Travel Insurance advice for CF Patients
Cystic Fibrosis Trust - Advice Re:- Insurance Companies (2009)
The CF Trust gets many queries about travel insurance and advises shopping around to find a suitable policy. Several companies offer insurance to those with pre-existing medical conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis but some may refuse cover if you've had recent hospital treatment. As the criteria change regularly and can differ significantly between companies, it's best to try several different companies.
The Trust is trying to educate the insurance market and get better insurance services for people with CF. It has been working with Heath Lambert who have become the first company to provide access to realistic travel insurance cover for people with CF. At present, they only provide single trip cover for people travelling within the EU, but the Trust continues working with them, to try and extend this. They are unable to recommend any insurance companies for travel outside of Europe.
CF Trust Helpline: Tel: 0208 2907911 or Freefone: 0845 8591000
CF Trust Website: http://www.cftrust.org.uk/aboutcf/livingwithcf/travel/travelinsurance
Europe:
Heath Lambert (for Europe - single trips; online quotes can be inaccurate) Tel: 01603 828376
WorldWide Cover for pre-existing medical conditions :
Insurance Choice - 0844 557 7600
Travelbility: 0845 338 1638
Website: www.travelbility.co.uk
Chris Knott Insurance - 0800 917 2274
Website: http://www.ckinsurance.co.uk/index.html
Other Insurance Companies
Ace Travel: (in 2007- did annual worldwide policy, covering USA, for £66)
Freephone: 0800 028 2396 (09:00 to 17:00 weekdays)
Website: ACE.TravelUK@ACE-ina.com
Citybond Travel:
Website: www.insurancechoice.co.uk
All Clear Travel:
Website: www.allcleartravel.co.uk
Freedom: (provides cover for pre-existing medical conditions)
Address: Richmond House, 16-20 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DB
Tel: 01223 454 290
Website: www.freedominsure.co.uk
Travel Websites
http://www.travelhealth.co.uk - Travel insurance advice, with a link to insurance companies for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.
Insurance Company - 0800 849 6444 (will look for insurance company for websites)
Insurance information - the CF Trust Adult forum:
1. Do NOT travel outside Europe without coverage for your CF, it's simply not worth the risk.
2. Your partner needs to be insured on the same policy as you (a joint one that covers CF) if you want them to be able to recoup any costs entailed in cancelling a holiday (for CF reasons) that you both go on together.
3. Answer every question honestly that you are asked. There is no point lying about hospital admissions etc. as this could render your insurance worthless.
4. If anything appears ambiguous, check it out in detail (e.g. what does "hospital treatment in the last 12 months" actually mean - outpatient appointments or inpatient stays?).
5. Check that your phone call has been recorded and/or that you are emailed the details of exactly what you have declared. This has been done previously and found that the details have been noted down wrongly (e.g. names of medications etc).
6. You are likely to get turned down by most companies if you have CF but don't give up - if you keep trying you can still find the occasional company who will insure you.
Insurance Extras from the Expert Patient Advisors
by Dominic Kavanagh
Ring around for the best quote, ring the CFT helpline and ask on the forums or even your CF team.
Make sure that you have an E111 card, you can apply for one at the Post Office and it is free of charge to be used alongside valid travel insurance.
Applying at the post office can take up to 21 days whereas if you apply online at www.ehic.org it can be with you within 7 days or by telephoning NHSBSA EHIC Application Line on 0845 606 2030 it will be within 10 days.
Where possible get a flight test (ask your CF team) - do not leave this until the last minute!
Remember if you are not deemed fit to travel or travel against the advice of your medical practitioner, your travel insurance cover will no longer cover you.
Remember that the Consultants at Specialist CF Centres sometimes suggest a course of ‘prophylactic' IVs to set you and your chest up nicely for your holiday. Consider discussing this option with the CF Consultant at your Specialist Centre.
Do not buy travel insurance on the basis of an on line quote. Please ask the following specific questions:-
What is the company's definition of a ‘planned' or ‘unplanned' hospital admission?
Would my insurance policy still be valid if I had a small change in medication before my date of travel?
Do I have to notify you, the travel insurance company, of EVERY change in my medication?
Advise from the West Midlands Cystic Fibrosis Unit.
We are not recommending any specific company listed above but those named are known to have helped people with Cystic Fibrosis. However, the situation with travel insurance keeps changing, companies that were helpful one year, aren't the next time and vice versa. It's always worth checking with the CF Trust for the latest news.
Don't forget your fit to fly letter before you go - please mention this when you see the doctor in clinic or telephone Elaine Chapman, Cystic Fibrosis Centre Manager on 0121 424 2261.
Don't forget to let the airline know about your oxygen requirement.
Editors Note:
Please can you let us know about your good and bad experiences of getting travel insurance, so that we can update our advice to benefit other travellers.
