Atrial fibrillation and health insurance
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi guys, Saw cardiologist yesterday, 'flipped' out of sinus rhythm a month ago so she suggested another cardioversion, I am ok with that for the moment but am considering an ablation if the next cardioversion doesn't stay long. However, I wondered if anyone can recommend travel insurance. I got insurance a couple of months ago, no real problem as I was in sinus rhythm. I rang them today just to confirm the changes and to say I am on the list for a cardioversion. They offered to sort any claim out or refund my money!! As I hadn't booked anything yet the former was not a problem but I can't go on holiday uninsured. I asked them why they wouldn't insure me and they said that it is because I am 'unstable' and awaiting a procedure. I argued that I could just as well stay as I am because the meds are controlling the AF and if I wanted to I could stay like this for the rest of my life. It was just like pressing the 'repeat button'. He kept going on about my condition being unstable as I was awaiting a procedure. I rang a friend who I know has just come back from Greece, she has a holiday ap't there and flies often. She just said to me that she didn't have any insurance for that reason!! She is very brave but I don't think that I could do that. Anyway, I would be grateful for any companies that will insure in this circumstance. Thanks guys.
0 likes, 18 replies
mazieboo22 lankylass
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derek76 lankylass
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Are you on warfarin? My neighbour travelling on his E111 had a stomach bleed from polyps when in Spain but went to the nearest private hospital. It cost him 3000 euros for two days plus another 1000 for blood transfusions. They wanted him to stay longer but he could not afford it.
mike485 derek76
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lynne24791 lankylass
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Four years ago I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF and given medication. Two weeks ago I went o the gp complaining of breathlessness The gp said seemed like AF was now persistant and upped the bisoprolol and started me on rivaroxaban.(I had a choince of that or warfarin) When I mentioned any procedure she said I wasn't in need of that so at what stage do you need any procedure done.??
I am insured with Insure for All. I told them of change in medication and because rivaroxaban is not a blood thinner needing regular blood tests it didn't matter. The cost was increased by £10 because of the increase in bisoprolol for blood pressure. I am still classed as paroxysmal AF on insurance because it was just the gp saying seems to be 'persistant'. So I didn't say anything. I haven't had another monitor or seen cardiologist so I call that not official!!
anna_maria20163 lankylass
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lankylass anna_maria20163
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derek76 anna_maria20163
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How much was not cheap with Saga? They would not insure me when I asked about ten years ago because of a small aortic anureysm.
anna_maria20163 derek76
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anna_maria20163 lankylass
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derek76 anna_maria20163
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NZ has reciprocal health care with the UK. Australia only has some cover.
Under the reciprocal healthcare arrangements, British citizens resident in the UK and travelling on a British passport are entitled to limited subsidised health services from Medicare for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. This does not cover pre-existing conditions, or treatment that does not require prompt attention. Other exclusions under the reciprocal agreement include pharmaceuticals when not a hospital in-patient, use of ambulance services and medical evacuations, which are very expensive.
anna_maria20163 derek76
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derek76 anna_maria20163
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sylvester13 lankylass
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lankylass sylvester13
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anna_maria20163 lankylass
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derek76 anna_maria20163
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Cardiologist I had phone converstation with when he phoned with my seven day monitor results said that I would still need bisoprolol after getting a pacemaker but as my heart rate is being controlled that the side effects wuld be less. Not sure why that would be.
A friend who had a pacemaker fitted twenty years ago when he was 60 was told that he would have to take amiodarone for life. The side effects were so bad that he stopped it and it was not replaced by another drug.
mike485 derek76
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warfarin 4 mg per day
Bisoprolol 5mg per day (reduced to 2.5mg when put on Multaq400mg twice a day)
Pravastatin 20mg
Capenon HCT ( A composite tablet for blood pressure),
I was put on Multaq , reduce Bisoprolo and Capenon, post cardio version which worked for about 5 months then AF returned, The Multaq gave me some pretty bad side effects for a while but I persevered for three months hoping for improvement , but no luck, have now been taken off Multaq, dosage upped on Biprosolol.
Since then condition remains, although now I tend to get heavy pressure over left breast some days!.. But repeated discussions with Cardiologist seems to indicate that is sort of ok, and that I am in Persistent AF and should adapt to live wiith it,
In general reading all the comments here and in other locales, it would seem the choices are two fold, live with AF ( and the subsequent issues with QOL) or keep going for Cardio Version, ablation and other erraticaly successful or not procedures, quite a dilemma and it would seem the same for most of us!!
lankylass mike485
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