Travel Insurance Increase

[Annsman]

We had our renewal for our Staysure travel insurance yesterday. We have a 100+ day cover add on to the policy. This one add on has increased from £67.50 per year to £145.00 per year. This is for the multi journey policy. That has meant the quote for the yer has gone up from £286.00 last year to 428.00 for 2023-24.
So we've removed the 100+ day add on for now to see what happens with our travel plans. My point is it's one hell of an increase in price. because of age, (66) and medical issues, High BP and Cholesterol medicine, we are limited to the companies that will cover us.
Has anyone else been affected, or could you suggest a different company?

 

[marchie]

We had our renewal for our Staysure travel insurance yesterday. We have a 100+ day cover add on to the policy. This one add on has increased from £67.50 per year to £145.00 per year. This is for the multi journey policy. That has meant the quote for the yer has gone up from £286.00 last year to 428.00 for 2023-24.
So we've removed the 100+ day add on for now to see what happens with our travel plans. My point is it's one hell of an increase in price. because of age, (66) and medical issues, High BP and Cholesterol medicine, we are limited to the companies that will cover us.
Has anyone else been affected, or could you suggest a different company?

Axa Europe do lower cost Travel Insurance for extended stays because they have to cover Freedom of Movement under the EU Rules. Axa offer 2 levels of cover, the cheaper where the hospital/medical coveris limited to £30,000, IIRC and the 'not ill' spouse is responsible for making their own way home; and the more exspnsive version where hospital/medical expenses are at £50,000 and the spouse's return fare/travel etc is covered. IIRC, the premiums for around 90 days were €273 and €428 respectively [we're 69 & 68, and I had a mini stroke 2 months ago, which is why we haven't taken the policy yet, too many follow up hospital appointments!], but I don't remember there being any health questions

Here is the link that Axa provided at the end of September 2022 for policy prices for varying periods of cover. Axa Europe Travel Insurance. The link will give the definitive information. What I typed above is 'to the best of my recollection' and allowing for a fading memory and the mini stroke killing 2 of the remaining 3 brain cells

Steve

 

[Nabsim]

In the past we went abroad using the insurance thrown in from Caz’s bank (Royal Bank of Scotland). It gave cover ok for certain pre-existing conditions. There was an upper age limit on it which I think was 70. Don’t know what bank you are with but may be worth just checking if you already have anything like this thrown in. This wasn’t travel in a motorhome if it makes any difference it was flying and stayin in villas etc.

 

[Aaron36]

Thanks for the tip! It's always worth exploring what insurance perks your bank might offer, especially for travel with pre-existing conditions. Sounds like a convenient option for past trips abroad, even if not for motorhome travel.

 

[JQB]

We had our renewal for our Staysure travel insurance yesterday. We have a 100+ day cover add on to the policy. This one add on has increased from £67.50 per year to £145.00 per year. This is for the multi journey policy. That has meant the quote for the yer has gone up from £286.00 last year to 428.00 for 2023-24.
So we've removed the 100+ day add on for now to see what happens with our travel plans. My point is it's one hell of an increase in price. because of age, (66) and medical issues, High BP and Cholesterol medicine, we are limited to the companies that will cover us.
Has anyone else been affected, or could you suggest a different company

 

[JQB]

Our Staysure for the two of us for eight weeks in Ireland was £750, ferry £450, and that"s without the diesel to circumnavigate the island. On top of that there is laundry which we do about every 24 days,depending on the temperature, at a campsite, so the odd campsite cost too. Staysure demands that we pre book, before we leave home "accomodation" in UK for two consecutive nights, NI being UK, so a campsite in NI has been ok'd to cover that, but for a site with a laundry think £30/35 per night. And anti campervanners wonder why we don't go to "a propper campsite"

 

[Moonraker 2]

I am with staysure and they have never insisted on pre booking. Last year it was about £ 260 (single) with 60 days max travel at any one time plus an extra 30 days.
I have heard from many people that vehicle insurance has gone up a lot, so I am expecting this to as well, even though I have never claimed.

 

[Susan W]

Axa Europe do lower cost Travel Insurance for extended stays because they have to cover Freedom of Movement under the EU Rules. Axa offer 2 levels of cover, the cheaper where the hospital/medical coveris limited to £30,000, IIRC and the 'not ill' spouse is responsible for making their own way home; and the more exspnsive version where hospital/medical expenses are at £50,000 and the spouse's return fare/travel etc is covered. IIRC, the premiums for around 90 days were €273 and €428 respectively [we're 69 & 68, and I had a mini stroke 2 months ago, which is why we haven't taken the policy yet, too many follow up hospital appointments!], but I don't remember there being any health questions

Here is the link that Axa provided at the end of September 2022 for policy prices for varying periods of cover. Axa Europe Travel Insurance. The link will give the definitive information. What I typed above is 'to the best of my recollection' and allowing for a fading memory and the mini stroke killing 2 of the remaining 3 brain cells

Steve

This was very interesting for me as we suffered from the Nationwide change to Aviva and the huge increase in premium and 120 day limit on any single trip. I got an excellent online quote from AXA at the link above, but the small print caused me to dig further. This is not available for UK residents to purchase, we are not there in the drop down box. Every other country on the planet seems to be.... I have emailed and asked the question, is this an error.

 

[marchie]

This was very interesting for me as we suffered from the Nationwide change to Aviva and the huge increase in premium and 120 day limit on any single trip. I got an excellent online quote from AXA at the link above, but the small print caused me to dig further. This is not available for UK residents to purchase, we are not there in the drop down box. Every other country on the planet seems to be.... I have emailed and asked the question, is this an error.

There was no problem being UK resident, and the online purchase/download was a piece of cake!

HOWEVER, I asked at renewal what would happen if I had a second heart attack, having been given the 'all clear', and having had 3 Stents fitted, meaning that I was better placed than someone who was wandering around with blocked arteries until it was too late ...

The AXA reply was that any coronary problem, even if unrelated to the Stent episode would NOT be covered because existing conditions are not insured (couldn't find this in the smallprint).

After a couple of 'that is nonsense' email exchanges, I gave up and took cover with LV at £323 for a full year, with my coronary history declared and covered for 90 day trips. This expires 6 days before the current trip finishes, so LV will get the 2025/26 renewal premium, for not much more than we paid last year (according to the Agent that I spoke to before we left Scotland)

Steve

 

[Susan W]

Axa confirmed that this insurance is NOT available to UK residents, which seems absurd but there it is. It cannot be bought because when completing the form to make the purchase it is not possible to enter a UK address. Such a shame.
Susan

 

[marchie]

Axa confirmed that this insurance is NOT available to UK residents, which seems absurd but there it is. It cannot be bought because when completing the form to make the purchase it is not possible to enter a UK address. Such a shame.
Susan

Then AXA must have changed their T&C's, OR, have misinterpreted your enquiry. I still have my policy documents from 2023/24 (Dec to February 2024) and they clearly state UK resident and UK Nationality; the only stipulation I can recall was that the cover could not be purchased once the holiday had started.

However, LV have sent my 2025/26 Renewal quote since my last post; unlimited trips, subject to 90 days maximum per trip, with my heart attack + mini stroke declared for 71 year old and high blood pressure declared for my 69 year old wife. 2024/25 was some £335; 2025/26 is £372 including cruise cover, but without personal effects and baggage cover.

Steve