My days of travel outside Europe may be over....

[Brandane]

Can't say I'm particularly bothered, as I've had my trips abroad and enjoyed them, but travel has become more and more of a PITA in recent years. Flying in the 70's when I was too young to be scared was a pleasure. I was lucky in that my parents moved abroad (ironically that was on Doctor's advice due to my father's medical conditions made worse by our cold, damp climate here), so I did a bit of flying and seeing the world from a young age. When I left school I joined the Merchant Navy and did some more traveling, albeit at a slower pace.

About 20 years ago I was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation, which hasn't caused me too much grief thanks to the medication I take - but it still has to be declared on travel insurance applications. Anyway, to cut a long story short, to get 2 weeks cover for a trip outside of Europe, the best price I can get is just short of £200. Multi trip worldwide is only about £30 more. Multi trip annual cover for Europe is £73, or about £48 for the 2 week trip. So I'll be sticking with Europe from now on!

Not to worry, there's plenty to see in Europe including some great cycling tours. It's not just the insurance aspect - I find it takes me a lot longer to recover from jet lag (in both directions) these days, and I don't enjoy sitting in a 'plane much either - or the queues involved getting on/off them at check in, security, passport control etc... I seem to manage to pick up a cold every time too. So goodbye America; hello France/Spain/Germany/Holland etc., maybe even England (passing through on my way to Wales, obviously!).

 

[mjr]

As well as the multitrip (which I do because I can't be bothered completing all the medical screenings for each trip), three more things, which you might already know:
1. insurers' definitions of "Europe" differ, so if it's a neighbouring country, you might find it included as Europe by some.
2. atrial fibrillation charities and associations might have sweetheart deals or at least lists of insurers who don't charge stonking amounts.
3. if you want to cycle or cycle-tour, watch out for liability being excluded, increasingly low altitude limits applied or even touring completely excluded, which has been discussed in https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/insurance-touring-above-1000-metres.231628/ among others.

I still think it stinks that health insurers can effectively punish people for getting diagnosed and treated.

Edit: Also, insurance for Europe may get more expensive if our government screw up negotiations and we're completely outside the EHIC with nothing similar to replace it, so get seeing Europe sooner rather than later IMO, and/or campaign to remain/rejoin or at least get something like an EHIC deal. More at https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/brexit-negotiations.227949/

 

[mjr]

4th thing: if you can get travel insurance by upgrading your bank account to a premium one, it might have a lower medical loading - but it might exclude your condition entirely, so check before upgrading.

5. Other tips at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/pre-existing-travel-insurance

 

[Brandane]

or even touring completely excluded

Have heard about this, so I checked the small print on some of them. The only exclusion I found was off road mountain biking (but could be covered at extra cost). Most seem to insist on a plastic hat while cycling too .

 

[Brandane]

but it might exclude your condition entirely

That was the case with my old RBS Royalties account, and was the catalyst for me transferring to the Bank of Scotland. I now don't bother with these premium bank accounts now as they aren't worth the paper they are written on and they change the benefits at the drop of a hat.

 

[gavroche]

Europe is a beautiful continent, full of history, beautiful landscapes, fine cuisine and varied climates. You can't go wrong really.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I dont even have a passport anymore..feck em.
Plenty to see in the UK

 

[Brandane]

I dont even have a passport anymore..feck em.
Plenty to see in the UK

I'm beginning to come round to this POV.. I've got a few years left on my current passport but once it expires I might prefer to blow the renewal fee on a fortnight fully inclusive in Blackpool .

 

[mjr]

That was the case with my old RBS Royalties account, and was the catalyst for me transferring to the Bank of Scotland. I now don't bother with these premium bank accounts now as they aren't worth the paper they are written on and they change the benefits at the drop of a hat.

Yes. I was all set to switch my current account to Nationwide and then they changed the benefits to make the insurance pick up a plastic hat (thereby making it useless to me), so I've not moved in protest and told them why.

I wonder if any are still good or if they've all withered as banking seems to have become less generous in the last few years.

 

[classic33]

I'm beginning to come round to this POV.. I've got a few years left on my current passport but once it expires I might prefer to blow the renewal fee on a fortnight fully inclusive in Blackpool .

Head Sou'West!!

 

[Brandane]

Head Sou'West!!

Aye; like I said ...... Wales!

 

[classic33]

Aye; like I said ...... Wales!

Further West.

SW not SSW.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm beginning to come round to this POV.. I've got a few years left on my current passport but once it expires I might prefer to blow the renewal fee on a fortnight fully inclusive in Blackpool .

You've just reminded me - mine runs out in about 6 weeks time. I haven't been abroad for 9 years but it would be nice to go a few more times before I reach my 70s. I haven't ridden in the Alps, Pyrenees or Dolomites yet and would like to while I still have a few dregs of youthful energy left!

 

[Shadow]

Europe is a beautiful continent, full of history, beautiful landscapes, fine cuisine and varied climates. You can't go wrong really.

And you forgot to mention the millions of lovely people!
err...

 

[Crankarm]

Yes. I was all set to switch my current account to Nationwide and then they changed the benefits to make the insurance pick up a plastic hat (thereby making it useless to me), so I've not moved in protest and told them why.

I wonder if any are still good or if they've all withered as banking seems to have become less generous in the last few years.

Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face.