Travel with RA - Insurance

[Adorable1]

me again 🙄 so much keeps popping in my head since my RA diagnosis.

My daughter lives in Canada. I have visited a number of times it’s a 6 hour ish flight so not as bad as if I were going to Australia (don’t think I could even consider that journey) I’m a pretty anxious flyer, but I do it to see them all. She will soon be asking if I can make it for Christmas I suspect..

I realise I may now struggle with being sat down same position but if I did decide to go in the future I’m wondering is insurance drastically increased due to RA diagnosis. I currently have insurance with my bank for travel .. prior to calling and adding my diagnosis I wondered if anyone has any experience of this with travel and insurance . Any suggestions , tips, or experiences of insurance and RA greatly appreciated.

thank you, realise I’m posting quite a bit , I’m really appreciating having people able to share their experiences with me , prior to me jumping in and getting all stressed on phone calls …

A little knowledge of others experiences can help.

I understand it can be different circumstances for different people

[medway-lady]

Didn't affect mine but kidney disease did. I did bank plus add on and Nationwide Building Society were very helpful as now 71 they had to quote but with all my stuff it was about £600 for the year so reasonable. Make sure you get disabled status to airline as although I'm not really disabled it does help queueing. Ive never done it but saw a woman last year go to front in wheelchair book in and then get up and go through. Next seen in bar! And book extra leg room the Tui Dreamliner was great to Cypress but I don't go Ryan or EasyJet as too cramped and had a DVT in the past although not travel related. BA are good and Virgin wonderful

[Adorable1 in reply to medway-lady]

Thank you that’s helpful appreciate it medway-lady

[Madmusiclover]

It depends. You need to declare it but then Up to you if you want it covered. I don’t cover it because I live with it at a high level of pain and no doctor is going to write a report saying I am too unwell and should be hospitalised or sent home. I also declare osteo and fibro and don’t cover them, I recently covered newly diagnosed AF and yes that then puts the price up because I’ve found on two policies that if you cover one condition you have to cover them all. Crazy. I need to shop around some more.

[Adorable1 in reply to Madmusiclover]

Thank you, I hadn’t even thought of not covering, but declaring. I actually thought they had to be covered, I guess it’s a case of checking with the insurance company too..I appreciate you sharing. It’s something to think about

[ABwn in reply to Adorable1]

Always covered mine, couldn't afford not to. However, now I have osteoporosis along with fractured spine, I can no longer afford the insurance. If anything happened and I wasn't insured, I would not be able to pay for a stay or operation where my son now lives - Switzerland.! If you travel to the USA they won't let you in if you're not insured, as I have been told, when booking thro travel agents. Good luck.

[SingingJay in reply to Madmusiclover]

Interesting.

[medway-lady]

Good news. And happy holidays. X

[Neonkittie17]

I was told by Tui in the last few years I travelled, prior to the start of Covid, it’s how long I’ve had RA and how stable it is, and if I’ve had any recent ops and how long I’ve been taking my meds. That was what Tui’s insurers, Axa wanted to know and also that you’re steady on your meds and nothing new introduced which is likely to cause you side effects whilst away. x

[Haz58]

Just to warn you I ended up in hospital with back problems on holiday 18 months ago. It cost me £3k in Spain as they gave nevan MRI scan and plenty of drugs. Luckily I was covered. I had broken my back quite a few months previously. But I still have problems with pain. Ive stopped flying at the mo for a while as I end up in agony from the cabin pressure. Well that's what my rheumy told my rheumy told me and he said a lot of people with RA find this. Luckily I had covered my RA, osteo and fracture. I've just taken a years cover including cruise cover and repatriation with insure & go for only £405. Some wanted £700 for just 2 weeks!

I'm covered for my RA, osteoarthritis, osteopenia, high blood pressure and cholesterol, gallstones, thyroid nodule, gastric reflux and the old compression fracture.

[Adorable1 in reply to Haz58]

Thank you for sharing

[Chester1975]

I have just added a package to my Barclays Bank account. I said I have RA and had to answer further questions with the insurance company and was accepted without any issues. I think if it’s under control and you haven’t or have got any up coming operations for joint fusion or replacement etc they will cover you. Give them a call to declare it.

