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If you have a serious medical condition, you’re generally advised to steer clear of large amounts of long distance travel. The safety of home and the close proximity to local, familiar medical professionals can mean that plunging into the big, wide world can seem daunting. That’s completely understandable.
However, a medical condition should not be treated as an obstacle to getting out there and seeing the world. In fact, it has never been less of a barrier to travel, with many embracing the freedom that technology and greater health information brings. People with pre-existing medical conditions are getting well-informed, safety-savvy. and welcoming the broadening of experience that all of this brings.
Whether or not you have a medical condition,serious or less so, precautions should be taken before setting off on an adventure. From a perspective of safety and staying healthy, here are 5 IDEAL tips for travellers with a medical condition.
Check In With Your G.P Before Travelling
Visit your doctor and have him or her assess whether you are currently fit enough to travel. If your condition has flared up recently, it may be worth waiting for a more opportune time to see the world, as complications may arise which could spoil your trip. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something extra to bring with you to negate problems.
Keep On Top Of Vaccinations
Check whether you need to get a vaccination, or if any need updating. Vaccinations for diphtheria, polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera are available for free on the NHS. Certain medical conditions may make you more vulnerable to infection than the average patient, so bear this mind and be transparent with your doctor about what’s required.
Plan Diligently To Avoid Unnecessary Stress
Start packing a good amount of time before you leave, and make sure that you have everything sorted and in place. The stress of trying to organise yourself at the last minute could exacerbate your condition.
Find out in advance where the nearest hospital, clinic and pharmacy are to where you will be staying. It may be good to avoid travelling to countries where the medical care is not very high quality, though don’t let this put you off entirely – many preconceptions about the quality of amenities in some far flung countries prove to be false.
Check that you can bring your medication with you, as some countries require you to have a licence to bring in certain medications. Try to find out if you can obtain the medication from a pharmacy near where you are staying should your supply run out or be lost.
Talk to the airline (or cruise company etc) you are travelling with about what special provisions they offer for someone with your condition. They may be able to give you priority boarding, a more suitable seat, a different meal and so on.
The Importance Of Travel Insurance
A key consideration when travelling with a pre-existing medical condition is getting good quality travel insurance before you leave.
The majority of travel insurance claims are medical claims, and this figure is growing. Many British people wrongly believe that the UK government will pay for medical costs incurred in a foreign country if they don’t have insurance. According to Gov.uk, 24% don’t purchase a policy before travelling.
Travelling without insurance can cause issues further down the line and could cost you a large amount of money, especially if you have a serious chronic medical condition. Always declare all of your conditions and don’t omit important medical information. It may also be worth getting cancellation insurance in case a sudden worsening of your condition means you have to forgo travel plans.
Having an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) when travelling in Europe is useful, but many holidayers have misconceptions about these cards. 17% believe that having an EHIC card means they don’t need travel insurance. This is wrong. You always need travel insurance.
Find The Right Travel Insurance For You
Many travel insurance providers also specialise in offering travel insurance plans to those with pre-existing medical conditions, which is well worth doing the extra research into. They offer cover for a wide range of different medical conditions – over 1000 – including asthma, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, stroke, epilepsy and heart disease.
If you have a condition that isn’t currently covered, you may still be eligible for an insurance plan; medicaltravelinsurance.co.uk can offer you one of their alternative plans, or even create a customised coverage just for you. Simply contact medicaltravelinsurance.co.uk, declare your condition(s), and an insurance quote will be made.
