I'm off up the MAchame Route in November. I'm actively looking for insurance but all policies seem to list various health conditions that are not covered or require extra premiums etc.
Has anyone here taken out trekking insurance for above 4000m and has a heart murmur? If so, whom did you use?
My Heart Murmur is minute, described by the consultant as "a completely normal ECG except for some trivial mitral regurgatation.
That sounds like a bog-standard insurance exclusion. You shouldn't have to pay any extra, but as it's a condition you're aware of, you do need to declare it. If you lose your luggage, or you're a passenger on a bus that crashes, then only the most criminal-minded loss adjuster is going to try and blame that on your heart murmur and deny a pay-out. If anyone wants extra money off you, tell them to get lost and take your custom elsewhere. I'm sure the BMC would be happy to do business with you so long as declared the condition to them.
Thanks Paddy - this is what I thought. I have a letter from the consultant to my GP that I can show to any insurer. It really is very trivial, and I am a generally fit guy, running 90 min half marathons, plenty of UK mountain walking, 30 mile beacons trail run/walk this saturday etc.
I will contact the BMC for a quote, I've also emailed a few other companies regarding the heart murmur.
Look on the BMC web site insurance section. There is a number to ring, where you can declare your condition and get a quote for the policy. I would be surprised if they bothered applying any extra premium, but be prepared to answer some standard questions about your condition.
In my case (I have a DVT), when I was applying for Alpine Insurance I was asked if I was capable of walking at least 20 yards, or some such very short distance. I said it depended on how long I had been in the pub beforehand
I just spoke with the medical referral team at the BMC insurers and they will cover me but they will charge £11.63 on top of the usual policy premium, plus the membership cost. So, at least I know I can get cover easily enough. I will shop around first before committing to anything.
The chances are you will have to pay a little more - simply because your letter/condition will have to be screened by the insurance companies own experts/consultants - and they wont work for free.
TBH, I would guess that an extra £12 compared to your overall trip budget is pretty much nothing - and then you have the cover just in case.
You MUST declare the condition though - otheriwse, for the reasons stated above, you policy will certainly be declared void in the event of any claim.
My letter from my cardiologist runs to 3 pages... Which makes any form of travel insurance extortionate, and sports related stuff eye watering.
My bitter experience is some of the trekking companies want you to fill in medical forms prior to taking you, and although I'm not a 90 min half-er (make it double that) it seems they'd rather not take a known, managed risk when a lot they do take are unknown risks...
Grump over, hope you find some suitable insurance and have a good trip!
In the end I went with etravelinsure who were much cheaper than anyone else, and were satisfied with my heart murmur providing I take no medication and had no planned treatment - which I don't!
We had an amazing trip and the mountain was practically deserted due to the so called 'rainy season'. Fantastic!
