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Articles on
Insureme4
We review Insureme4 - Travel
Insurance
Our Insureme4 travel insurance review shows a company offering a wide range of travel insurance policies designed for those up to the age of 85. They are part of the Staysure group of companies, who have developed a strong reputation in providing travel insurance for travellers with pre existing medical conditions. Insureme4 offer medical screening by phone for a limited range of conditions if required, and have a UK based call centre to help customers over the phone (although buying over the phone will mean that you forgo the online discount - so ask your question and then come back here to process your order online!). They offer standard single, long stay, backpacking or multi-trip policies.
What we like:
- Company with strong history in offering good quality cover
- Telephone support line in case of query or question
- Winters sports automatically included in annual policies
- Some remarkable prices - Under £20 for an annual policy for Europe including winter sports (after discount)
- A good policy if you have one of the conditions that do not need declaring (including asthma and diabetes)
What we are not so keen on:
- Insureme4 policies start becoming more restrictive after the age of 65 (although companies sister firm specialises in the over 50s).
- Although their basics package is a price leader it does not appear to be particularly good value compared the the very comprehensive 'comprehensive' package!
- Booking process is a bit fiddly (if you want an annual winter sports policy request just an annual policy and you will see its available later in the process!)
Single trip cover
Insureme4 offer these for those aged up to 85, (although those over 75 can only travel for a maximum trip period of 31 days). Upgrades for golf, weddings and winter sports. Reasonable recreational sports coverage, but do check the list to make sure you will be covered - Dingy sailing, Yoga and Bungee Jumping are examples of sports not included - call Insureme4 to check if your favourite is excluded, as they will cover more sports if asked..
Annual (Multi trip) cover
Covering those up to 65 for trips up to 50 days long, and thirty five days for those older (although max age for annual policies is 80). Reasonable recreational sports coverage, but as with single trip policies do check the list to make sure you will be covered - the list is a little basic, and many pastimes that are named by other insurers without loading are not on the Insureme4 list so call them to check, as they will cover more areas.
Winter Sports
Insureme4 single trip policies offer ski and snowboarding cover for those up to the age of 84. Additional winter activities covered are fairly narrow. Skiing, snowboarding, big-foot skiing, cross-country skiing, glacier skiing,mono-skiing, sledging, snow blading and tobogganing are included, as is off piste skiing when you are skiing within the ski area boundaries of a recognised ski resort and following ski patrol guidelines.
There is no cover for: Bobsleighing, heli skiing, luging, ski acrobatics, ski flying, ski jumping, ski racing, ski stunting or snow cat skiing.
Backpacking Cover
Insureme4 annual covers trips up to 50 days in length, including 17 days winter sports, so for a shorter trip, or one which involves a trip or trips back to the UK consider an Insureme4 annual policy. The annual policy allows a total of 183 days abroad in a policy year. If its a longer trip then there are Insureme4 backpacking policies, covering trips up to 18 months long. The companies basic policy covers emergency medical treatment, a 24-hour emergency helpline and personal liability cover, whereas comprehensive policies offer additional benefits such as cancellation, delay, baggage, loss of passport, money and more.
Long Stay
Insureme4 annual covers trips up to 50 days in length, including 17 days winter sports, so for a shorter trip, or one which involves a trip or trips back to the UK consider an Insureme4 annual policy. The annual policy allows a total of 183 days abroad in a policy year. Otherwise, if its a longer trip then there are Insureme4 long stay policy may be suitable, covering trips up to 18 months long. The companies basic policy covers emergency medical treatment, a 24-hour emergency helpline and personal liability cover, whereas comprehensive policies offer additional benefits such as cancellation, delay, baggage, loss of passport, money and more.
Travel Insurance for Cruises
No specific cruise related benefits (missed port, cabin confinement etc.) are mentioned. See our article on travel insurance for cruises for more information on cruise related policies.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Insureme4 will cover some conditions without the need to declare them, and also provide a list of medical conditions they may accept through their telephone based screening service of medical conditions for policyholders of all ages.
Travelling whilst Pregnant
Insureme4 offers both cancellation and cover and medical cover for complications in pregnancy but you will not be covered for claims relating to pregnancy or childbirth where the pregnancy is more than:
- 24 weeks at the end of a journey outside of Europe; or
- 28 weeks at the end of a journey within Europe.
Sports and activities covered free of charge (as long as they are not undertaken on a professional basis)
(please check the companies current terms and conditions at time of booking to ensure there have been no changes, and for any further conditions that apply)
| Banana Boating | Cricket | Cycling | Deep Sea Fishing |
| Fell Walking | Glacier Walking | Golf | Hiking |
| Horse Riding (recreational) | Jet Skiing | Marathon Running | Mountain Biking |
| Netball | Orienteering | Parascending over Water | Ringos |
| Running | Safari Treking in a vehicle (must be organised tour) | Scuba Diving to 30m (if Certificate of Proficiency held or with instructor) | Snorkelling |
| Surfing | Swimming | Trekking | Wakeboarding |
| Walking | Waterskiing | Windsurfing | Zorbing |
Health declaration and health exclusions
Please note - the details here have been extracted from the Insureme4 website in May 2010 - please check that no changes have occured since by checking the Insureme4 wesite, and the Insureme4 terms and conditions before taking a policy.
