Hya all,
Wondered if anyone has had insurance denied or price increased due to condition...
Im worried about going abroad on plane etc anyways as could the pressure etc on a plane affect someones asthma depending on the severity..!!
Answers would be nice as we are desperate for a holiday after cancellation of two holidays frm last year due to my condition and hospitalisation.
Hi, some firms will not cover you and some will charge ridiculous prices, but it is possible to get a reasonable price even for the US and other expensive destinations insurance wise, if you shop around. Although it will never be as low with severe asthma as it would with mild or none.
I suggest using a specialist medical travel insurance comparison tool and always read the small print carefully- one called Insure and Go seemed good till I read the small print.
I always come back to GetGoing personally for my severe asthma - they will not insure me annually any more but thr per trip prices are reasonable and no nasty surprises. Never had to claim thankfully so can't comment on that.
Re rhe plane - I do have problems with the descent and I admit it is not fun while it lasts though I can usually get it to resolve eventually ie it hasn't yet turned into an admission on its own. I did have problems once after a bad descent and then a lot of stairs and having luggage. I thought I had recovered from the.descent but then had to.do all that! You may want to ask for special assistance at the airport to avoid that scenario. I am resisting this though I think it would probably help me. I have travelled with a friend who has it for asthma and it ism't hard to book ie they never seem to ask for a million dr letters etc. You get lifts to the gate and help with luggage etc.
Hya Lysistrata..
Many thanks for your post.. Learnt a lot, so in a nut shell its gunna be more expensive, harder to get cover and the journey will not be nice.. Ha..
Reckon i'll jst stop in British Isles frm now on..!!
No but thanks very much, i am nervous about the journey, we love Greece and its a four hour flight and very warm in the summer months...
I jst dont want to get poorly, as i feel it may be a bit early after diagnosis (Nov 17) and its still uncontrolled really, even with injections inhalers steroid tabs etc..
So thankyou i will take your advice on board..
Thank you..
Bash.
Am in the exact same boat, desperately want a family holiday in the warm but am struggling to get my head round it all and the confidence...sorry can’t be any more help other than you are not alone!
I hope you can get abroad, I have bad asthma but haven’t felt better than when I was in the sun and by the sea in Gran Canaria for a week last year. Could do you the world of good!
Thanks Kate,
Yeh i have been told going to sunnier climbs can do wonders for asthma,
Im jst a bit jittery about it yet as i have been so bloody poorly last 6 mnths that i dont want to go away and go backwards with my condition etc..
But yeh maybe biting the bullet and jst going and see how things pan out maybe the answer..
Weil see...!!
Bash.
That’s completely understandable, maybe keeping the journey as short as you can might also help? Malta and gozo and Mallorca aren’t a long journey and all lovely too 
K
Hi
Have you been diagnosed with severe asthma?
Mine is not severe but I do end up in A&E with flare ups. I travel every year to California and apart from the one year when I was admitted to hospital and my insurance doubled, I pay the same as anyone else for annual insurance with Insure and Go. Yes you have to answer a lot of extra questions because of the asthma. There is assistance at the airport if required. Never found the cabin pressure a problem with Virgin Atlantic.
However, when flying to Europe I have experienced problems with cabin pressure and this has usually been on the return flight with Easyjet or Ryanair but not with British Airways.
The warmer climate is definitely better. Hope this helps.
Hya Chrissie,
Thanx for gettin in touch..
Yeh apparently its been diagnosed as quite severe...
It looks like best to shop around and speak to someone not to jst go on an internet site and fill in drop down boxes..
Thankyou, ill be takin a trip this year...
Bash
Yes Bash - best not to apply for insurance online. I always apply on the telephone. You get the chance to ask those important questions and speak with your GP or consultant for advice. Make sure you have all your meds in your hand luggage and most importantly enjoy your holiday.
C
Thanyou Chrissie..
Ill do that..!!
Apply by telephone and speak to my GP..!!
Cheers..
Bash..
Hi. I have severe chronic asthma but still regularly go abroad. My happy place is Florida and my chest is always great while I'm over there. I have never had an issue with my asthma during a flight that I would say was caused due to flying. I take my meds as prescribed and only fly if I'm well enough. had to cancel a few holidays over the years but its better to be safe. Cabin pressure doesn't affect me any differently now to when I didn't have asthma many years ago. As for insurance, it does cost more but if you shop around it can be found. I'm happy to pay for peace of mind. I try not to let my asthma win. It may be chronic and at times it can be debilitating but I refuse to let it ruin my life. I live for my holidays and I always find a good dose of sunshine does me the world of good. I just wish I could get it on prescription!
Hya Clanmacbeath..
