Travel Insurance
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Living with osteoporosis: travel insurance If you fracture a bone whilst on holiday this might mean you What is osteoporosis? need medical treatment or an overnight stay in a hospital and you will usually incur extra costs as a result. It could even Osteoporosis occurs when the struts which make up the have an impact on your return journey to the UK. mesh-like structure within bones become thin causing them to become fragile and break easily, often following For example if you have a hip fracture you may no longer be a minor bump or fall. These broken bones are often able to take your scheduled flight, you might need an extra referred to as ‘fragility fractures’. The terms ‘fracture’ and seat to rest your leg on or may even need to be brought ‘broken bone’ mean the same thing. Although fractures home by a specialist air ambulance. can occur in different parts of the body, the wrists, hips If you experience a spinal compression fracture when on and spine are most commonly affected. It is these broken holiday, this can be very painful and whilst there may be no bones or fractures which can lead to the pain associated need for a hospital admission you may require a visit to a with osteoporosis. Spinal fractures can also cause loss of doctor to get adequate pain relief. Again this could make height and curvature of the spine. your return journey to the UK more difficult depending on where you are and how long the flight is. The insurance company will take these factors into account when assessing Why do I need travel Insurance? your risk of making a claim and may well increase your There are many reasons why you should consider buying premiums to account for them or occasionally may refuse travel insurance which includes cover for cancellation, to cover you. medical expenses, repatriation and lost and stolen possessions. According to the Association of British Do I need to let my insurance company Insurers (ABI), not all travel-insurance policies are the know that I have low bone density, same, so it is really important to decide on the level of osteoporosis and/ or fractures? cover you need and check that the policy you buy gives Yes, you must tell your insurer about your medical history you what you were expecting. because if you don’t, they may not pay a related claim Medical emergencies and repatriation are the most common should you need to make one. Tell your insurer about any and expensive reasons for travel claims and also the most pre-existing conditions, recurring illness or injuries, current, important reason for taking out cover, so it’s essential on-going or lifelong conditions and any previous surgery you to know that any costs you incur following a medical have had. Even if you think it might not be relevant tell your emergency will be covered. insurer and they will let you know if it is important. Why can getting travel insurance be a problem Having low bone density is of course only one of many ‘risk if you have osteoporosis? factors’ for fracture so your insurer may ask questions about your other risk factors too to establish how high your fracture Having a diagnosis of osteoporosis or a low bone density risk really is. For instance, if you have low bone density and means you have a higher risk of fracture (breaking bones). are older, especially after 75 or if you have already had a ‘fragility fracture,’ then you are much more likely to have another fracture. Your premium may increase. If you feel this is unfair it may be useful to discuss this with your insurer. What does the European Health You can find out more about the arrangements Insurance Card cover? with individual countries via the NHS choices website, but the general advice would be that it is Many people assume that a European Health best to take out a travel insurance policy to cover Insurance Card (EHIC) will cover the costs of all eventualities if at all possible. treatment in the European Union state hospitals in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, What medical costs would a travel but this is not quite true. While it’s important to insurance policy cover? carry your EHIC card at all times, it will only provide The following advice and guidance is produced by the same benefits that residents of that country the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The first receive and will not cover repatriation. The level of point to remember is to make sure that you have benefit provided by the EHIC varies from country full cover for emergency medical costs and other to country. In some countries residents pay a associated costs. Medical emergencies that policies percentage of any medical bills, so relying on the do cover include: EHIC in those countries will result in a person paying the same percentage as a local resident. • Unforeseen illness, injury or accident This may or may not include the cost of board and • Repatriation to the UK where the time required lodging if you are a patient in hospital. to recover from the medical problem results in It is free to apply for an EHIC if you live within the missing a booked flight home. This would also UK but residents of the Channel Islands and the include the cost of stretcher, costs for a doctor Isle of Man are not eligible. Remember that the or nurse to escort you home, and space on EHIC card is only valid for five years, so please a chartered plane or air ambulance, if check that it is still in date before you travel as medically necessary. Remember, if you have renewing it is also free. It is important to remember an arm or leg in plaster, you may need an that the Foreign Office, British Embassy or High additional seat on a flight home, and that Commission will not pay for any of your medical will add to the cost expenses or repatriation costs. • Temporary emergency dental treatment for How do I get a European Health the relief of immediate pain Insurance Card (EHIC)? • In the event of death, travel insurance covers the costs of burial or cremation abroad or If you are travelling within the EEA the first thing bringing the body home. The insurer can to do is to make sure you get your free EHIC. You also provide help and support in making can apply for this via the NHS Business Services all the necessary arrangements through an Authority website or by phoning the automated international funeral director. service on 0300 3301 1350. You can apply for yourself, your partner and any dependent children in Medical emergencies that might be covered include full time education under the age of 19. Each person sports and activities classed as high risk. Some may you apply for will need to provide their full name, be covered at no additional cost, some may only be date of birth and national insurance or NHS number covered when you pay an additional premium and (CHI number in Scotland or Health and Social Care others may not be covered at all. number in Northern Ireland). Medical emergencies that policies do not Do countries outside of the European cover include: Economic Area (EEA) have any • Claims relating to existing medical conditions reciprocal arrangements with the UK? that have not been declared and accepted by the insurer The UK does have limited reciprocal arrangements with some non-EEA countries and if you need • Medical costs arising from injuries emergency medical treatment it can be provided sustained as a result of consuming excessive at a reduced cost or even free. For example, in amounts of alcohol or illegal drugs which Australia you can register with the Medicare system resulted in behaving irresponsibly or taking on arrival in the country, which would entitle you to unnecessary risks reciprocal healthcare during your stay. This, though, • Cover for medical bills if the policyholder would not cover the cost of repatriation and the chooses to stay abroad after the treating doctor level of cover does vary from country to country. and insurance company doctor agree that the policyholder is fit to return home • Medical conditions connected to your failure Holiday cancellation cover should be standard to take your prescribed medication or get on all policies but it can be taken off if you ask. vaccinations and other preventative measures This may reduce your premium, but if you had to (such as malaria tablets) advised for the country cancel your holiday any money you have paid for being visited. it will be lost. What are the dangers of travelling I have had multiple fractures without proper cover? (broken bones). Can I still get cover? If something goes wrong and you are not insured Yes, but obviously your premium may be increased the resulting problems could well cause you to account for this. If you answer yes to having had and your family a lot of stress and money. The spinal compression fractures you will then be asked latest Foreign and Commonwealth Offices (FCO) further questions about how this has affected your factsheet on the importance of taking out travel day-to-day activities and what treatment you have insurance states that the average claim for a for it e.g. how many pain relieving medicines do you personal accident is £7,500. If you fall and break take for your back? These questions will help the your hip, the estimated cost of treatment in a insurer to evaluate your risk and the answers given Spanish hospital would be £15,000.