These apply to the cancellation, curtailment and Emergency medical and associated expenses sections.
It is very important that you read and understand the following and if necessary declare any existing medical conditions to Insureme4.
1. You won't be covered if you
a are being prescribed regular medication;
b have received treatment for or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist in the past 6 months;
c are being referred to, treated by or under the care of a doctor or a hospital specialist;
d are awaiting treatment or the results of any tests or investigations;
e have been diagnosed with or treated for cancer in the last 5 years.
Unless
You are aged 80 and under, the condition(s) are listed below, you have been fully discharged from any post operative follow ups and shown as being accepted by Insureme4 in writing on your certificate.
| Abnormal Smear Test | Achilles Tendon Injury | Acne | Acronyx (Ingrown Toe-nail) |
| Adenoids | ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) | Allergic Rhinitis | Allergies |
| Alopecia | Anal Fissure/Fistula | Appendectomy | Astigmatism |
| Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis) | Autism | Bell’s Palsy (Facial Paralysis) | Benign Prostatic Enlargement |
| Bladder - Cystitis | Bladder Infection | Blepharitis | Blindness |
| Blocked Tear Ducts | BPPV (vertigo) | Breast - Fibroadenoma | Breast Cyst(s) |
| Breast Enlargement | Breast Reduction | Broken Bones (not head or spine) | Bunion (Hallux Valgus) |
| Bursitis | Caesarean Section | Candidiasis (oral) | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| Cartilage Injury | Cataracts | Cervical Erosion | Cervicitis |
| Chalazion | Chest Infection | Chicken Pox | Chlamydia |
| Cholecystectomy | Chronic fatigue syndrome (if only symptom is fatigue) | Club Foot (Talipes) | Coeliac Disease |
| Cold Sore (Herpes Simplex) | Colitis (simple) | Common Cold(s) | Conjunctivitis |
| Constipation | Corneal Graft | Cosmetic Surgery | Cyst - Breast |
| Cyst – Testicular | Cystitis | Cystocoele | D & C |
| Deaf Mutism | Deafness | Dental Surgery | Dermatitis |
| Deviated Nasal Septum | Diarrhoea and/or Vomiting (resolved) | Dilatation and Curettage | Dislocated Hip |
| Dislocations | Dry Eye Syndrome | Dupuytren’s Contracture | Dwarfism |
| Dyspepsia | Ear Infections (resolved - must be all clear prior to travel if flying) | Eczema | Endocervical Polyp |
| Endocervicitis | Endometrial Polyp | Enuresis | Epididymitis |
| Epiphora (Watery Eye) | Epispadias | Epistaxis (Nosebleed) | Erectile Dysfunction |
| Erythema Multiform or Nodosum | Essential Tremor | Facial Neuritis(Trigeminal Neuralgia) | Facial Paralysis (Bell’s Palsy) |
| Favus | Femoral Hernia | Fibroadenoma | Fibroid – Uterine |
| Fibromyalgia | Fibromyositis | Fibrositis | Fistula-in-Ano |
| Friberg’s Disease | Frozen Shoulder | Gall Bladder Removal | Ganglion |
| Gastric Reflux | Gastro-oesophageal Reflux | Genital Herpes (Herpes Genitalis) | Glandular Fever |
| Glaucoma | Glue Ear (resolved - must be all clear prior to travel if flying) | Goitre | Gout |
| Grave’s Disease | Grommet(s) inserted (Glue Ear) | Gynaecomastia | Haematoma (external) |
| Haemorrhoidectomy | Haemorrhoids (Piles) | Hallux Valgus (Bunion) | Hammer Toe |
| Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis | Hay Fever | Hernia (not Hiatus) | Herpes Genitalis (Genital Herpes) |
| Herpes Simplex (Cold Sore) | Herpes Zoster (Shingles) | Hip Replacement | Hives (Nettle Rash) |
| Housemaid’s Knee (Bursitis) | HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) | Hydrocele (Testicle) | Hyperthyroidism / Hypothyroidism (Overactive / Underactive Thyroid) |
| Hypospadias | Hysterectomy (provided no malignancy) | IBS | Icthyosis Simplex |
| Impetigo | Impotence | Incontinence (bladder) | Indigestion |
| Influenza | Ingrown Toe-nail (Acronyx) | Inguinal Hernia | Insomnia |
| Intercostal Neuralgia | Intertrigo | Iron Deficiency Anaemia | Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) |
| Juvenile Epiphysitis | Keinboeck’s Disease | Keratoconus | Knee Injury- Collateral/cruciate ligaments |
| Knee Replacement | Kohlers Disease | Labyrinthitis | Laryngitis |
| Learning Difficulties | Leptothrix | Leucoderma | Lichen Planus |
| Ligaments (injury) | Lipoma | Macular Degeneration | Mastitis |
| Mastoidectomy (resolved - must be all clear prior to travel if flying) | ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) | Meibomian Cyst | Meniere’s Disease |
| Menopause | Menorrhagia | Migraine (provided this is a definite diagnosis and there are no ongoing investigations) | Miscarriage |