Ive gotta say well done you are not goin to let it beat you, can i ask, how long have you suffered, and how long was it before you started to feel it was comin under control..
Like ive said in earlier posts abs brand new to this condition up until diagnosis last November and i was fully fit, work... sports.. Family etc them wham, hospital, pneumonia x2 bouts, and that was it, diagnosed with something called eosinophilic asthma..
But eh gotta get on with it and not let it win like you say..
I will do like your great advice has said and see what happens..
Bash.
Hi. I like you was perfectly fit and healthy until catching a chest infection which just wouldn't go. Ended up with bronchitis and very poorly for a few weeks. It came out if the blue and knocked me sideways. It took me a couple of years to adjust to my new life and at times i found the changes difficult, but im still here and determind to take control. My asthma has never really been under control since diagnoses which was about 14 years ago now. It's been a rough ride at times but I'll fight it all the way! I too have eosinophilic asthma and have just had my second mepolizumab injection on Friday. I'm hoping this new treatment will work for me. It's not always easy to be positive when life throws you a curve ball, but I do find that adjusting life doesn't mean giving up on it. I try to do the things I have always enjoyed just at a slower pace. Do what makes you happy, find ways to enjoy your life and remember the warmer weather normally makes most of us wheezy souls feel loads better. Maybe you could speak to your doctor about a portable nebuliser just for holidays? That way you will have meds with you and will be able to fly without too much stress. Xx
Hya Clanmacbeath...
So strange that i have jst been diagnosed with eosinophilic and seem to be further down the line,ie injections etc..
My nxt one in April in a couple of fridays time will be my 5th injection in total, and my thoughts so far is.. Is it making a difference yet??
Yes and no maybe at the moment.. Its very mixed, abs no difference first 2 mnths then nxt two yeh symptoms seemed to waine, my last one was really great felt like my old self, no wheeze,cough, peak flow abs brilliant yeh its wrking finally then had my last injection 23 march, decided to play round golf that i love, on the sunday and BAM since then all down hill again, soooo what do you do?
Anyways hope yours goes better and you start seeing results soon..
Bssh
I don’t have severe asthma, like so many on here, but it is certainly something I can never put to one side. I notice it daily. Now nearly two years ago I had my first - and, hopefully only - admission to hospital for a few days, and that was just 3 weeks before we were off on holidays (in north Sweden, where I go regularly. Summers there often very balmy, warm and lovely, but never guaranteed.) I was shocked how it affected my travel insurance, Insure and Go annual, that Lysistrata mentions above (I wonder what she noticed in the small print?....) After a lot of ringing around and checking, we stuck to what we had as it would be better in the long run, but that year it wasn’t good. One year later, more than 365 days after that admission, it came down quite a lot again. As for flights, they haven’t affected me, but as said I am not severe. Or brittle.
Hi wheezycat..
Yeh asthma is i think bad enough without calling it severe etc..
Everyone who suffers have to make life decisions everyday ive found out now since diagnosis, you had to have an admission.. Thats serious so dont think mine or anyone elses asthma is more severe than yours will you..
Great advice about travel insurance, ive had two admissions in last year frm end of August 17 before the specialists
knew what was wrong..
Im away end of September 18 so would it be best to start looking for insurance after the August anniversary date..?
I kno ill have one admission to declare but at least ill have a better understanding of what to say..!!
Thankyou.
Bash.
Remember in Europe you have EHIC which is like a nhs card in europe. So this covers existing conditions. Most insurance health do not cover pre-existing conditions like asthma. In Europe you would be fine but elsewhere need to check insurance policies.
Cheers WHOA..
Brilliant advice, yeh had an EHIC card for years but luckily never used it..!!
So majority of insurance companies dont cover pre-existing conditions. Didnt know that..!!
Wont be going further than Europe for a couple years anyways so should be fine..
Hope itll stay same after Brexit..!!
Bash..
The EHIC card is a reciprocal arrangement to get what is effectively NHS treatment in Europe - it's not the same as travel insurance, which also includes getting you back home (nice as I am sure European hospitals are, I don't imagine you want to get stuck in one because you can't afford to fly home!). I have several chronic conditions and have always used Moneysupermarket.com to compare insurance quotes. I often find two conditions make little difference to the premium, but additional ones tend to. It also depends how bad you are - if you've been hospitalised, then that will cause a hike in premiums, or refusal of cover. It all depends on the insurer and how they view your condition(s), but don't get put off by statements that NO insurer will cover you or that the premium will necessarily be prohibitive. That's where price comparison websites score and Moneysupermarket has, in my opinion, the best system for recording existing conditions and getting a true price comparison.
