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Travel Insurance

Has anybody succeeded in getting an annual multi-trip travel insurance that covers CML? I had one last year, very reasonably priced, with Medici Travel but it runs out at the end of September. When I tried to renew it, I was refused it after the medical screening. I can get single trip insurance but it's very expensive (>£150 for a week in Italy, more that last year annual premium). I tried every specialist insurance company I could find- they all claim that they cover cancer patients but the result is always the same. I have free travel insurance through HSBC but, of course, it does not cover CML and I suspect that in the event of a claim, even if totally unrelated to CML, they would find a reason not to pay up.

Best wishes to all

Luisa

I also have "free" travel insurance through HSBC and they told me some years ago that they would cover everything other than CML. If, for example, I broke a leg skiing, I don't see how they could wriggle out of cover on grounds of CML.
I also have other high-risk conditions accumulated over the years with HSBC before CML, which means that I get a point-blank refusal of cover from everyone else.

I don't worry about it, I just go.

John

Hi Luisa

I basically agree with John. I have travel insurance via my credit card which, until about 3 years ago, covererd cancer generally on certain conditions. However, they then required a medical disclosure and since then they won't cover CML. However, this is limited to CML related issues - the remaining cover is the same. Having disclosed the CML, and confirmed that this does not affect my general cover, it will be hard for them to wriggle out if say I broke my leg skiing and the medical team concerned confirmed it is nothing to do with CML (which it isn't).

I have always taken the view that CML is the kind of condition that should not cause any kind of problem on holiday that would necessitate an insurance claim (I imagine I would know some way in advance if that were likely and not travel) so am relaxed about it. And every insurer I have spoken to would charge a huge premium for the cover. They even ask stupid questions like "have you had a BMT" - which if the answer is yes, will reduce the premium. Of course I haven't had one - imatinib is doing very well without the additional risk. However, they are miles behind in their understanding of how the condition is treated these days.

So, my view is I don't bother covering CML and I am confident that there is nothing that will happen to me on holiday that will be caused by it. And the insurers have been very clear with me that any unrelated claim is covered.

Best

Richard

Hi Luisa
Have you tried "WorldFirst Travel Insurance"-google this to see their website
We used them a few years ago for annual cover for worldwide exc USA and the loadings for CML were not unreasonable-they pride themselves in covering a wide range of medical conditions and ages.I did make a claim and it was met in full for several thousands of pounds due to drug interaction Glivec with Taravid-a drug for a urinary condition-it led to severe hip muscle inflammation and had to amend travel back from Thailand and stay longer.Dealing with the Cape Town call centre was a nightmare though
Just a few more issues
Presume it is possible to declare CML but then agree for it not to be covered-saw a thread on this forum some time ago where a patient was advised by their consultant that if bloods and pcr score were in order that there was no reason to seek cover for CML.
By not declaring CML you run a risk; if you do make a claim before any insurance company will consider your claim they ask the insured to give consent for them the insurers to have access to your medical records held by your GP and one might be accused of not declaring full and truthful information.Non disclosure might not be advised.
Medical screening-you might be asked if you are undergoing chemotherapy.My response would be no on the basis that a tki is a biological/molecular therapy;again the subject of a previous thread and possibly a grey area.Another one is have you been hospitalised with cml-most of us have not been in overnight but taking a bed/trip to the theatre for a bone marrow biopsy might be another grey area.I would do the screening over the phone rather than online.
Just looked at the site of World First and for two of us to cover Asia without loadings annual price is £230-age is against us.Single trip will be a little less.Have been dx nearly 7 years now and 6 years ago had to pay over £650 for annual cover via a broker JD Travel somewhere in Kent, which was expensive.Then had one for less than £200 but the chemotherapy question loomed in large print;cut us off at 65th birthday.Would now expect to pay up to £400 including loadings for two of us (including CML for self) to cover Asia making declaration of all other medical conditions.Not sure if we are going yet.
Final point if you are going to an EU country where your EHIC card covers emergency medical treatment you could ask for limited cover such as repatriation and so on-should be cheaper.
Trust this helps
johnw1001

Thank you very much for the information. I applied and got my annual policy at a very reasonable price, £84, considerably cheaper in fact than the one with Medici travel. The medical screening was thorough but the questions were much more appropriate. I did not add winter sports cover because it's included in the HSBC policy and any skiing claim should not be affected by the CML issue
I was also interested in hearing your experience and the reason for the claim. I am on bosutinib, a 2nd (or 3rd) generation tki. Its interactions with other drugs are not well known so something similar could happen to me - it's reassuring to know that I am now covered
Many thanks again

Take care

Luisa

Because I looked into whether Glivec is a chemotherapy drug and the evidence that I got was that it is. I decided to go without cml cover for two reasons. Firstly that I think the chances of claiming against the cml are very low, and secondly the fact that the insurers themselves (the numerous ones that I contacted) regarded it as a chemotherapy. Drug. My advice would be to ask the insurers how they class the cml drugs.

Insurers suit themselves when it's in their interest. My medical insurer decided dasatinib was not a chemotherapy drug, because that would have meant they would have had to pay for it for me indefinitely. By classifying it as a biotherapy ("a substance which naturally occurs in the body" according to them!!) they only had to pay for 12 months.

I wouldn't be surprised if the travel insurance arm of the same company regard it as chemotherapy in order not to cover claims at all.