| Mole(s) | Molluscum Contagiosum | Myalgia (Muscular Rheumatism) | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) (if the only symptom is fatigue) |
| Myxoedema | Nasal Infection | Nasal Polyp(s) | Nettle Rash (Hives) |
| Neuralgia, Neuritis | Nosebleed(s) | Nut Allergy | Nystagmus |
| Obstructive Sleep Apnoea | Osgood-schlatters Disease | Osteochondritis | Otosclerosis |
| Overactive Thyroid | Parametritis | Pediculosis | Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
| Photodermatosis | Piles | Pityriasis Rosea | Polymorphic Light Eruption |
| Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome | Pregnancy (provided no complications), provided you are no more than 24 weeks pregnant at the end of your journey outside Europe, or 28 weeks within Europe | Pre-menstrual Syndrome | Prickly Heat |
| Prolapsed Uterus (womb) | Pruritis | Psoriasis | Reflux Oesophagitis |
| Repetitive Strain Injury | Retinitis Pigmentosa | Rheumatism | Rhinitis (Allergic) |
| Rosacea | Royal Free Disease (if the only symptom is fatigue) | Ruptured Tendons | Salpingitis |
| Salpingo-oophoritis | Scabies | Scalp Ringworm (Tinea Capitis) | Scheuermann’s Disease |
| Sebaceous Cyst | Shingles (herpes Zoster) | Shoulder Injury | Sinusitis |
| Sjogren’s Syndrome | Skin Ringworm (Tinea Corporis) | Sleep Apnoea | Sore Throat |
| Sprains | Stigmatism | Stomach Bug (resolved) | Strabismus (squint) |
| Stress Incontinence | Synovitis | Talipes (Club Foot) | Tendon Injury |
| Tennis Elbow | Tenosynovitis | Termination of Pregnancy | Testicles – Epididymitis |
| Testicles – Hydrocele | Testicles - Variocele | Testicular Cyst | Testicular Torsion (Twisted Testicle) |
| Throat Infection(s) | Thrush | Thyroid – Overactive | Thyroid Deficiency) |
| Tinea Capitis (Scalp Ringworm) | Tinea Corporis (Skin Ringworm | Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot) | Tinnitus |
| Tonsillitis | Tooth Extraction | Toothache | Torn Ligament |
| Torticollis (Wry Neck) | Trichomycosis | Trigeminal Neuralgia | Turner’s Syndrome |
| Twisted Testicle | Umbilical Hernia | Underactive Thyroid | Undescended Testicle |
| Urethritis | URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) | Urticaria | Uterine Polyp(s) |
| Uterine Prolapse | Varicocele | Varicose Veins - legs only (if GP has confirmed that client is fit to travel) | Vasectomy |
| Verruca | Vertigo - provided no disabling episodes | Visual Impairment | Vitiligo |
| Warts (benign) | Womb Prolapse (uterus) | Wry Neck (torticollis) |
Note
You do not have to declare minor ailments e.g. hay fever, tonsillitis, ear
infections, colds / flu, skin irritations, chiropody, dental treatment etc if you:
• were only prescribed short term antibiotics, non-prescription pain
killers, creams / ointments;
• have had no further problems since; or
• have been advised by your doctor that it is safe to travel.
Also
If you are aged 80 and under and have one (and only one) medical condition and it
is listed below, there is no need to declare it. Should you need to make a claim
arising from that condition, your doctor must confirm in writing the date of
diagnosis, that the condition was stable prior to travel and that there was no
foreseeable reason why you should need to claim on this policy:
• Acid reflux
• Arthritis
• Asthma (if well controlled by using inhalers only)
• Diabetes (if well controlled and no associated conditions e.g. Glaucoma or other eye problems,kidney problems or peripheral vascular
disease)
• Hiatus Hernia
• Hypertension (high blood ressure)
Note
You do not have to declare minor ailments e.g. hay fever, tonsillitis, ear
infections, colds / flu, skin irritations, chiropody, dental treatment etc if you:
• were only prescribed short term antibiotics, non-prescription pain killers, creams / ointments;
• have had no further problems since; or
• have been advised by your doctor that it is safe to travel.
The following exclusions are also noted (please note we have extracted these from the full policy document, and the whole policy should be read before purchasing)
You will not be covered for claims relating to pregnancy or childbirth where the pregnancy is more than:
- 24 weeks at the end of a journey outside of Europe; or
- 28 weeks at the end of a journey within Europe.
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moneymaxim always recommend you take independent financial advice before acting on any article. Any views expressed are those of the editorial team at the time of going to press, and should not be considered as either recommendation or specific advice. Readers should be aware that no warranty is given that the details are correct and are recommended to read any policy documents carefully before entering into any contract.