Annual policy expired the other week and shopped about for the best deal/cover to include PEMC and again for us Columbus Direct was the best deal. No extra charge and my PEMC were covered on the policy. Now lets hope we never have to use them

My Parents are taking my 16yr old son to Australia for a 6 week holiday, to see my sister and family.
They have been told by the travel agent when looking at flights that their insurance would be £400 as they have a few minor health issues but that my son didnt need any as he was under 18?
I find that odd, when i have been abroad with him we have always taken family insurance.

1 is this right?
2 any advice on the best companies for insurance for these 3 lovely people?
ive looked at saga but they cant give quotes online as the age differences are rather large!

do i take out separate insuracnce for son and let parents stay with who they are with???
thanks
hilda

Hi Hilda,
I never use the travel agents insurance as I always find this very expensive, I have just bought my travel insurance and I also have a medical condition.
I have found this year to be a lot more difficult as my normal company will no longer cover my heart condition even although nothing has changed.
I shopped about on line with various company's and eventually got something, I was also able to cover my niece at the same time so you should be able to get something sorted out on line which I am sure will be a lot cheaper than the travel agent.

Just thought I would post this as it took me ages to find reasonable cover due to a Lymphoma diagnosis this year. Anybody with a cancer history might find this of particular help although I hope it may help others with health issues to.

http://www.insureforyou.com/

We bought 12 month worldwide cover except America at the platinum level we are a couple aged 36 and with one health issue (lymphoma) disclosed. The quote was an excellent £77

I hope others find this of use.

I havent even purchased my trave linsurance yet,and I fly out on the 5th aug to malaga, II do it online with JS insurance they are brilliant Axa superplus with baggage cover. cost me 18quid, with portland it was around 40quid,my mum and sister both have pre medical conditions arthertis and both got a great package cover with stay sure, I shopped online as my mum is 80 with artheritis and its hard for a good price and someone that will cover her, she paid 68quid and got full cover with everything.im 39 no medical condition so mine is always cheap.

o/h has heart condition,our insurance was £147 last year but gone up to £281 this year even tho it,s an extra year since the attack.needless to say we,re looking around,insure and go have best price so far,

Valleylady.Try UIA they are a union travel insurance but you can use them if your not in the union we have used them for the last 3 years to Goa well cheap and hubby has a medical complaint best of luck..

cheers will give them a go,tried axa and js but as soon as i declare medical condition they are going up as much as £200.

Valleylady let us know how you get on please..Ta.xx

Be aware that Axa have a reputation for being very slow and dragging their feet when paying out claims.

luci

tried axa and js.astronomical....best so far insureand go £146 think we,ll be happy with that, everyone.

please always read the small print so you understand what you are covered for

Hi We also get get our inurance through UIA We tick the box to say we are not union members. We both have medical conditions ( under control) and are getting on a bit, the questions re health are sensible and the premiums are fair. The insurance is provided by Fortis.Fortunately have never had to make a claim so cannot comment on that.

our previous insurance was with fortis and we always declared o/h medical condition,but this year for some reason it went up by £140,they can,t seem to explain why,thats the reason we,re looking elsewhere.

I wonder if people realise the importance of having insurance in place as soon as they make a holiday booking and not leave it until just before they go. Should something happen which would necessitate cancelling the holiday you would have to pay it out of your own pocket.

It really is very important to have it in place at time of booking.

Pippa

Has anyone used MEDICI TRAVEL INSURANCE please? Travel insurance web and Columbus Direct are part of the same group and also offer cover for pre existing medical condition. Any thoughts? Difficult to work out if I should use Medici or the others who are cheaper...

Hi karena ... if you put Medici in the search box in the bottom left hand corner of this page, you will find comments from those who have previously used the company. Likewise for Columbus, it's a name which crops up regularly in this topic.

David

I would just like to say that my experience of AXA is completely different to that quoted by moderator Luci. I had the misfortune to break my shoulder due to a fall whilst on holday in Tenerife during May, I was in hospital for 4 days involving two operations, AXA could not have been bettered, paying all bills, arranging and paying for transport to the airport and a taxi from Gatwick to my daughters home in Berkshire where we had left our car although they would have paid for us to travel direct to our home in Lincolnshire. They rang me every day from Barcelona to enquire of my progress and when I got home paid me for medication, hospital allowance, and other items within 3 weeks after submitting the claim form. This was the first time that I have made a claim on travel insurance, for this I paid £92 for an annual policy for myself aged 70 and my wife 64, the policy is still in force and I have checked that I am still covered for my 28 day trip to Tenerife in October.

That's good to hear David. Thanks for the post and hope that you are now recovered.

I would be helpful if member did post their experiences of claiming and named the companies concerned.

No matter how carefully you choose a policy, you don't know how good it is until you need to claim.

luci