Ian Wardle, 67, from Chelmsford, Essex, has been an AllClear customer for three years. After recovering from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a condition that required chemotherapy and surgery, he was eager to travel again. However, he quickly found that his existing travel insurance, provided through his bank, refused to cover him due to his medical history. When he mentioned his past illness, it was a flat no, even though he was in remission.
When I was looking for travel insurance after recovering from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, I quickly realised that my existing policy through my bank wouldn’t cover me. The moment I mentioned my medical history, it was a flat no for the pre-existing condition, despite being in remission. I tried several comparison sites but kept getting rejected because of my condition. It was incredibly frustrating, and I started to think I wouldn’t be able to get cover at all. So, when researching for specialist travel insurance providers, I came across AllClear and I decided to give them a call – and I’m so glad I did.
From the very first conversation, I felt at ease. The person I spoke to was understanding, professional, and reassuring. After so many rejections, it was a relief to finally find a company that was willing to help. They took the time to go through everything with me, making sure I was fully covered without making me feel like I was being interrogated. Full disclosure is so important with travel insurance, and they handled it in such a professional and caring way that I never felt overwhelmed.
The renewal process has been just as simple. Each year, they review my medical history to make sure nothing has changed, which also gives me peace of mind that I’m always properly covered.
Although I haven’t had to make a claim yet, I have no doubt that if I did, they would handle it just as professionally and efficiently as they did when I first signed up.
One of the biggest reasons I wanted travel insurance was to visit my brother in the U.S., whom I hadn’t seen for over five years due to COVID and my illness. When I first looked into it, I was being quoted ridiculous prices – £5,000-£6,000 for just one week of cover, which made the trip feel impossible. But with AllClear, I got a fair price that meant I could finally make the journey with confidence. You can’t put a price on that kind of peace of mind.
AllClear have been fantastic. If I had to describe them in three words, I’d say: Understanding, Helpful, and Competitive. Even as I’ve got older, my premium has come down since I’ve been two years clear of treatment, and they’ve always remained competitive. The process is simple, the service is excellent – why would I go anywhere else?
My biggest advice to anyone with pre-existing medical conditions is to make sure your policy fully covers your medical history. Don’t be tempted by cheaper policies that exclude pre-existing conditions – if something happens, you need to know you’re properly covered. Be completely honest about your health, even with minor conditions, so there are no surprises if you ever need to claim. And always check the level of cover and excess so you know exactly what’s included.
After everything I’ve been through, being able to travel again is a real gift. The last thing I want is to spend my trips worrying about what might happen if something goes wrong. With AllClear, I don’t have to. They’ve given me the freedom to enjoy my travels with total confidence, knowing I’m fully protected wherever I go.
