Need trip insurance that covers pre-existing condition
 

Hi Fodorites,

My husband and I are headed to the UK in a couple of weeks, but he just broke his arm. Does anyone know of trip insurance that will cover him if something goes wrong with his arm abroad?

A few details: We paid for the trip on Sept. 3rd (so it's too late for a waiver); we'll be there for a little over a week, and we're both in our late 30s.

Which country do you live in?

Oops - forgot that one! We live in the US.

I would check on www.insuremytrip.com and get the 800 number and call them.

They only covered my DH pre existing conditions because we bought the insurance right after paying for the trip (but that was 90 days in advance).

Check with AAA. I know that in Canada with CAA if you have a pre-existing condition and declare it you can pay extra to have it covered.

Unless you think you can get insurance to be repatriated, I suspect that the cost of insurance might be more than the out of pocket expenses you might incur for medical treatment in the UK. I would first check to see if emergency treatment abroad is covered by your U.S. insurance (it is for us), keep good records if you do need help and have to pay for it, and then file for reimbursement. Using a credit card to pay makes the process easier as you have a record of what the actual dollars costs are for the treatment incurred.

Thanks, Sue, traveller & Michael! DH is checking with his insurance company and I'm still looking through insuremytrip's plans.

Traveller69 - as usual, the U.S. didn't measure up to Canada. AAA doesn't even offer travel insurance! (We love your country)

Was the break a fairly routine one or multiple bones/breaks? Complications from a simple fracture are unlikely aren't they? I'd just take my chances, since emergency care in Europe is not nearly as costly as it is here.

I wouldn't worry about it so much if you are only there a week and you had no reason to even want insurance before this. What can go wrong so much with a broken arm in a week. Besides, UK health service is cheap. I've been there when I was a tourist, it didn't cost me much at all (granted for something different, but still).

Kayd - it was a simple break, but definitely a bad one. Plus my DH is stubborn - he keeps trying to carry luggage and other things that are liable to land him in the ER. (arg)

This is going to get me flamed by my compatriots.

But what's seriously likely to go wrong? Answer: the arm breaks again because the stupid pillock insists on picking up a suitcase.

An emergency, of sorts. Any A&E will stick it together again, free, It'll teach him to behave sensibly - at least till he gets home again.

If there are real complications, the system will invoice you for subsequent treatment - but at our derisorily low rates, which result from our government - as in all other civilised countries - running things a bloody sight more efficiently than your country's bizarre experiment in pretending you can trust insurance companies with your collective lives.

True, I'm suggesting our taxes subsidise you, Think of it as a free sample of how a proper healthcare system should be run.

My DH went to Mexico with a broken arm he got just before we were supposed to leave, and that is more scary then going to the UK. (No problems) We had no insurance down there.

You won't get any flame from me, flanneruk - I'm all for US healthcare reform. What we accept over here is truly absurd.

(Good to hear that it won't bankrupt us if DH decides to play Superman, though)

If your husband is medically able to travel right now, then I believe that a travel insurance policy would cover him if his medical condition changed and a doctor said he could not travel. I usually work with Travelex - check out their web page here: http://tinyurl.com/26nrckf - but I would call their 800# to verify.

Thanks, travelhorizons - I'll give them a call!

You're right - this is one chore that's best accomplished by talking to an actual person. (As much as I prefer the internet...)

Always get med insurance if yours won't cover you while out of the country. It's cheap enough, and what happens if you do need care? It cost me less than $40 for two to get it for a week in Europe. $190 for three weeks in S Africa with repatriation. $20 for Quebec for 5 days. Insuremytrip.com. Just enter $0 in the travel ins spot to get a quote. And it covers all kinds of other stuff that could be useful.

I think you're SOOL with the pre- existing condition, but a call can't hurt.

Another argument for packing light.

For heavy cases, porters /skycaps are available at Heathrow and Gatwick and much cheaper than the cost and hassle of treatment, which is low in the UK but factor in loss of time, cost of taxi to hospital, etc.

I used a cane for a bad knee on a recent trip, amazing and gratifying how kind the " general public" was.

Sounds as though you are seeking charity, not insurance.

And it sounds as though you don't read very well, hmmm.

If I'd asked "Hey - will the UK health system cover us for free if we have a problem?" then yes... I would've been seeking charity. But I asked about travel insurance - even expensive travel insurance - that will ensure we don't have to depend on charity.

in California AAA offers travel insurance through travel insurance companies at reduced rates. So does AmEx.