GCA sufferer and Holiday insurance company are looking for fitness to travel letter but GP no longer provides this service?

[GranOwl]

Hi, I was diagnosed with GCA in October, 2024 and started Tocilizumab injections on 4th December, I’m also on a reducing dose of Prednisolone (4mg)

We had our holiday booked and insurance arranged before I was ill.

I contacted the insurance company in December to advise them of a Change of Health and they said to come back to them once treatment was underway and I had no more hospital appointments.

I contacted them again in January 2025, they in turn contacted their underwriters and they added GCA to our policy without any extra charge but they also asked for a letter from my GP confirming my Fitness to Travel.

I submitted the request to my GP and after 2 weeks I got a message advising the practice no longer provides this service.

I contacted the insurance company again and they said could my GP add a note to my medical records instead, as if anything happened on holiday and a claim was made their MD would contact my GP for my notes and make a decision retroactively on whether I had been fit to travel. However my GP practice doesn’t do this either.

Can I ask if anyone else has experienced this before and how did you resolve it, apologies for the long post.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Never had a issue when I travelled with GCA - just advised company on application form [with no extra info required] - they seemed to be more interested in my Osteoarthritis [at the time awaiting replacement surgery].

What company are you with?

Perhaps investigate if you can to get a Fitness to Travel from Rheumatology Dept... but that may depend on when you are going away...

[GranOwl in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DorsetLady, thanks for getting back to me, I’m with Holiday Extras insurance, we have an annual policy without them.

I made a request in writing to my Rheumatologist and hand delivered yesterday but was advised by his secretary that it can take up to a month. And you guessed right I’m now 2 weeks till travel date. I can’t believe I’ve ended up in this situation when I first phoned them 2 months ago.

I’ve been looking on line and there are private GP’s that provide the service for a fee, which is fine but I would like to make sure that my Insurance Company will accept it.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to GranOwl]

Think you’d better check with company re private GP .. last thing you need is to be worrying about it. Maybe Rheumy will come up trumps -and more importantly you don’t need it anyway.

[GranOwl in reply to DorsetLady]

I know fingers crossed, but I also know they are busy people and have clinical commitments as his secretary pointed out.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

As long as the letter is available SHOULD there be a claim I imagine that is all that matters - you don't need it in your sweaty little paw before.

But actually - a GP letter is a GP letter whoever wrote it and NHS GPs always charged as well. And as far as the insurance company is concerned - the reply is, well there IS a problem now!!

It's ridiculous anyway as you could be fit to travel on Monday and have a stroke on Tuesday ...

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks again PRMpro, that’s a good point the letter from my Consultant should be there by my return and only required if there is a claim required. Would he not need to see/speak to me before writing it though?

The last time I went away within England I had a lovely weekend with family for our 45th Wedding Anniversary and had a TIA on the way home in the car, so yes you can only plan so far

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

Don't need experiences like that do you!! Where are you going this time?

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

It’s the holiday of a lifetime for my 65th Birthday and our 45th Wedding Anniversary.

Flying to Singapore for a cruise to Japan, hoping to see the cherry blossom. Did you know there’s a cherry blossom forecast 🌸

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

My friend is heading for Japan for the cherry blossom in 2 weeks too - but not a cruise. She's panicking about how far her Japanese lessons will get her! They've just had mega snow up north so hope it is kind weather for you!

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

Oh wow, hope it doesn’t destroy the blossom and your friend has a fabulous time. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

I've been to Japan - it was amazing but in August for a science meeting, not the cherry blossom unfortunately.

[Frenchduck in reply to PMRpro]

I haven't been to Japan but we used to have cherry blossom in our back garden in Newcastle 😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Frenchduck]

The road from our house to UHND where OH worked was lined with them - the path was almost impassable due to the roots!!! But they were beautiful.

[Frenchduck in reply to PMRpro]

I love Durham. My favourite city!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Frenchduck]

It was a very strange place to live ...

