 Poster: A snowHead
|
Schocking, just been quoted £250.00+ for a week.
Yes I had a stroke or three over a weekend(two weeks ago), and was subsequently diagnosed with two leaky heart valves. Hospitalised Friday, discharged fully fit on the Monday. I am lucky enough to have had no life long effects, and am back to normal. Im 53 and have skied since I was 17, cycle 1000+ miles a year for the last five years, so it was a bit of a shock, never smoked and occasional drinker.
Decided to go legit and declare it for my ski holiday, my bank ski cover doesnt cover me, so went on to a comparison site and was shocke. Makes me think of taking a risk and sticking to standard cover.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
First, sorry to hear about your health problems. I sympathise - always been fit, not overweight, don't smoke, cycle etc and have recently been diagnosed with heart failure (caused by tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy) and taking loads of medication. Am hoping to be able to reverse the problem to some extent (long story) but in the meantime am quite sure my insurance would be loaded. If you have leaking heart valves (I have one of those too.....) they don't stop leaking after a few days in hospital and I imagine you are taking additional medication, including anti-coagulation stuff as one TIA often leads to another.
If you make false declarations to an insurance company your entire cover could be cancelled, and your card marked. I wouldn't risk it - I am chronically honest, apart from anything else. On the other hand, depending on circumstances I would risk self-insuring if going to a destination like France or Austria with my EHIC card, this side of Brexit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
You could Try someone like MPI they might exclude anything to do with your current condition but as pam says still got the EHIC card until Brexit
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
My work offer flexible benefits where you can sacrifice your salary for things like child care, pension and other things including travel insurance. Our work policy cover allows us to travel with pre-existing conditions. Don’t suppose your employer offers similar?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
Try someone like MPI they might exclude anything to do with your current condition
|
So who would cover the cost of repatriation if the op had another stroke?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
From a medical point of view, my 5 cents: by stroke I assume you mean cardiac, not cerebral. If so, the first 6 months are more recurrent prone, you would want to refrain from physical effort/stress of any kind.
The leaky valves require further discussion plus intervention.
As Pam said, there is also the medication subject. If on potent anticoagulants, every fall can lead to way more severe haemorrhage.
I have a very close friend who underwent a heart attack at the age of 41. No tissue damage 'cause he was diagnosed and treated fast. 9 years later he skies often, with a double insurance rate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I self-insured for five years following cancer treatment. I was still covered with my bank account travel insurance for anything not related to cancer or cancer treatment.
However, the big caveat was that in my case I was unlikely to suffer any sort of cancer-related crisis that would require immediate treatment and I was not on any medication.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@skitech, my sympathies. At least you can get insurance though: not always easy with any condition, never mind those unfortunate to have many (no matter if serious or likely to gave impact or not). Frankly, if it was only 2 weeks ago, I'm very surprised you can get cover at all.
Try MPI, generally good with health stuff. Or Snowcard would just automatically exclude the condition without you having to declare it if you really wanted to take the risk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| drporat wrote: |
From a medical point of view, my 5 cents: by stroke I assume you mean cardiac, not cerebral. If so, the first 6 months are more recurrent prone, you would want to refrain from physical effort/stress of any kind.
The leaky valves require further discussion plus intervention.
As Pam said, there is also the medication subject. If on potent anticoagulants, every fall can lead to way more severe haemorrhage.
I have a very close friend who underwent a heart attack at the age of 41. No tissue damage 'cause he was diagnosed and treated fast. 9 years later he skies often, with a double insurance rate. |
Stroke was caused by a narrowing of a blood vessel in the right side of my brain. Ive had no prognosis on the valves but, awaiting results of a 24 hour heart monitor. Starting out on my bike very gently this week. Physio and GP havent told me not to cycle or ski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
awaiting results of a 24 hour heart monitor
|
So you've not been discharged "fully fit", @skitech. You are still undergoing treatment, as am I. You can reasonably expect some limitations on insurance for some time yet, sadly.
Stroke was a key risk for me when my condition flared up, because heart pumping so sluggishly. Risk mitigated now by anti-coagulants (and other medication), which as @drporat points out, raise other risks. Your insurers will want a complete list of medication and in the early stages of treatment those might well change - and you'd need to tell them any time there's a change.
