Asthma Travel Insurance | Medical travel Insurance guide

If you love travelling, don't let asthma keep you at home.

If you are having difficulty in finding travel insurance to cover asthma, AllClear could help? We specialise in providing travel insurance for asthmatics. We could help if you are only looking for mild asthma travel insurance or severe asthma travel insurance. Every year we provide asthma travel insurance for thousands of holidaymakers.

It's important you have travel insurance to cover your asthma in case you need treatment for an asthma attack or complications from asthma while you're abroad. You may even need to cancel your trip because of an asthma flare up and will want to make sure you are covered for this cancellation.

Asthma travel insurance – Cover and Benefits

We operate medical screening online for travellers with asthma, or you can speak to our highly trained UK call centre team on the phone instead. You can then get a range of quotes from leading specialist medical travel insurance providers so you can choose the cover that suits you best. We offer single trip, or annual travel insurance, and we can provide travel insurance for over 85's too.

Click here for travel insurance to cover asthma.

Tips for travelling with asthma

Planning: Is very important. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor before you go, leaving plenty of time for any extra preparations. Are you visiting family members with a pet that could make your asthma worse? If so, think about contingency plans like staying in a hotel or making sure that the pet stays out of your bedroom. If you are staying in a hotel, make sure you get a non-smoking room and try to find a hotel with air conditioning. You'll breathe best in a clean, cool room.

Destination: Think about your destination – factors like destination or humidity could make your asthma worse. If you're seeking sun, remember that warm climates also tend to be humid - which makes them ideal for pollen and mould, which can be difficult if you have allergic asthma. If your asthma is triggered by cold, you may find a drop in air temperature a problem. Air pollution particularly in Far Eastern cities may also add to breathing difficulties.

Asthma Travel Insurance: Book your asthma travel insurance well in advance. Asthma causes the airways of the lungs (the bronchi) to become inflamed and swollen. If you have asthma, the bronchi are more sensitive than normal and certain substances or triggers that you might encounter on your travels can irritate them. That is why you will need specialist medical travel insurance to cover for your holiday.

Medication: Take additional supplies of any asthma medication in case it is lost or damaged. Keep your medication in your hand luggage with you, if possible. However you should always comply with current airline restrictions regarding the carriage of medicines. Contact your departure airport or visit their web site for up to date information. Keep medications in their original containers and within easy reach, in case you have an asthma attack. Also, keep a list of your medications and dosage schedule in your wallet or purse. If you need oral steroids for flares, pack a course of steroids to have in case you develop worsening symptoms. If you're travelling to a different time zone, ask your doctor how your medication schedule will be affected. Is it ok to skip a day, to adjust for a time difference? Is it better to keep with your regular schedule, which means taking medication at a different time of day while you're away?

Speak to your Doctor: Ask your health care provider to write a brief letter that explains your medical history, medications, and general asthma management plan, and consider getting a translated version as well. Keep the letter in your wallet or purse. That way, any health care provider can get a summary of your health status. Be sure to get the name of a qualified doctor and hospital wherever you're travelling to. Your health care provider may be able to suggest someone.

Give yourself a check-up: Does your asthma seem under control? If not, now's the time to make changes. Review your asthma management plan with your doctor. Make sure you're avoiding the right triggers, taking the right amount (and kind) of medication, and using your inhaler properly.

Physical activity: Scuba diving is not recommended for asthma sufferers and should be avoided. If you suffer from exercise-induced asthma could be affected by the exertion of climbing or walking and exploring your holiday destination.

Immunisations: Travellers with asthma can usually receive the immunisations recommended for their particular destination resort. Any recent use of high dose oral steroids should be mentioned if attending for immunisation. Annual influenza immunisation is recommended for those with asthma who require continuous or repeated use of inhaled or oral steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission. Pneumococcal immunisation is also recommended for those with severe asthma who require continuous or frequently repeated use of steroid tablets.

Air Travel: If you have well controlled asthma and are fit you should have no problems with air travel. If you have severe asthma, you may have difficulties due to reduced air pressure within the cabin. As a guide, if you can walk for 50 meters at a steady pace without feeling breathless or needing to stop, you should be able to cope with the reduced cabin pressure. If you cannot do this, then medical advice must be sought before travel. Oxygen can be arranged for air travel if required but has to be confirmed prior to departure and some airlines will charge. Certain airlines will not carry passengers with breathing problems requiring additional oxygen.

Altitude: Generally Asthma sufferers have no greater tendency to suffer the effects of altitude or acute mountain sickness than others. If the Asthma is well controlled, once acclimatised most people should be able to cope at high altitude. However, high altitude may affect the performance of inhalers.

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Information Sources on Travelling with Asthma:

www.ivillage.co.uk

Asthma UK

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Travelling with medical conditions, want to know more?