Hi I live in Ireland every year i travel either to UK, Lanzarote or Spain. I always take out travel insurance. I always tell the Company. I have had asthma since childhood so it only costs a couple of euro extra. Flying does not affect my asthma just my ears and i can get slight vertigo on landing. You are quite safe on a plane - take your inhaler just in case and your reliever but you will be fine i am sure
Sorry i always insure with Insure and Go. If your going to a sunny dry climate your asthma will improve. Some days i can hardly walk here but yet in Lanzarote I can walk for miles. I am thinking if I win the lotto i woukd spend all the winter months in a dry warm climate and come back for the summer. You will be amazed at how good you feel!
Hi there I went to Florida about 6 months after first being diagnosed (2016). I was so nervous about the flight but found all ok. Did feel a bit tight cheated at first but think that may have been anxiety. I drink licorice tea when I get that feeling. Was suggested by someone on this forum as helping to open the airways. Who knows but it works for me! I also started acupuncture a year ago and it has given me my life back. Again doesn’t help everyone but I was at the stage I would try anything as life was on hold! Hope you get something sorted. I am still nervous of flying and the thought of booking something for this year is worrying me but as others have said the benefits for the soul can be massive. Take care 😀
Hya, thats a problem for me with my tight chest, i reckon its anxiety..!!
I read that liqourice is good for Asthma, and i have had acupuncture b4 after a biking accident.. Was ok 1st session but no benefit afta i found..
Very nervous about booking something yet but ill get over that as i will not let it take over my life..!!
Cheers
Bash..
Nice, I'd like to try licorice tea. Though I'm hooked on Salted Carmel, but I will have to let that go for now. Thank for passing on this info
Just want to add to this re licourice: for some people, and I am one, it can affect blood pressure, causing it to rise. Great if it works for asthma, but if used regularly then keep an eye on your blood pressure.
I live in the states in California, I've never heard of this before. Wow, those ins. companies are getting ruthless
Hey flyjesus..
Insurance cant live with them cant live without them,
Very expensive word "IF"
Cheers
Bash.
You got that right, can I pray for you over your hands and other issue. I like to ask cause not everyone believes, as I don't want to offend anyone
Whoops, I apologize. I was answering another person about her hands getting hot, sorry. I would like to pray over your asthma if that's ok
Hi sorry if I was cryptic about Insure and Go. Basically they seemed good and would provide a quote for my severe asthma. However when I read the small print, it seemed to say that even after declaring my asthma fully, they would not cover me for anything at all if I had seen anyone at hospital for more than a check up in the last year (think it was a year). They didn't really define what that was but I judged it was too risky as they could easily say that seeing my asthma nurse when I get worse counts.
Basically it seemed like a get out clause for them even when I had declared my asthma including admissions, and other companies like GetGoing did not have it. This is why I advise reading the small print as they seemed fine until I saw that.
The pressure on planes seems to affect people differently so crossed fingers you may not notice it! I am very sensitive to weather and pressure changes there which may be why. I also find the right climate abroad can help my lungs. I did however try to avoid taking a job with a lot of flying.
Thank you, Lysistrata, I must double check on this. So far it has been OK, but I want to be sure I have cover. But then again, my issue is nowhere as bad as yours.
Ok lysistrata,
Good advice, ive learnt a lot frm all the advice ive recd...
Appreciate it..!!
Bash..
I had similar experience last year. Either really expensive, or wouldn’t cover me. An aquaintence said that I should try a broker. I called who they suggested and got a great deal. As it was only about six pounds difference between one trip and a year, I got a year’s insurance for around £56.
When I tried to get insurance before the broker. The cheapest one was£175 for a week. Some people wouldn’t even insure me. You think that supermarket and post office insurance are going to be cheaper, but, in my case, I found the opposite to be the case.
Hope this helps.
I use all clear, I have a few issues as well as brittle asthma and the always insure me
Hi I have eosinophilic asthma and last year I went to florida. I had been in and out of hospital a number of time. You need to check with your Dr that your fit to fly. I also found that insurancewith were really good
Hello predgirl..
Firstly how are you coping with eosinophilic?
I found its so uncontrollable at the mo but was only diagnosed in November last year and started my unjections the nxt mnth..
Yeh defo gunna check with my GP b4 i book anything b4 going abroad..!!
When ready insurancewith?
I will give them a ring...!!
Thanx
Bash..
Hi Bashsu01
The Asthma ok at the moment but I am on Reslizumab injection.
Are you under a consultant or just GP?
I have never been denied insurance, but have always had to pay between £5 (getting insurance from a company when already paying for cover) and £15 (getting 'free' through husband bank account, still cheaper in long run)
I have Asthma and got my travel insurance with Columbus travel. You could try them for a quote.
Travel Insurance Hell!
Dental treatment abroad and travel insurance w/ asthma cover
