BBC TV hoping to hear from people denied treatment by insurers

Dear Kim

I don't know about private medical insurance as I am being treated on the NHS (and very well to) but trying to get travel insurance is a nightmare as I can testify - I am off to Costa Rica (which is probably a bit over-ambitious) and I can't get any travel insurance. So perhaps if at a later date you wish to return to the subject of travel insurance I would be only to glad to tell you of my experience.

I do know that if I had joined our private medical insurance scheme at work - provided by AXA - they do cover cancer but not HIV.

Good luck with the programme.

Regards

Mary

Dear Mary,

Thank you for your message. I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have seen other people discussing this on the forums. Someone recommended a specialist broker - but I'm afraid I didn't write down the name as it's a bit beyond the scope of what I'm examining. But it might be worth browsing on either the WHAT NOW forum or Share MacMillan forum.

I hope you have a lovely time - sounds really exciting.

Best wishes,

Kim

Dear Mary,

Just came across this on web:

"Direct Line would cover someone who has recently finished treatment, but the cost would depend on a full medical screening.

Alternatively, they could exclude cover for their cancer and pay the same as a non- sufferer. Direct Travel would charge £19.69 for two weeks' cover for the same family with a £50 excess.

A number of insurers specialise in travel insurance for those with medical conditions. One of the largest is broker P.J. Hayman through its Free Spirit policy, which covers all kinds of pre- existing conditions."

Hope it's of help.

Best Kim

Hello Kim

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to research this for me. Unfortunately even Free Spirit, InsureCancer and the other specialist cancer insurers thought I was a bad bet - rather unsettling to think that even those who insure practically everybody don't want me! The thing is I have two different primary cancers and although I feel incredibly well and am in full-time work (and if only they could see me I am sure they would agree) - on paper, I look as if I am at death's door. Thanks for the tip on insurance excluding the cancer(s).

Thank you once again and I shall keep an eye out for your forthcoming programme. In my experience of insurance, even when you're well, insurance companies will always find a way not to pay you!

Regards

Mary

Hi Kim. I am so glad BBC are making this programme. my father was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung cancer in march this year. He went private as we heard that not all cancer drugs are available on the NHS. he went through 2 lots of 5 day radiotherepy sessions. after those his oncologist advised against chemo saying he was too weak. she said the only alternative was a drug called TARCEVA. This drug is not available on the NHS in England but it is in Scotland (how ridiculous!). We were hopeful of him getting it though as he was on private health insurance. however, today his private health insurance company have refused to fund TARCEVA either!!! My father's been paying taxes for over 45 years and also been paying monthly towards private health care and this is what he gets! So much money goes into cancer drug research and when a good drug is found, it is not made available.

TARCEVA costs around £1800 a month!!!! that's around £20,000 a year!!!!!! how can my parents afford that?

Thanks
Samina

Hello Kim,

I don't know if this will be of interest to you, or to anybody in the same situation.

My husband was given the all clear a couple of months ago from having cancer in the base of the tongue and a growth on the side of his neck (which he has had removed).

We had to renew our mortgage in May, and as you know you have to have an insurance policy to cover you in case of death. Our mortgage lender refused to insure Barry because of his cancer (but I had no problem), so I tried a couple of other insurance companies, but was also refused insurance. They all said to try again in 2-3 years. It seems the more companies you try the more it goes against you.

We are really worried because nobody will insure Barry, and if anything should happen to him I don't know what I would do. I think its digusting that we are being treated like this. Surely there must be a company out there somewhere that will take cancer patients on.

Hope this is of use.

Pat S

Hi Samina,

I am sorry to hear about your father. How frustrating to be told about a drug which your father can't get, either on the NHS or privately. Where does this leave his treatment? Are there any other drugs he can take?

I have sent you a private email and hope you will be able to give me a call: 020 8752 7651 as I'd like to hear more about your father's situation.

Best wishes,

Kim

Dear Pat,

What a relief it must be for Barry to have got the all clear.

But how frustrating now not to be able to get insurance. Have you found a company now or are you still without cover. Where does this leave you with renewing the mortgage?

I've sent you a private email and hope you can give me a call (020 8752 7651)to talk more about this situation. It's just the sort of scenario we might be able to look at on the programme and find experts to give advice.

Are there more people who have experienced this?

Best wishes,

Kim

Hello kim,

has filming started on this production yet?

The reason I ask is that i'm currently researching a project for the Genetic Interest Group into the experiences people have had when applying for Life Assurance, Critical Illness Cover and Travel insurance. The aim of the project is to make it easier for applicants with complex medical histories to apply for cover. We are also working closely with insurance companies to arrange an underwriting template which would eliminate the need for companies to do so much research on applicants and to make the whole process more transparent.

Have you managed to obtain a good response from people?

I am interested to comment on this research - can I suggest that you start your own blog on here which you can do from your own profile page then we can answer your query and it remains 'specific' to your question. Hope this is helpful. Jools

Thanks for the tip jools - ive started a new blog entitled 'insurance problems'

I'm not sure if this is of interest or not, but I am Group Co-ordinator for the Cancer Support Group(MABS)in Murcia, Spain, and our local Health Authorities appear to have no problem with the issue TARCEVA to patients they think will benefit from it.

One particular case I have been dealing with has been taking it for almost a year, via the Spanish NHS, for his pancreatic cancer. He says that he knows how lucky he is that he was diagnosed whilst living here.

It's no consolation to those patients who need it in the UK, but I thought it may be of interest to the programme.

Lyn

I have annual travel insurance via my Lloyds Gold Account which I converted several years ago, but had left in abeyance due to their charges (now partly repaid with help from the financial Ombudsman) I pay the account fee each month, and because of the discussions on this board, I contacted them to find out my present position re my recovery from Cancer. Chemo finished in early June.

It is covered by Axa by the way. They said that I am fully covered for any new illness arising EXCEPT for my cancer or my (congenital, problem free) hypothyroidism, but my bags, repatriation, third party etc are all covered for travel ( I forgot to ask about the UK). Since I have no intention of travelling to the US, it is probably no problem there either.

So if you have annual travel insurance it is worth contacting them to find out your present position. Actually, since I started the insurance several years ago, I should be covered for the cancer as well, since it arose well after the start of the insurance.

Having just checked, I am not covered for anything I have notified them of, even though the policy is at least 10 years old.

At least I am covered, apart from things I have already told them about. It makes you want to go and get leprosy, (lasts a long time before it becomes inconvenient and is treatable successfully. )

What is much worse, since I like to go to a strange town and get a taxi driver to find me accommodation, I have to book at least 3 nights accommodation in advance. Not neccessarily in the same place thank goodness. I could book and go the same day though. I'm not covered for a norty weekend!

Ruth