Visiting New Zealand with Vasculitis - Any advice please

[Investigator1]

Hi all, this post is full of ifs buts and maybes so I apologise in advance. Now the gloom surrounding COVID seems to be showing some signs of positivity due to vaccines etc I am planning a trip for 12 months time to visit relatives and friends in New Zealand for a month. I know that there could be travel restrictions and vaccine questions and rates of infection questions but taking all that away IF? There was some form of normality does anybody out there know what the medical situation would be for support again IF I needed some attention if there was a flare up or similar. I have seen they have a vasculitis foundation and believe they have an excellent Health System but would be interested if anybody has any information. It seems to me that if I was to travel long haul New Zealand would be a safer bet. Nick.

[PMRpro]

I do know that we have a lot of NZ links to members on the PMRGCAuk forum, both residents in NZ and people with GCA who have travelled there to family. Maybe put a post up there? It will of course also depend on your insurance and where in NZ you are going.

[Main1234]

When you need insurance have a look at Stay Sure we have used them for the US , guess they will have to cover Covid as well now. We always make sure we have extra steroids in case of a flare and usual medical letters and telephone numbers.

Enjoy the planning stage .

[PMRpro in reply to Main1234]

No insurance HAS to cover anything. Or if they do - no rules about how much they will charge for cover ...

[Main1234 in reply to PMRpro]

I actually mean do make sure you have Covid cover .. sorry did not make myself clear. We had a very reasonable cover last year from Stay Sure when we visited the US.

[PMRpro in reply to Main1234]

That is something that only an insurance company could tell you and I doubt many will have policies at present as it will also depend on Foreign Office travel advice. But the same applies - no insurance company MUST cover for anything, all insurance policies will have exclusions, and the risk with Covid is the cost would be very high if you were to require ICU care.

[lesleyg]

In January of this year, just pre-Covid, I was on a cruise around New Zealand. Unfortunately I contracted what was termed influenza A which sent me into septic shock or sepsis. First of all I have to praise the actions of the doctors and nurses on the ship but I can’t say enough for the medical system in New Zealand. I was disembarked from the ship in Napier and they have an extremely good hospital at Hastings Bay close by, with excellent doctors, (and this isn’t one of the major cities). I would happily travel to New Zealand again even having vasculitis. One very important thing to consider. Coming from Australia I almost didn’t take out insurance thinking that I would be covered by the New Zealand health system (which I was) but the cost of the medical treatment on the ship was $10,000.

[Pome]

The health system is pretty good here in NZ, we have to pay a fee to see a doctor but meds are free apart from a small dispensing fee. A doctors visit would cost you $90, you can find info on the reciprocal agreement between UK and NZ here, health.govt.nz/new-zealand-...