Please can anyone tell me what the position is on overseas travel when diagnosed with AF?

[smw112]

[georgejen]

Hi smw 112, I have had AF since 2005 and have travelled across Europe and Turkey , with no problem , I make sure that I carry all the information from my meds , also make sure you have an sos bracelet or necklace, with all the relevant information , as far as Holiday Insurance ,look around, this year I am using insure and go (all one word),this cost £39.44 for 10 days for my wife and myself. Hope you have a good holiday , George

[Offcut]

I have had AF since 1992 if you go abroad I would look at your travel insurance and make sure on what is covered! Most do not cover AF as standard and I have found if you go with the ones supplied with the package you are charged a fortune. Look at travel insurers that specialise in Pre Existing Conditions. The one I went with last saved me £160.00 on what the package insurer would of charged. If you are going to EU countries get the latest health card and no matter what they say they have to look at you and give you care in their equivalent. Also if you are on Warfarin take your yellow book as you can get a weeks supply if you lose or run out.

Phill

[Japaholic]

My cardiologist told my flying doesn't have any effect of AF and isn't dangerous generally if you have an attack in the air. he told me the worst thing was panic.

I flew from the UK to Japan 48 hours after getting out of hospital with a bad fast AF attack and made it Ok?

I found this site (payingtoomuch.com/) offered a months policy with AF declared, world wide excluding USA for £50 which went up to £75 with 2 hospitisations within 12 months.

[Offcut in reply to Japaholic]

I have been told that I should not fly on flights to much over 3 hours even with flight socks.( Which I use when flying)

[Japaholic in reply to Offcut]

I'm taking Dagibatran as an anticoagulant and was for a few days before travel.

I also did the exercises as recommended and got up every two hours to go to the loo and have a stretch and a walk around.

No ill effects.

Depends on your condition, my cardiologist in the UK said AF isn't dangerous to fly with. The worst this he said was panic when you have an episode in the air.

Speak to a cardiologist if you can and get advice relavent to you specific condition.

[BobD Volunteer]

My travel insurance is part of my bank account freebies (not when you work out how much you pay in bank charges) and any thins like AF have to be phoned in and maybe a small extra charge added. I have travelled ( and flown) a lot in AF and the worst part is the general tiredness which AF gives many people which added to the travel becomes a vicious circle.

BobD

[Offcut in reply to BobD]

I had that and they would not cover me with any pre existing. Beware of banks bearing gifts.

[smw112]

Thankyou all for your advice. I don't have a holiday planned but my husband and I were planning to get passports when I was diagnosed four weeks ago. I don't have an appointment yet with the cardiologist and we were unsure whether or not to proceed with our applications. From your advice it looks safe to proceed and get the passports. I have had two epsidodes of fast AF and am now on treatment including warfarin and am awaiting tests.

[watchdog]

hi smw 112 always check with your gp if he or she says it's okay then you will be alright

I am in a group scheme (Police) and the stippulation is that I am fit to travel I always speak to my GP first so if their is a problem involving Ins I'm covered. I have had AF now for 5 years but only take it once a year and I have yearly check up's with my gp have a great holiday and don't forget to get the euro medicl card

[AFAssociation1]

Great tips and advice from everyone.

We have put together these considerations when travelling abroad and also some suggested travel insurers (for UK nationals)

atrialfibrillation.org.uk/p...

[Lal531]

Hi SMW, Just back from a 2 week holiday abroad without any issues, I told my insurance company before I traveled and it cost me another £61:00 , worth it for the peace of mind alone. I kept fully hydrated with plenty of fluid (not too much alcohol) and suffered no ill effects. Enjoy your holiday and don't worry, most people with AF who travel, do so without incident.

Cheers

Lal

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

One more tip to add when flying make sure to stay well hydrated. The air in planes is very dry and if you don't keep drinking water (not alcohol!) you may find the dehydration precipitates an episode of AF. I have flown while in AF on many occasions since mine is often brought on by STRESS and travel is very stressful to me...worrying if I will have luggage when I get off, wondering if I will make my connections, etc. We will be traveling again later this month, but I am thrilled we will drive to our cruise port instead of flying. Though same tips for long car trips: stay hydrated and get up and stretch every hour or so!

[mallet-head]

Hi smw112

I guess I'm a relative newcomer to AF, being diagnosed with it only last March, but my experience so far is that it is one big expensive inconvenience! I don't have any regular, recognisable symptoms (palpitations,not consciously aware of rapid and/or variable heart rate) but these do show every time I have an ECG. Currently on warfarin for INR control. When I informed my bank, where I had travel insurance through a packaged account, they promptly "threw a fit" and cancelled the policy outright! Who will or won't insure you is a bit of a lottery it seems, and depends on other pre-existing conditions, how long you have suffered with it, stable medication regime for 6months or more etc etc. It is a chore but You just have to shop around to get cover, and at an affordable price. It cost me £458 to cover 2weeks in Florida last May, but medical bills are high in USA! The same company (Avanti) offered me annual multi trip cover for Europe for ~ £303. I had an unsuccessful Cardioversion done and now I'm in the queue for Catheter Ablation, hoping eventually to get of all the meds if it fixes it. Then I might consider travelling abroad again when I might be able to afford it!!!!

Good luck, Mallet-head

PS I may be preaching to the converted, but on no account travel outside of Europe without good comprehensive travel insurance! I've run up a bill for medical treatment recently for over £10,000 which fortunately for me was covered by my travel policy.

[jennifermary]

I've recently been diagnosed with atrial bigeminy although I Have had it undiagnosed for years and have obtained annual travel insurance through Saga for about £360 which also covers my husband. I travel to Australia every 9 months or so as my children and grandchildren live there and there is no way that i would not go to see them whatever the cost of insurance. This policy covers 60 days out of the country in any one trip. But I am not on any anticoagulant. Maybe this makes a difference.

[Hidden in reply to jennifermary]

I've got travel insurance with SAGA and I declared AF and Warfarin. Neither were a problem, probably just cost a bit more (Total cost was £220 per annum, for 2 people, Europe only, max 30 days per trip). SAGA said they are also the only insurers that cover your pre-existing conditions, their words, not mine. I wonder whether when you declare a medical problem with other insurers whether you are actually covered for that condition?

PS. Edited, looking at AF insurance link, loads cover pre-existing conditions. So much for listening to insurance salesmen

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Obviously insurance costs depend on your age, and where you are going, but I pay Nat West £80 a year to top up my world annual travel policy, which is on top of the monthly account charge which usually includes travel insurance.

And that's with A Fib and warfarin declared, and I have that amendment from them in writing. Good value I think

So for me the Saga ones sound expensive if I am honest, and yes Koll, they are certainly NOT the only company which will cover pre-existing conditions.

Ian