[TiggerMum]

We have travel insurance through our account at Nationwide. Off on an overseas adventure, so have declared my RA (no hospital admissions or surgery recently etc). Bought an upgrade so it’s covered, £30 or so for a year.

[wilbertjellyfish]

I went to Canada, purely a holiday in the summer and had no issues with the sitting down. I use a stick (from neo walk) and at Dublin airport they fast tracked me which helped with extra time to get settled. So I concur with requesting assistance or priority boarding. Insurance I can't say I was getting it for one trip and my large (7 people) family but it was affordable.

I also had a letter from the hospital for my injections but they didn't ask for it or my medication.

Definitely a good idea to keep your medication in hand luggage in case of delay. I did this on the way over but coming back threw all, bar what I needed, in hand luggage then had a 24hr delay.

[Adorable1 in reply to wilbertjellyfish]

Thank you. That’s all useful to be aware of !

[Fra22-57]

I pay through my bank .its about £13 a month.you are covered by insurance company they deal with and you have to declare everything.now I have a lot .my husband doesn’t have to pay any extra even thou diabetic etc but I pay about another £70-80 on top.They say is you have had a diagnosis in the past eg diverticulitis but not seen a doctor in past year then you don’t need to declare.lots of things if not taking meds they don’t add either.now in December through my flex plus account the insurance monthly goes up to £18 a month and insurance moves to another provider so things might change.I have found it the cheapest insurance for years plus you get phone insurance cover,car breakdown etc included

[Gladders]

I've had travel insurance through Lloyds bank for many years, I pay about an extra £25 each year to cover my RA and never had any issues with them querying it. I do get Assistance at the airports as it helps when there's long ques waiting through security or passport control when you're standing for long periods. Assistance is usually good at most airports (especially abroad) they seem better at it than here, Birmingham airport can be a bit hit or miss at times. Wrap up warm on the aircraft if like me I feel the cold more with RA. Go to Canada and have a lovely holiday.

[Adorable1 in reply to Gladders]

Thanks Gladders

Do you request the assistance when you book. I’ve never done it before.

Do you need any proof of RA with you. I have letters and meds …Thanks for sharing 😊

[Gladders in reply to Adorable1]

I usually book assistance at the same time as booking but it's ok to arrange it later, I think the latest it's available to book is 48 hour ma before you fly. They haven't asked me for too much detail re why I need assistance usually RA has been sufficient - have a good trip

[RAGuy]

If it did affect my insurance, I didn't notice! Other conditions have, but that is to be expected. There are specialist companies that will quote, and if anyone has any issues, the British Brokers Association can help. I found their advice very useful, as I have three chronic conditions, but I can still holiday abroad every year.

You will know how you feel and if you are well enough to travel. However, concentrate on getting your disease under control first. This is a difficult time with lots to think about, so you must prioritise one step at a time.

RA and its treatment are marathon events. You will get there and do okay, but the starting pistol has only just gone off! Rule one applies here: Don't Panic! 😁

Best wishes

[Adorable1 in reply to RAGuy]

Thank you RAGuy much appreciated.

[AgedCrone]

Never had any trouble buying annual travel insurance …..I obviously didn’t renew during Covid, but I got an estimate recently & it hadn’t gone up by more than most things have.

[CagneysMum]

I think it resulted in a slight increase on my travel insurance but nothing significant. It’s likely to have more impact if you’ve recently had surgery or been hospitalised due to RA. I would definitely recommend keeping your medication in your hand luggage. Just make sure to get up and move about frequently to avoid seizing up and I’m sure you will be fine. Have a great time in Canada with family ❤️

[Adorable1 in reply to CagneysMum]

Thank you so much ,

[Happy5]

I declare my health conditions and they ask questions about it, to work out risks. I doesn't effect cost, more likely my does, 70 years old.

Regarding sitting for length of time I request an aisle seat and get up frequently to walk around. Stops the total locking up, but hard on the system still. I also drink lots of water and fruit juice to try to stop body becoming sluggish.

Bon Voyage