spiral
Member of DD Central
Posts: 967 
Likes: 486
|
Post by spiral on Oct 4, 2024 11:46:45 GMT
So me and my partner have a joint Nationwide Flexplus account. We've had it a few years now and the fee had always been acceptable for the holiday insurance cover and car breakdown cover it provided.
Both of us have pre existing medical conditions which long pre date the account and has resulted in either no or a very nominal surcharges in the past. Last year our pre existing medical conditions cost me zero and my partner £50. The £50 was purely because the consultant had increased the dose of one of the medications within "the last 6 months".
Now this year no changes had been made to medications so in response to the "has your medication altered in the past 6 months" the answer is no but this year NW have changed providers. Using last year as a guideline, we expected no surcharge this year however after answering the questions, I was given a £30 surcharge, my partner £120. The surcharges almost equal the amount we pay for the packaged account. A packaged account that is increasing by £5 per month in December.
After shopping around, we got insurance cover for both of us for a single trip for £55. The pre existing conditions premium was 0 for me and £12 for my partner.
One key difference I noted in the questions was with NW's provider the questions was "have you seen a consultant in the past year relating to your condition". The answer is yes because she has annual reviews of her condition. With the provider we purchased from the question was "have you seen a consultant in the past year relating to your condition other than for routine appointments" to which we could answer no.
Needless to say, NW can stick their Flexplus account where the sun doesn't shine.
|
|
adrianc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 10,003
Likes: 5,139
|
Post by adrianc on Oct 4, 2024 12:02:04 GMT
I've got a NW F+ bank account, too - simply because there's no other way I could get breakdown cover as comprehensive for anything approaching the same price.
Amongst our vehicles, we have a 22yo camper van. Getting UK coverage for that alone would cost me more than the F+ account, if I could easily get it. To get full personal cover for us both, any vehicle including the van, across all Europe? Impossible.
Add in the global travel insurance and free foreign debit/atm transactions, and it's a no-brainer. I'm not that bothered about the mobile phone cover, but it's nice to have.
But the upcoming price rise from £13/mo to £19...? That's a big chunk in one go...
|
|
spiral
Member of DD Central
Posts: 967
Likes: 486
|
Post by spiral on Oct 5, 2024 6:22:15 GMT
Before the travel insurance premiums, I would have agreed. I think the problem with the packaged accounts is that they generally go for all bells and whistles. As you stated, the breakdown insurance covers you for abroad. I never drive abroad so don't require that level of cover. Similarly the travel insurance is highest level. Back in the day's when I previously purchased Travel insurance ad hoc there were 4 levels which in ascending order of cheapest to dearest were, europe, rest of world exc US, rest of world inc US then cruise cover. Because for my next holiday I'm only going to Europe, the insurance needed is at the bottom end of the price market however an upgrade with NW requires me to pay for an annual (they won't let you upgrade just for the single trip) upgrade that covers the highest level of holiday which I may not use in the coming 12 months.
I have found breakdown cover readily available for ~£100, this single trip insurance for £55. Let's push the boat out and say I take another trip in the next 12months at a similar price. I'm getting the cover I need for 100+55+55 = £210 whereas NW want 12x18 = 216+150 travel insurance surcharge = £366. I could actually have 4 holidays in the next 12 months and still be better off.
|
|