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

They are beautiful trees

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

When and where is the cherry blossom season Pro? Just granddaughter and boyfriend are out there now. They like to ski there. They’re making there way to Kyoto then Tokyo before setting off home on the 12th.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

No idea to be honest - I was there in August (not to be recommended, far too hot and sticky!!) but it was for work and we added a holiday. I suppose the cherry blossom season must be soon as that is when my friend is heading out there.

Here you are: 24th March to 28th April depending where you are:

japanspecialist.com/w/the-o....

If they are leaving Tokyo on the 12th March, they will have left before it starts I imagine.

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much - yes they will have left before it’s due. She’s all roses (or blossom!) though as he proposed to her!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

Awwwwh! What a shame though. But if they go to ski there again, maybe they could go a bit later and do both.

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

I’m sure they will seriously think about that….. 🌸

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

Maybe they aren't aware the seasons overlap.

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

Probably not…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

You can tell them!!

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

Of course I will…

[GranOwl in reply to Telian]

That is so lovely, what a lovely way to propose.

Cherry Blossom Forecast

[Telian in reply to GranOwl]

It really was …she is still walking on air….. can’t wait until they get back ( they live in Sydney) and have another look at those diamonds - they look huge!

[SnazzyD]

Never had a problem with GCA and Travel. GP’s don’t have to carry out this work and the BMA isn’t keen on them doing it as it is pot loaded with risk. I looked at a couple of GP surgery advice pages and it was suggested people go to their hospital consultant.

It does beg the question whether this certificate has a time limit. A letter written now could be meaningless in a month’s time.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SnazzyD]

Quite…. On time limit that is!

[GranOwl in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi SnazzyD, I can see the pitfalls and totally understand why they don’t provide the service.

I’d also imagine a certificate from months ago would be invalid as situations change constantly.

The people I’ve spoken to at Holiday Extras keep repeating that they’ve never had an issue getting these letters/certificates before so maybe some GP surgeries are still providing them.

[SnazzyD]

I think it depends who you read or listen to. On searching around the topic some travel sites said that customers often find themselves stuck in the middle like you as more and more (allegedly) insurance companies are asking for them. I have never been asked and I’ve had other big medical issues too.

Looking at their website, they don’t make a big fanfare about fit to travel/fly certificates and when it is mentioned they you “may” need one. GCA does’t come up in their list of ‘biggies’ in terms of health risks. If it were me, I’d go back to them and ask what exactly about your situation triggered this request. They don’t say, in their public pages at least, that it is a routine request. It might not be the GCA but the TCZ injections in which case, it seems a bit much for a GP to take on the burden of assessing your risk and your consultant may need to step up.

[GranOwl in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you SnazzyD, they didn’t phone back today so I’ll phone them again tomorrow. It seems to be the underwriter that’s pushing for the letter. I’m still hoping my Con will come up trumps.

[SnazzyD in reply to GranOwl]

Yes it will be. Sounds like all parties desperately trying to pass the buck on risk. It is still worth trying to find out what they are concerned about specifically so that any agreeable consultant knows what words to use. There are so many angles to take on the travel risk. For example, is it general constitution, infection risk from TCZ, cardiovascular risk including clots, the steroids, the sky is the limit. Good luck .

[GranOwl]

thank you all so much for helping here and I’m now armed with informed questions to ask.

[Daffodilia]

Can you try a private GP - Saga didn’t need anything in writing for my husband last year (developed heart murmur after we bought travel insurance) but he did an email

[Mumdadlove]

Does your rheumatologist work privately, you could maybe speak to his secretary book a phone consultation with your consultant, if you have your nhs letters etc, and hopefully he could do a letter that way, it would be worth the cost to have peace of mind, my consultant is great and has gone between NHS and private treatment for me, you are thankfully fit and well at the moment so sounds quite straight forward, you just want to go away and have a fantastic time and know that everything is covered, good luck

[GranOwl in reply to Mumdadlove]

Never thought of that Mumdadlove, I’ll try the Secretary again and ask if he does private work. And you’re right I feel well in myself at the moment or I wouldn’t be contemplating a holiday like this.