It's frustrating I know. I'm hoping I might be able to ski towards the end of the season. But not holding my breath.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| pam w wrote: |
First, sorry to hear about your health problems. I sympathise - always been fit, not overweight, don't smoke, cycle etc and have recently been diagnosed with heart failure (caused by tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy) and taking loads of medication. Am hoping to be able to reverse the problem to some extent (long story) but in the meantime am quite sure my insurance would be loaded. If you have leaking heart valves (I have one of those too.....) they don't stop leaking after a few days in hospital and I imagine you are taking additional medication, including anti-coagulation stuff as one TIA often leads to another.
If you make false declarations to an insurance company your entire cover could be cancelled, and your card marked. I wouldn't risk it - I am chronically honest, apart from anything else. On the other hand, depending on circumstances I would risk self-insuring if going to a destination like France or Austria with my EHIC card, this side of Brexit. |
Sorry to hear about your health issues to Pam, life is a bummer at times.
I think I mayhave had the leaky valves all my life as I was a month prem.
Ive spoken to my banks insurance provider who told me that with the account i have I cant "medically upgrade" but I can if I upgraded my account (which my bank currently isnt doing). So Im not making a false declaration, just contemplating taking the risk of going skiing and hoping I dont have any stroke related incidents as I wont be covered, but will be for everything else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
I think you need to read the small print very carefully. You are probably required, somewhere in there, to declare anything which impacts on the risk. If you do, and they tell you you are covered for everything other than a cardio-vascular incident (ie you would be covered if you fell over and bust your ACL) then you know where you stand. If I were you I would write to them and ask them to confirm your cover in writing. Or speak to a specialist provider such as MPI.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| pam w wrote: |
| I think you need to read the small print very carefully. You are probably required, somewhere in there, to declare anything which impacts on the risk. If you do, and they tell you you are covered for everything other than a cardio-vascular incident (ie you would be covered if you fell over and bust your ACL) then you know where you stand. If I were you I would write to them and ask them to confirm your cover in writing. Or speak to a specialist provider such as MPI. |
Hence speaking to them on the phone today to clarify my position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I hope it all goes well. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
[quote="s Physio and GP havent told me not to cycle or ski.[/quote]
Have you actually asked them if you can?
Deepest sympathy for your recent problems
I understand why you want to continue with your winter plans unchanged but I do think you need to have a proper think about the implications if you did have followup issues while away
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 11-12-18 0:33; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
IMHO I think you need 2 specialists before even discussing which insurance is better/cheaper.
They will only be able to give you definitive answers after specific imaging tests. No GP/physio will be able to clarify things for you. You need a good cardiologist to assess your heart valves condition, which might have contributed to the cerebral stroke and might theoretically cause a recurrent one, and to help you decide on the proper treatment (medical/surgical) and its influence on skiing/cycling if at all.
And you also need to see a thorough neurologist to assess further treatment,and to confirm no damage exists/is expected. That is planning for the future.
I imagine Carre Neige in France or your basic cover will take care of ski related injury (check the fine prints, if I remember correctly, Carre Neige handles repatriation if you have a general insurance as well). What about EHIC?
Best wishes for good news and a fast recovery. I am personally confident you will be able to ski soon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Sorry to hear this. I had a TIA this time last year due to a vertebral artery dissection. I ahd some follow up issues, mainly fatigue and weird stuff. Eye tracking was off so a vestibular physio fixed that. Again, fit, 49 yr old. Found out shockingly, its the fit ones who tend to tear these arteries, not people who do nothing. To say I was lucky is a big understatement.
Had a year off skiing and went for the fist time on Saturday. Took it very easy, but am very gland to be back on slopes.
For my condition , the first 90 days seemed to be the insurance issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
It has obviously impacted my spelling (or maybe typing) 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@skitech, hopefully your conversation with MPI will result in some options for you. My understanding is that if you declare any issues which needed attention in the last 12 months, then they might cover them, or apply a premium, or you can choose to exclude them from your cover. It seems a far simpler conversation than with some other insurers.
Having said that, @drporat makes a good point that the real issue is first being clear about the actual state of your health.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Dont risk it. Have a year off to let your body recover.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
£250 isnt that much when weighed against the cost of a ski holiday and should the worst occur the cost of repatriation can be huge whether you are dead or alive!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
