How to have a US vacation with cancer?

[sammy]

Hi,

I have been battling breast cancer since February and just had the final round of five months of chemotherapy yesterday. In about 8 weeks I will be finishing radiation therapy and keen to have a self indulgent vacation, child-free, before school breaks up.

I have been fantasizing about going back to Hawaii all through treatment, but have heard that the cancer will pose a problem with travel insurance.

I don't anticipate any need for any cancer related treatment (or even emergencies) while on holiday, but I surely want to be covered for being hit by a bus, breaking my arm, having a heart attack etc etc. All the normal stuff we all want to be covered for.

Any experience out there from those with similar health issues? Or anyone with knowledge of how this would all work?

Can I just have my cancer excluded from the policy? Or am I stuck with having to pay such a high premium that I may as well just forget the trip?

 

[MatF]

Firstly, I really hope everything goes well for you, sammy. It sounds like a Hawaiian getaway is well deserved!


To your question - I obtained some travel insurance from Travel Insurance Direct (TID) last year when Mrs MatF and I went to Europe. About 10 years ago I had a suspected Pulmonary Embolism, which is one of the conditions that need special consideration for coverage. I had to fill in some extra forms, but in the end they did agreed to give me full coverage (and I had to pay extra, though not much). However, from what I can remember, if they'd not agreed to cover me for anything related to the suspected PE, I would still have been able to get coverage for anything else, it just would have been excluded. I don't know for sure if it's the same with cancer, but I'd hope so.

I presume other providers would be similar.


All the best,
Mat.

 

[opusman]

A standard travel insurance policy will exclude pre-existing conditions, so as long as you're fine with anything that could be potentially related to your cancer in any way, shape or form, being excluded, then you should be ok. Certainly it would cover you against being hit by a bus, etc!

Good luck and I hope you have a great Hawaiian getaway!

 

[woolnough04]

This isn't a plug for a particular insurance company it is just the one i use and they have cover for pre existing conditions.
click more info and it tells you what pre existing conditions are covered.if you start the first part of the buy option(you don't have to actually complete the buy section)it gives you the option of cover for pre existing conditions

http://www.1cover.com.au/?gclid=CIiCxt2tjasCFUxS4godG3Xguw&affID=22

 

[straitman]

sammy,

From the experience of having recently survived a two year battle with Prostate cancer I suggest you actually talk to the potential TI companies to get their spin on where you are at.

There will be a point where they no longer see you as having a problem but where that actually is will be the point of contention.

Also have a look at Defence Health for rates. (You do not have to be a member)

 

[sammy]

Thanks all for being so helpful.

According to that quote link from woolnough04 I won't have to pay any extra at all and still be covered for the cancer. Sounds too good to be true, but its a weight off my mind for the time being. I will call them and go into it all when the time comes.

I won't be sure of dates for quite a while but will make sure I post back here to let you all know how the insurance went.

 

[markis10]

Sammy,

I cannot help on the advice side but just wanted to wish you all the best!

 

[nickykim]

Sammy, I totally missed this but do have some advice based on personal experience of getting cover post breast cancer. Covermore will probably give cover for pre-existing condition where treatment has finished - it is for a fee. I was charged about $80 in addition to the standard premium for a 4 week trip to NYC in Nov 2010 and about the same for two week in Germany scheduled for mid Oct 2011. For me the US medical system is too expensive and too difficult to navigate without insurance. I thought about not insuring for Germany and I can go to the UK (or Italy I think) and would be covered by public health if necessary. I am hoping that when I get to 5 years out maybe they will stop loading my premium.

You can buy Covermore through a particular travel agent, but it is cheaper on line and you can do the pre-existing medical application yourself on-line also.

Glad to hear you got through treatment and you deserve a vacation. Check with your oncologist / breast care nurse re whether you need to take precautions to reduce lymphodema risk before you fly.

Regards

Nickykim

 

[UP4014]

It's not hard to get travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, send me a private message if you have no luck and I will give you a direct contact in the industry to arrange it.

Enjoy your trip.

Matt

 

[sammy]

Browsing the site, I just remembered that I never reported back on what happened.

Long story short: no cover (for anything cancer related), not even from Covermore. They may offer cover more than six months after the last cancer treatment (chemo, radiotherapy etc) but not before.

So I did the trip with general travel insurance, but with the cancer excluded. Luckily I was fine.

It would have been possible to link just about any illness back to the cancer (or cancer treatment), though. For example. the insurance company could argue that a heart attack could have been caused by the chemo damage. I'm not too sure how that would work...

The trip? Well, the doc thought that November (before school broke up) was too soon, so we travelled after school went back (Feb 2012) instead. AND we phased up to a Florida vacation and a Caribbean cruise that was divine. Best of all was the sheer luxury of not having to cater/pander to any kids just once.

Thank you for your kind wishes. I am doing well. Still having herceptin treatment every three weeks - but managing to pack little trips in between. In fact, heading straight to the airport from hospital next Tuesday for school holidays in Port Douglas.

 

[amaroo]

I'm late to the thread - great that you enjoyed your trip & a few more since

Having gone through issues obtaining TI for my MIL who is over 75 & recovering from breast cancer I have a very small idea of what you are gong through. Good luck & good travels

 

[miclyn111]

Browsing the site, I just remembered that I never reported back on what happened.

