If you are planning a holiday, it is important to obtain travel insurance cover, including cover for a pre-existing condition. Doing so will enable you to enjoy your trip more and give you the peace of mind that comes with buying the adequate protection.
Pre-Existing Conditions Covered by Travel Plans
Pre-existing conditions can take several forms, with the following conditions frequently included in travel plan cover:
- Asthma travel cover
- Cholesterol travel insurance
- COPD cover
- Diabetes travel insurance
- Heart attack cover
- Hernia cover
- High blood pressure travel cover
- Joint replacement cover
- Stroke travel insurance
An Annual Policy Is an Ideal Choice for People Who Like to Travel
Declaring a pre-existing medical condition or conditions on your travel insurance and taking special precautions whilst on holiday will give you the assurance that only travel cover can bring. In fact, when you include the extra cover, you may be able to save even more money if you travel more than once a year. For example, if you plan on taking several trips within a 12-month period, an annual multi-trip policy can reduce your insurance cost. An annual policy also gives you more travel flexibility.
Other Forms of Cover
Besides regular travel insurance cover and cover for a pre-existing condition, travel insurance can also be purchased that extends the protection to golf travel, business travel, and winter sports. If you purchase the golf cover, the protection will extend to golf equipment, golf fees, golf equipment hire, and hole-in-one protection. Business travel cover safeguards your business equipment, the hiring of business equipment, a business equipment delay, business money, or an additional baggage delay. Winter sports cover includes plan protection for winter sports equipment, ski hire, ski pack, and piste closure. Avalanche cover can also be included in a policy.
Travel insurance is a low-cost cover that is needed whether you are taking a short trip or plan to travel for several weeks. Travelling opens up the possibility for liability. Therefore, it is unwise to travel unprotected.
Asthma Travel Insurance Protection
Most people appreciate an insurance plan that allows them to travel with a pre-existing condition and also offers other protection, such as golf or winter sports cover. One of the pre-existing conditions that is regularly covered in the UK is asthma. In fact, asthma is extremely common in the UK population as approximately 5.4 million people currently receive treatment for the condition.
Asthma is thought to be a hereditary ailment and is caused by inflamed bronchi, the main passageways that are used to transport air to and from the lungs. When an asthma sufferer comes into contact with anything that is irritating to the lungs, the muscles surrounding the lungs become constricted and increase phlegm production.
Meeting the Criteria
When taking out travel insurance for a pre-existing condition such as asthma, you need to meet specific requirements for the condition. For asthma, the criteria may include specific age restrictions and a specified time period in which you have experienced no worsening of your asthma, no change in medicine, no hospital admission, or no change in your treatment regimen.
If you cannot meet the above requirements and conditions, you will generally need to undergo a medical assessment and/or pay an additional premium. Review your policy carefully as the criteria do vary among different insurers. Insurers such as Now Travel Insurance can guide you toward what you need to provide when getting cover for a pre-existing condition.
Besides obtaining travel insurance cover, you also need to be cognizant about changing weather conditions, especially when you are travelling. For example, weather extremes can bring on asthmatic symptoms, particularly when the air is cold and dry. Also, pillows and beds can harbour dust mites. Therefore, it is important to arrange an accommodation that is known to be notably clean.
A Dangerous Activity
Scuba diving is considered to be a dangerous activity for anyone who suffers from asthma. If you are going to spend time in the water, choose snorkelling instead. Also, be aware that different cities and locales have different allergens in their environments, any of which can trigger an allergic or asthmatic response.
If you are planning to travel to a high altitude, it is usually okay as long as the asthma is well-managed at a lower altitude. If you currently control your asthma and bring a sufficient amount of asthma medicine, you should experience a problem-free trip. It does not matter whether you plan to swim, ski or sightsee.
Before you embark on any kind of travelling, schedule an appointment with your doctor to ensure that your asthma is well-managed and under control. You will also need to ask your doctor about any strategies you can use to manage your asthma if it happens to become worse whilst travelling.
Ask your healthcare provider to provide a report on your condition which also includes your medical history, your current medicines, and the severity of the asthma. It should also include what treatment will be needed in the event you need medical care. Carry the medical report with you at all times whilst travelling. You may also have to show the report at customs if they enquire about your medicines.
Carry Additional Medications
When travelling, it is always a good plan to carry more medicine with you than you believe you will need. Therefore, always travel with a supply of medicine in your carry-on bag in case you require it. In addition, take copies of your prescriptions with you, just in case you need to prove that the medications are for your use and your use alone.
If you need to use a nebuliser, make allowances for various power points and voltages if you are travelling overseas. You may have to buy a power-point adapter for convenience and safety. Also, make sure your nebuliser pump can be used when you are travelling on a plane. You should familiarise yourself with all the equipment you may need before you leave for your holiday.
It is essential that your daily asthma management is under control before you set out travelling. Check your travel insurance plan and make sure you can meet its requirements and that the policy offers the exact protection you need.