Thanks

[Broseley]

Hi, I'm in a similar situation in that I had to claim for cancelling my holiday last July due to a PMR flare on the day of departure. The insurance company want my full medical history from my GP. They haven't refused, but still haven't sent it!

In your case I would advise getting an appointment with your GP and while you're there, get him to write on your medical notes.

In desperation, I did the same, but he said all he could do was write a note to admin asking them to send my notes. Your case is simpler. Good luck!

[GranOwl in reply to Broseley]

Thanks Broadley, I did make an appointment with my GP once the receptionist phoned me back to say they don’t do these letters . I asked while I was with her and all she would do was to print out a summary of my medical history.

I hope you get sorted soon and you get reimbursed. Keep well

[Broseley in reply to GranOwl]

Some receptionists are less than helpful, some are better. Try getting an appointment with the Practice Manager instead, explain the situation. Some surgeries charge for doing letters, but if it's just a note on your records, that only takes a minute or so! Not unreasonable!

[GranOwl in reply to Broseley]

Thanks, never thought of that, although it is GP they are looking for

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Funnily enough, I was watching an old episode of "GPs behind closed doors" where someone was asking his GP for such a letter/form to be filled in and the GP basically said it was a pointless exercise - as he'd done one for someone who'd been suddenly taken ill 2 days after travelling!! But he also seemed to suggest that if he got it wrong the company would try to get their costs back from HIM.

Here all they ever ask is that you are fit to travel on the day but not a letter in advance. Our insurance does tend to be more expensive than in the UK though. Now I only travel in Europe or the UK and have cover as member of the local White Cross charity which covers everything including repatriation to here worldwide. They ask NO questions!

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for this information, I’ll check them out when this travel policy is up

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

I fear it isn't available to you - only for residents here in the region. My point was more that the UK insurances companies tend to be very different from outside the UK. We pay more - but we have fewer hoops to jump through.

[Pixix]

I had to cancel a holiday last year & my GP surgery charged me for writing a letter…I think it was £25. Maybe if you tell your surgery you are willing to pay for their service they may agree to it?!

[GranOwl in reply to Pixix]

I’m waiting on my GP phoning back, thanks for your help

[GranOwl in reply to Pixix]

thanks I’ll ask when they phone back.

[GranOwl]

hi everyone, just to say my Vascular Con, came through for me, a copy of his letter was e-mailed this morning stating my bloods from inflammatory point of view are currently unremarkable and at the moment he has no specific concerns regarding me travelling as long as I take my medication.

So now that I’ve paid an extra £400 to the insurance company apparently I’m going on holiday.

Thank you all so much for your advice and support.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

"So now that I’ve paid an extra £400 to the insurance company" - er, why? Normally additional events that occur AFTER the policy was taken out are covered until the end of that policy, They can put the price up for the renewal. I would question that. I don't pay that for a no questions asked cover worldwide. But I am outside rip-off Britain.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to GranOwl]

an extra £400

What? And why?

[GranOwl]

I never even questioned it and tbh after last week I was just relieved to still be going on holiday. It’s an annual policy so I’m assuming this will cover any additional trips as well within the term. 😅

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

But we don't think you should have to pay it this year - next year if you renew is another matter. It sounds as if someone has conflated your query with a new policy request - which it isn't.

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

They’ve also said if I want to travel again on this policy I must get in touch first before booking anything else.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to GranOwl]

I'd be searching for a new provider...they seem to have forgotten who's the client and who's providing the service😏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

I agree with DL - and I might write to Trading Standards and the Ombudsman as well.

[GranOwl in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for this, nothing ventured nothing gained.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GranOwl]

Indeed. Or go to the media - reputation is a lot for them.

[GranOwl]

I think you’re right, in the up side I got £300 back from them as I claimed for missing a theatre weekend to Glasgow for hubby’s birthday.