The thought of going on holiday should fill you with excitement and joy. But for some people, getting ready to go on holiday can be a stressful time, from getting your baggage together to finding those illusive passports. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you probably agree that you are slightly more anxious than those without as there is more to consider when travelling abroad.
In order to make the trip as stress free as possible, we have created a must do list for your trip.
- Consult your GP
- Pick a destination but know your limitations
- Book your holiday
- Book the correct travel insurance
- If you are traveling within the EU get your EHIC ordered
- See your GP and get vaccinations if required
- Take more than enough medication and documentation
Start by consulting your GP. If you have never been to your desired destination before or haven’t been there for several years, they will be able to let you know if your pre-existing medical conditions will cause you any issues.
If you have had a heart attack in the past but want to go on a hiking holiday around the Alps, chances are they will advise against it. You will also find it difficult to obtain travel insurance if your pre-existing medical condition is cause for concern. When you have spoken to your GP, hopefully you will be in a better position when deciding where to go and what time of year is suitable.
Picking a destination can be very exciting. Do you go on a cruise, a beach holiday, or a city break? It’s important to check that your pre-existing medical conditions are covered in that destination as some insurers might not cover you. Before you buy your travel insurance, you will need to have booked your holiday, but you will worry that you are not going to be covered for your trip if you have already booked your holiday first. A very catch 22 situation. You can contact our travel insurance team and get a quote for your trip to find out if you will get cover before booking your holiday. That way you can be happy with the knowledge that you can get both. Visit holidays.payingtoomuch.com and book your holiday through our team of travel experts who will find the best deal for you.
After you have booked your holiday, our holiday team are happy to transfer you to our travel insurance department and book your travel insurance with payingtoomuch.com. They will ensure that you have the correct policy and are covered for your pre-existing medical conditions. All medical conditions will be considered, and we insure up to the age of 99.
It tends to be much cheaper to insure standard travellers on a separate policy than adding to a specialist policy that is designed to cover those with pre-existing medical conditions.
If you are traveling within the EU, for business or pleasure, one of the first things you should do is to get an EHIC card. This means that in European countries, you will effectively be treated in the same way as a member of the country you are visiting.
Inoculations are vital, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions. In some parts of the world, certain countries will not let you enter if you haven’t had the required inoculations. For example, in certain countries in South America and Asia, you are recommended to take injections for Tetanus, Diphtheria pertussis and Typhoid to name but a few. One in four British holiday makers are not getting vaccinated before going on holiday, seriously jeopardising their holiday and any chance of making a successful insurance claim.
You will need to check how much medication you can legally take into the country you are visiting but it is better to take slightly more than you will need rather than obtain the prescription abroad. In many cases, Americans paid an average of 54 percent more than Europeans for 25 commonly prescribed drugs. Certainly not a position you want to find yourself in should you need more. According to reports, a month's supply of Eldepryl, a Parkinson's disease medication from a pharmaceutical company costs about $28 (£22) in Italy, $48 (£36) in Austria and $240 (£184) in the United States.
A holiday should be the highlight of your year, so taking proper precautions and meticulously planning each detail will ensure that you have a truly fabulous time.
