Frustration with travel insurance policies, is it chemo brain or just confusing legalese?

Hi all. Yesterday a battle weary hubby and I booked an overseas trip and we have to pay the deposit tomorrow. Of course being diligent I read the BCNA fact sheet on travel insurance and breast cancer which recommended I check my insurer's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

I was happy to read in my insurer's PDS that they automatically cover breast cancer provided you were diagnosed over 6 months ago, have not had any chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the last 6 months, your cancer has not spread beyond the primary site at any time and your journey is less than 6 months.

That seems great for me as I tick all the boxes. However, I was also checking reviews of different insurers on some travel websites where people reported instances of the fine print being problematic when it came to making a claim causing doubt as to whether someone with a previous diagnosis of cancer is covered or not. This lead me to take a closer look at some of the clauses..

For example, hubby and I opted to take additional cancellation cover. The PDS states that if due to circumstances outside of your control and unforeseen at the relevant time you have to cancel the journey (where you cannot rearrange prior to leaving home) they will pay the non-refundable unused portions of all travel costs prepaid in advance.

It's still not clear to me (maybe it's that darn chemo brain again) that if a recurrence is diagnosed prior to departure and you have to change or cancel your travel plans to undergo treatment whether you are covered, since one interpretation could be that for breast cancer a recurrence is not really an 'unforeseen' event. And what about if you do have a recurrence and being on that roller coaster again means you just want to cancel your trip altogether and not have to 'rearrange it' because hey sometimes you just have too much stuff to deal with, are you covered for that? Of course my travel agent was no help with my questions so I did what I thought was sensible and rang to seek confirmation from the insurer about what I would be covered for only to be told "sorry I can't help you as you are dealing with a travel agent." What the...????????

Since I can't get any answers from the insurer can anyone clarify for me? Or has someone ever taken out travel insurance, had a recurrence before they went on the trip and then made a claim?

The trip is not until Sept and it's rather pricey. I don't want to have to pay a large deposit tomorrow if I am feeling a bit unsure about being insured.

Thanks in advance

travel-insurance

15 Replies

socoda
Member
9 years ago
Nadine, go on that wonderful holiday, do things you've never done before, run totally amok and feel giddy with happiness and pleasure. How incredibly exciting and now try and concentrate on the anticipation!! WOOHOOOOOOO!!!! Xx Cath
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Nadi im so sorry to hear of your mother in law. Im all for being healthy too and exercise but just shows it hasnt a great bearing. How awful to feel you didnt do enough...i believe we are enough period! Do what feels good thats all find your piece of happiness along the way thats more key than the rest. Xx
Nadi
Member
9 years ago
I really think it's the luck of the draw. My grandmother smoked heavily from age 12 to aged 89 and never got cancer. My step mother-in-law was reasonably healthy and was diagnosed at 43 with the same type of cancer as me, same grade, same stage. She had the same chemo and herceptin like me. After her mastectomy she went nuts on the healthy lifestyle. She juiced ALL the time. She turned orange from having too much of the special ingredient in carrots. She became a triathlete. She did yoga, meditation. And she only ate organic super foods. All to give herself the best chance of the cancer not coming back. Boy was she upset when she had a recurrence. She felt cheated and she also told me that she was disappointed in herself that she obviously hadn't done enough. I hate that she felt that way. She passed away aged 48 almost 11 years ago. Now I am 48 and I guess I am worried still. I know that some women get comfort from being empowered and doing all the right things to prevent BC returning and there are many other benefits from being healthy, but there's no guarantee of anything.

So I am raising my glass to you kind ladies for your wonderful advice. I will live life and make memories. Deposit is now paid. We're locked in.
nikkid
Member
9 years ago
I love these sentiments ladies - you make me laugh...and that's the best medicine of all <3
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
@nikkid yes you really said it! it's like majority of people dont look after themselves? Healthy people get Cancer...and then the irony, some really unhealthy people don't. If I indulged in too many sweets, it doesnt mean I caused it. I know its all well meaning and them trying to be helpful, but its not at all. None of it affects whether you get it or not. So thats why its important ONLY to live a good healthy life according to ONESELF. LOL
@Zoffiel even being naughty in the past, though I dont know how much LOL, isnt the reason you know?? Funny your comments, but I recall my Oncologist pretty much saying the same thing LOL YOU MUST do Chemo lol then....but no guarantees. Ummmmm hahaha! If you dont laugh you'll go mad! Hugs ladies!!! I say we're all doing just fine!!! :)
Zoffiel
Member
9 years ago
Phhffft, if you are a good girl everything will turn out fine.... OK, I know that is not really the message, but I fear I have been far too naughty in the past for a bit of restraint to make much difference at this stage.

It does make me laugh though that all my medical team get terribly pained looks on their faces when I say I don't have any confidence in the treatment I'm undergoing. C'mon, guys, we all know it is a long shot. If I survive a couple more years they will pat me on the arm and say 'Arent you pleased you gave yourself the best chance?' if it all goes shit shaped quickly it will be 'You knew there were no guarantees.'

Anyway, here's to holidays and more opportunities to be deeply irritating
nikkid
Member
9 years ago
I'm with you @melclarity! Sometimes I get the feeling people think we got BC because of something we did! I don't drink much at all, don't smoke - never have - am a vegetarian and pretty fit....but still got it. Let's face it...BC gets 1 in 6 people. Doesn't matter size, gender, ethnicity...it just does. And it's enjoying life and what it has to offer; grabbing at the beauty; holding loved ones tight; appreciating friends and trying not to sweat the small stuff...that's the valuable lesson it teaches us :)
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Hmmm I read that fact sheet, and I found it odd in terms of what they say to do to reduce your risk of recurrence, as strangely majority of women who get breast cancer have ALL DONE the right thing, are active and eat well etc etc., so it says to reduce a further risk do exactly the same things, but I did before I got it and had a recurrence all doing the right things that it suggested? hmmm interesting. As we all know, there is no rhyme or reason to getting it in the first place or a recurrence. So I did all the right things and I still got a recurrence, so ladies honestly, everything in moderation and just what feels good for you in all things. Even my Surgeon was gobsmacked at my recurrence because there WAS NO clinical reason why....it certainly wasnt from a lack of doing the right things. Just live, and enjoy the simple things, I sure do now! and I don't worry about the what ifs, because then Im wasting time in the NOW :)
Ellie_BCNA
Member
9 years ago

Hi Nadi, thank you for your post on travel insurance. I'm really pleased you have found that Covermore will look after you for your upcoming holiday. It sounds like you have already read BCNA's fact sheet on travel insurance. It is a good idea to contact the insurer directly to get advice on how terms in the fine print will be interpreted, for your own peace of mind.

You also mentioned that you have been dealing with some fear of recurrence. This is something many people who have had cancer experience - as the helpful comments from the women on this forum show!

You might be interested to read BCNA's fact sheet on fear of recurrence (https://www.bcna.org.au/media/4167/bcna-fact-sheet-fear-of-cancer-recurrence-jan-2017.pdf) which has some information about why it happens and what might help you if you are experiencing it.

Hope the holiday is fantastic and a beautiful time for you and your family.
Afraser
Member
9 years ago
Good for you. I have travelled several times with Covermore, but as I have never had to make a claim my experience of that end of things is happily non-existent. A holiday sounds just what you need. And unless you are travelling in countries with very poor medical provisions, it's probably not a major issue. Have a wonderful time!