Travel Insurance Update October 2010
We have had several phone calls recently from our members querying whether ACE and AIS travel insurance companies cover PWCF. Further to subsequent correspondence with these companies, we can confirm that both companies do in fact cover travel insurance for PWCF; please see below for further information on each.
The vast majority of travel insurance sold in Ireland does not cover pre-existing medical conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis. In addition, some companies that claim to cover pre-existing conditions may decline to insure you if you have recently received hospital treatment. You may therefore have to approach several different companies and shop around before you find a suitable policy for the duration and location of your holiday. Below are some points that you should take into consideration when thinking about travel insurance.
Where in the world
Travel insurance can be broken down in to three main worldwide geographical areas; Europe, Worldwide including the US and Canada, and Worldwide excluding US and Canada. Travel insurance is not valid in Ireland and most policies only commence once you have booked a return trip from Ireland. If you are travelling in Europe and require only emergency medical cover you can get covered on the European Health Insurance Card, which is a medical card that entitles PWCF to free health cover when visiting a member state if they become ill there. The European Health Insurance card will not cover the cost of air ambulance home or any extra costs as a result of a prolonged stay abroad.
Length of time away
The length of time you can take out travel insurance for ranges from 24 hours to over one year; for PWCF it can be more difficult to get travel insurance for more than 30 days. You can take worldwide multi-trip policies (https://www.vhi.ie/info/MainServlet?action=travelProductSelect) that can cover you up to 60 days if you have Vhi. Vhi also have a policy called VHI Global; this is an International Private Health Insurance for Irish residents who are moving, travelling or studying abroad for more than 6 months and who intend to return to live in Ireland at a future date; however, you must be a Vhi member for over five years to avail of this policy to cover your CF. You can buy this travel policy via Fortis insurance brokers in the UK; they offer policies up to 18 months for a single trip. You can contact Fortis directly at 00448445577942 and you should ask for Fiona.
Irish travel insurance companies
The vast majority of travel insurance sold in Ireland does not cover pre-existing medical conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis. ACE insurance who covered PWCF in the past are now only quoting PWCF via AIB travel Insurance at 1850 404 204. They will cover PWCFs and all you need is a letter from your doctor dated 5 days prior to travel and answer the set of questions in relation to your condition.
Cleartotravel (www.cleartotravel.com) is a travel insurance website for persons with existing medical conditions and for persons unable to obtain cover from their standard travel insurance policy. This is an Irish company and is a trading name of Blue Insurances Limited, regulated by the Irish Financial Regulator. You can get a quote on-line and complete the medical questions regarding your CF.
Private travel health insurance
Aviva & Vhi: Aviva and Vhi both have a Multi-Trip policy especially designed to complement the Assist cover under your Aviva or Vhi Healthcare Hospital Plan. Therefore, you must hold a private health insurance policy with them to avail of it. If you discontinue either Plan, your Multi-Trip policy is automatically cancelled too. There are no refunds of any premiums paid on either Travel Policy.
Unlike most other travel insurance plans on the market, these cover for pre-existing conditions up to the full limit of your medical cover.
Quinn: Quinn insurance is underwritten by ACE insurance so contact your insurer to see if they will cover CF before you buy any travel insurance from them.
UK Travel Insurance
The travel insurance industry is much larger in the UK and, as in Ireland, many travel insurance policies do not cover pre-existing medical conditions. Also, many of the insurance companies do not cover persons who are not resident in the UK so the majority of policies are out of reach of PWCF resident in Ireland.
Irish residents can however avail of some policies from UK insurance companies, such as AllClear travel (www.allcleartravel.co.uk), which will cover PWCF in Ireland for certain trips (its pretty good but also expensive, and all depends on where you are travelling to as it excludes the US and North America).
If you are travelling to the US or any place worldwide a called company Citybond will cover PWCF. You have to undergo medical screening over the phone and depending on the results they may or may not offer you a policy. You can buy this travel policy via Fortis insurance brokers in the UK; they offer policies up to 18 months for a single trip. You can contact Fortis at 00448445577942 and ask for Fiona.
Other companies that will cover PWCF who are residents in Ireland include A.I.S. Direct (Tel: 00448445575879); their policies are open to EU residents and cover pre-existing medical conditions. The policy is underwritten by rock insurance www.rockinsurance.com. PWCF can get cover with A.I.S for up to 93 days worldwide travel; however, there is an extra premium on the price that can range from £300 to over £2,000 depending on the location and duration of your holiday.
With thanks to Tomas Thompson and Carl Rainey for supplying this update
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