Long story short: no cover (for anything cancer related), not even from Covermore. They may offer cover more than six months after the last cancer treatment (chemo, radiotherapy etc) but not before.

So I did the trip with general travel insurance, but with the cancer excluded. Luckily I was fine.

It would have been possible to link just about any illness back to the cancer (or cancer treatment), though. For example. the insurance company could argue that a heart attack could have been caused by the chemo damage. I'm not too sure how that would work...

The trip? Well, the doc thought that November (before school broke up) was too soon, so we travelled after school went back (Feb 2012) instead. AND we phased up to a Florida vacation and a Caribbean cruise that was divine. Best of all was the sheer luxury of not having to cater/pander to any kids just once.

Thank you for your kind wishes. I am doing well. Still having herceptin treatment every three weeks - but managing to pack little trips in between. In fact, heading straight to the airport from hospital next Tuesday for school holidays in Port Douglas.

Hi Sammy

Like you I was unable to gain travel insurance for US trip 2011 post breast cancer (chemo., mastectomy, radiation) even with the exclusions for BC. I was determined to attend

my brothers wedding and did. I also had a letter from my oncologist supporting I was capable/fit for travel- go figure!

I tried 5 different companies was happy to pay their premiums and I was subjected by all companies to extensive assessment/questions to be rejected by all. Now I have that

(rejections) recorded for being very honest about my BC history. Anyway long story, I was forced to take the risk without insurance and had a wonderful trip, fortunately nothing

happened.

For women/ peeps wanting info. I would recommend Breast Cancer Network (BCNA), www.bcna.org.au/fact-sheets you can down load the following fact sheets-

-Travel insurance for women with early BC

-Travel insurance for women with secondary BC

-Travel insurance- making a complaint



-Reducing your risks travelling with lymphoedema, also compression garments

-Travelling with an external breast prothesis- ie tips when going thru body scanners


Great reading above for all interested.

Unfortunately my BC sisters, you may find yourself rejected or discrimated by insurance providers especially if you have metastatic cancer.

Travelling to USA or most countries for that matter I would highly recommend letters from oncologist/ doctor detailing medications, history, explaining prothesis as these

can be very helpful if questioned during security screening processes.

Yes travel often becomes so important or a positive focus during/after treatments and I plan to continue going to the USA yearly even with travel insurance being denied to me.

Sammy..... you, I and others out there NEED to plan our travel with great joy and hope and let the insurance companies suck lemons! (sorry any insurance peeps no offence

intended) I played by the rules giving all true health information and I "lost" . Yes the insurance company can argue and link possible illness back to cancer- caused by your

chemo , radiation damage or a deficient immune system. Enough said here.

Travel is high on my bucket list and I love planning all my trips- also big thanks to AFF- best discovery of travel forum yet.

Both (travel and AFF) are essential to my optimal health. Thanks to all fellow AFF's.... and my thoughts to all living with chronic illness, esp. women with BC.

Cheers, miclyn111

 

[sammy]

Hi Ellen,

Thank you for those links. Especially interesting about the body scanners.

Try not to think of it as discrimination. The insurance companies are businesses only trying to make a profit. They consult their actuarial tables, and if we are too risky they don't insure us. Just like houses on a flood plain won't get flood insurance. It's not a personal thing, nor is it discrimination. It's just business.

As you and I both know, life can be too short to spend being angry...

Best wishes for your recovery.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Too true life is too short. Don't let insurance or the lack of it get in the way!!

Well done in any case.

 

[Pushka]

We are another family that has to deal with the implications of cancer, but we have had to do that for over 30 years now, as my partner developed cancer six months after we married. He's still here though! And I had back surgery when I was thirty for a ruptured disc. Originally I could be covered (once I had not had treatment for 12 months) but I note now that insurance companies have inserted "ever had spinal surgery" rather than an exemption oonce 12 months had passed. So I guess that means I can never be covered if I did something to my back again. It hasn't stopped us travelling at all, but just hope if something ever did go wrong that the insurance would not relate it back to any surgeries we've had. After 25 years I would certainty kick up a storm if they did.

 

[Sale]

It's not hard to get travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, send me a private message if you have no luck and I will give you a direct contact in the industry to arrange it.

Enjoy your trip.

Matt

Hi Matt

I am in a similar situation to Sammy as I have a rare form of leukaemia, but one that can be completely contained with medication. (Sorry - this is my first post and I can't PM or email you)

I am not having any luck on the internet looking for annual cover - would you mind PMing me with your direct contact?

many thanks

Hilary

 

[markis10]

Hi Matt

I am in a similar situation to Sammy as I have a rare form of leukaemia, but one that can be completely contained with medication. (Sorry - this is my first post and I can't PM or email you)

I am not having any luck on the internet looking for annual cover - would you mind PMing me with your direct contact?

many thanks

Hilary

Hi Hilary

If you PM one of the moderators we can pass the message on! Welcome to AFF.

 

[UP4014]

Hi Hilary, Markis10 has alerted me, will check my address book this week and send a reply.


Matt

 

[UP4014]

Hilary, I just sent you a PM.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Sale]

Many thanks Matt, appreciated & hopefully they can help.

cheers

hilary