, it was irrelevant to the insurance companies in Canada as to any coverage for this condition. I work as a lawyer and read the fine print extensively. We have a great system in Canada and I did not want to get stuck with some outrageous bill but it was my assessment that the policies available would only cover health issues unrelated to the cancer. In fact, even when policies purported to have coverage, confirmation calls with the underwriting group would indicate that anything directly or indirectly related to the cancer would be denied 100%.

Unless the disease has been stable, in our case, for 180 days, they pretty much said you are on your own. Further, after they spoke with underwriting after me making full disclosure about the drugs she was on etc., current status of treatment and next steps (she was to start on carboplatin and pemetrexed when we returned from FL), they advised that in her case, they would be of the opinion her cancer would never be stable – a sad fact but true. She fortunately (or she would likely have been dead months ago) was EGFR+ for non operative non small cell lung cancer (adeno and some squamous) stage 4 with progression to lymphs in the chest cavity.

That said, if she was to have gotten hit by a truck or in a car accident, the policy would cover the same although my wife was of the view that even then, the insurance companies would find a way to deny the same.

Given the outrageous US health care costs, unless you can afford to self-insure (fortunately, my financial position is such that if we needed to pay $US50,000 to charter a plane back home we could), then proceed cautiously and don’t really on the internet about what you can get or not get. Just my 2 cents, but posting on a board looking for advice from many Americans who are not going to have the ability to review the policy terms for such insurance issued by UK insurance companies and won’t speak to the underwriting department with the companies that underwrite your insurance is not wise.

Just my 2 cents from my own research about policies in Canada, but unless the cancer is of the type that is curable, and when I mean that, treated and placed into remission for some time, and has been in remission for at least 180 days, the insurance companies here would deny any claims related to any issued directly or indirectly related to the cancer.

I wont be posting again or checking for responses or further questions. This may or may not be what you wanted to hear.

We went on the trip anyway and the Dr did not really sign off per se but understood that if something happened, she would have been flown home immediately versus seeking any assistance in the US. We only had 2.5 hour flight, however.