Dialysis Holiday Insurance: UK to Europe

This is the forum for the Kidney Patient Guide. We welcome feedback about the site and any information that may be of use or interest to other visitors.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This forum is not for queries that would otherwise be addressed to a doctor. If you have a question about your condition or treatment please consult your renal unit or doctor. We do not have any editorial or medical resources to answer individual queries.

Moderator: administrator

Post Reply
Hal
Posts: 617
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:56 am
Location: Liverpool, UK

Dialysis Holiday Insurance: UK to Europe

Post by Hal »

Hi,

I need to get insurance to travel to Spain for 2 weeks in the Summer. I am an APD patient.

I have a good quote from one company - £24.00, which didn't seem bad, but they are insisting on insuring my whole family at £18.00 x 4, which isn't ideal as my family have other insurance.

I am a bit concerned because another company told me that no companies do valid insurance for dialysis anymore and anyone who tells me they do is reall lying! I have asked for the company with the quote to send me a summary. I am also getting the E111.

Does anyone have any details of companies they have used for insurance going from the UK to Europe (or worldwide) ?

I have gone through the NKF web site list of insurance companies but found most offered riddiculous quotes (which didn't cover anything kidney related and had huge excesses!) or wouldn't cover me. I don't have any other medical conditions.

Thanks,

Hal
oldborris
Posts: 266
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:01 pm
Location: Fulham, London, U.K.

Post by oldborris »

Even though I am in the unenviable position of being virtually insurable cos of multiple medical problems, when I travelled last year with my KPA group the leader had no difficulty in including me in the insurance deal with Marks and Spencer. Nor any difficulty this year, except that not feeling up to it I had to pull out.

I am surprised that your insurance company is insisting on insuring all your family when you have only asked for insurance for yourself A case of 'one in, all in', maybe. Perhaps you should book separately for yourself but probably this is not practicabler.

Since I am going to be homeless for up to 12 weeks or more in October [at last the dodgy lift in my block is being replaced] I plan, if up to it, to stay in Spain with my cousin the Bishop. Not that he is a bishop but he is a vicar and has just landed a plum retirement job catering for the spiritual and as far as I can gather the social needs of his flock which includes the onerous [as he tells it] chores of golf, bars, restaurants, dinner parties. I thought that I was hard done by but I don't know how the poor chap copes.

But since I can't get insurance on my own [and even if I could I don't think I'd bother] I am going to rely totally on my E111. Isn't that what it is for?
The E111, through the courtesy of the NHS, will take care of all medical bills and what else does one have to worry about? I'm not concerned about insuring luggage for I carry little and can replace it. Cards, which I use almost exclusively as money, can also be replaced.

So, as I see it, insurance for UK citizens on holiday in European Union Europe is hardly necessary.

If I am overlooking something in this maybe overly-optimistic scenario, I'd be obliged if other UK members would point it out.
Lorna
Posts: 510
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 5:15 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Post by Lorna »

I used a company called "Insure & Go" on the advice of another renal patient for a trip to France last month. I've had a transplant, but after rigorous medical screening, their quote was very reasonable, about £30 for 2 adults (including myself) and 2 children. Phone no is 0870 225 9162 if this is of any use to you.
Iain
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:44 am
Location: The Frozen North, UK

insurance

Post by Iain »

Hi Hal.
I must admit that, like Old Boris, whenever I travelled abroad within the EU when I was on PD I carried only the E111 form and didn’t actually bother with any insurance. Or perhaps when I booked the flights I didn’t tell them about my health condition and took out just the bog standard insurance in case my luggage ended up in Bali or some other such exotic place that I couldn’t afford to go to. Or maybe the Irish half of me liked the idea of taking out bog standard insurance (sorry, very bad joke).

Can’t remember exactly now, my mind seems to be getting somewhat forgetful now that I’m fast approaching 40 and my inevitable mid life crisis. I also can’t remember the CAPD unit who organised all the delivery of the PD supplies mentioning that I should take out any special insurance. Is it really important to take out extra insurance even now that I’m post transplant, I’d hate to think that I was taking a risk when travelling without it.
Iain.
Father Dougal: Come on, Ted. A Volkswagen with a mind of its own. If that isn't scary, I don't know what is.
Nic Dunn
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:45 am
Location: UK

Post by Nic Dunn »

Hi Hal

I have annual travel insurance from Free Spirit. It covers me and my wife in any part of Europe. It cost £80 (pounds) per year and I have declared my kidney disease.

I now am getting close to dialysis and I have informed the company of the possible changed circumstances. Their reaction was to continue with the existing insurance as it stands. At the point at which I go on dialysis the policy will become invalid and I would have to take out a different policy for each holiday. Naturally the premiums would be much higher.

I discovered a year ago that if your partner is using a normal insurance policy without declaring your medical condition then that partner's policy can become invalid!

Any chronic condition must be declared even if you onl have high blood pressure.
Hal
Posts: 617
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:56 am
Location: Liverpool, UK

Post by Hal »

Thanks for the advice. The cost is so high when your on the transplant list, because of the risk of cancellation - I hope I get the call and I HAVE to cancel my holiday!

Free Spirit have quoted me £100.00. I've had the info from Worldwide Travel Insurance and it seems OK except having to get the whole family insured.

Anyway - http://www.kidney.org.uk/holidays/insure.html - if anyone needs info on these insurance companies.

I will check out the company you advised Lorna, thank you.

Hal
Nikki
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:14 pm
Location: Midlands, uk

Insure & go

Post by Nikki »

HI!
I went to South Africa for 2 weeks (have been transplanted for 6yrs) and although I usually just get the cheapest I can find I thought this time I'd better get some proper insurance seeing as its so far away! Insure & go were recomended to me and after going through a brief medical screening call they charged me £30!!!! the cheapest I've found by far! give them a go. Good luck & enjoy your hol (if you don't get the call-hope you do!!)
Nikki :D
pgt67
Posts: 238
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 10:27 am
Location: Gods Own Country

holiday ins

Post by pgt67 »

I personally would advise that all members are on the same policy as i have been told from insurers that should one member fall ill then others in the party on different insurance may not be covered to travel home with the ill person - there are plenty of companies who will insure renal patients, you MUST be truthful about your condition and read the smallprint before taking up any insurance. :D
susie
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:37 pm
Location: UK

Post by susie »

You could also try the post office - they do cover existing conditions - my husband got insured with them post transplant for a trip to Australia and had cause to use the insurance as he had gallstones, and very severe pain when we reached Singapore on the way back. The cover was very good indeed. Would also backup what other people have said, its better to all be insured with the same company.
Nikki
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:14 pm
Location: Midlands, uk

Travel insurance

Post by Nikki »

:D Hi Hal!
Try Insure & go on tel; 08709013674
You have to ring a medical screening line on 08702259173 (9-5pm)
They insured me to go to south africa for 2 weeks for £30!! I'm sure you'll find something with them, good luck & have a fab time! x Nikki x :D
Dan
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:03 pm

swimming

Post by Dan »

Thanks for the input. Spain sounds wonderful. Unfortunately, I don't have info on insurance. I wonder how I would swim if I was in Spain? Hee HEe. I guess "same problem, different place" I wouldn't mind trying to figure it out there though. Thanks, Dan
Post Reply