DVT travel insurance

If you’ve had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) then you will need to take all necessary precautions before you travel. Ensuring that you have an adequate travel insurance plan in place before you leave the UK is essential when planning your holiday. Having a pre-existing medical condition such as DVT doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your holidays.

With AllClear you will have access to our 24 hour emergency helpline to assist you no matter where you are, and our emergency medical expense benefit covers you up to £15 million for medical costs that may arise while you’re abroad. This cover includes costs of repatriation back to the UK if needed.

Do You Need Travel Insurance for DVT?

Any pre-existing medical condition that you have been diagnosed with will need to be declared on your medical insurance policy. Medical costs while travelling can be extremely high, this is why we need travel insurance before we leave home.

DVT can be associated with high altitude plane travel, so if you’re travelling by plane then it’s essential that you have the condition covered before you fly. Should you require attention while onboard the plane, this may cause the plane to divert and could be very costly in an emergency medical situation. You may even find that you are being treated in a country that you weren’t planning on going to if the medical emergency requires such immediate attention. A comprehensive travel insurance policy in place to protect you from unnecessary personal costs.

Do You Need to Declare a Historic Deep Vein Thrombosis?

However long ago after a DVT, if you are on some form of medication to prevent further thrombosis then you must let us know so we can get the adequate cover ready for you. If you don’t declare your historic DVT that you still take medication or have follow-up appointments for then this could result in you having to pay medical bills yourself. Let AllClear take the burden off with a simple, comprehensive insurance plan.

What will a Travel Insurance policy for Deep Vein Thrombosis/ DVT Include?

Your AllClear travel insurance plan will cover you up to £15million in emergency medical expenses. The unexpected cancellation of your holiday can also be covered as is the curtailment of your holiday, so should you have to return home early, you may find that a policy can cover you for any personal loss of finances. We offer cover for your personal property with your AllClear policy as well as optional extra cover for gadgets.

Benefits of AllClear Cover

Simple 3 step quote process

1. Call us or click a quote button on our site

2. Complete our simple medical screening process

3. Get your quotes

COVID-19 and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Jacqui Wise at the British Medical Journal reports that the thrombosis rate seen in COVID-19 patients is “remarkably high”. The rates of thrombosis in patients with Coronavirus seem to be a highly contributing factor in the COVID-19 fatality figures. BMJ goes on to state that, “Thrombosis is definitely contributing to the high mortality rate from covid, not only can it lead to a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal, but there are also higher rates of strokes and heart attacks.”

Roopen Arya, clinical director for haematology at King’s College Hospital added: “The extent of thrombosis we are seeing with covid is extraordinary, I would say that one third of those severely affected with Covid in critical care is a conservative estimate.”

People with a historic diagnosis of DVT are placed in the “clinically vulnerable” group but according to Thrombosis UK, “Having blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is not associated with an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19.” Thrombosis UK Medical Director
Professor Beverley Hunt OBE states that the occurrence of thrombosis in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is very high and patients in the UK will be required to be placed on adequate blood thinners in the event of COVID-19 hospitalisation.

AllClear Enhanced Coronavirus COVID-19 Cover

AllClear policies now include our enhanced Coronavirus travel insurance for medical expenses and associated costs and for cancellation with a COVID-19 positive test result. Our COVID-19 FAQs will give you more information regarding our Coronavirus cover.

Should You Speak to a Doctor about Flying after DVT?

According to the NHS, even if you’ve had DVT recently and are on medication for it, “your risk of developing DVT is low and there is no reason why you can’t travel, including long haul.”

However, they do recommend that you speak to your consultant and get the all clear before booking your flights as Professor Mark Whiteley of The Whiteley Clinic, a leading expert in the study of venous treatment and research, explains: “Flying is definitely associated with deep vein thrombosis, and much research has been done on this subject. The two main known reasons are the inactivity due to sitting still for long periods of time, and secondly the fact that the air is thinner at altitude. This means there are less oxygen molecules in the air, and so there is less oxygen in the bloodstream. This can affect the lining of the vein walls, predisposing to a DVT.”

The definitive answer of whether you can fly after DVT varies from person-to-person. Depending on how many clots you had; how bad they were; and the reasons why DVT developed. Your doctor may recommend that you don’t fly until after you’ve seen a specialist.

Some doctors will recommend that you take blood thinning medication such as warfarin before flying. These drugs will reduce your blood’s ability to clot and prevent existing clots from getting bigger.

How much will your Travel Insurance for Deep Vein Thrombosis/ DVT cost?

Insurance premiums are calculated by combining a number of different contributing factors. These will include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Your age at the time of travel
• Destination – the cost of medical treatment in the country/ countries you are visiting
• Duration of your trip
• Optional Extras – AllClear offer a variety of optional extras to enhance your policy. These will also affect your premium

AllClear Enhanced Cover and Optional Extras

Our AllClear policies can be tailored to suit you and your travelling parties specific needs. Our optional extras include cruise cover, winter sports cover, golf cover as well as gadget cover to name but a few. Cancellation cover can also be removed from an AllClear policy leaving you just covered for emergency medical expenses.

Do You Need a Single or an Annual Multi-Trip Policy?

Our hugely popular annual multi trip policies have helped save our customers money on insurance premiums over the years. Covering trips in the UK as well as abroad, our annual multi trip policy allows you to travel as often as you like over a 12 month period. Perfect for those last-minute holiday decisions. Alternatively we also offer a simple single trip policy as well with a maximum duration limit of 365 days! Whatever your plans AllClear will have the right policy for you.

Tips for Travelling after a DVT

If your doctor does give you the ok to fly, here are some extra precautions you can take:

• Wear Compression Stockings – it is one of the first things your doctor will recommend when flying with DVT and will help to improve blood flow in the legs. Compression stockings can be bought at the airport – some airlines even hand them out for free.
• Buy Seats with More Leg Room – If you have a history of DVT, you’re more likely to get it again if your legs are cramped during a long-haul journey. If it is not possible to buy a seat with more leg room, request an aisle seat. These typically have more leg room and will still allow you to stretch your legs out more.
• Wear Comfortable Clothes – When travelling, try to wear loose-fitting; comfortable clothes.Tight clothes can sometimes restrict circulation of the blood.
• Drink Plenty of Water – Not keeping hydrated could increase your blood volume , which leads to thickening and increases the chances of worsening your DVT. It’s also important to avoid excessive alcohol consumption whilst travelling as this can also lead to dehydration!
• Exercise in Your Seat – This doesn’t mean that you have to start rattling about in your chair. Simply moving your legs and flexing your feet can improve blood flow throughout the lower half of your body, lowering the risk of making your DVT worse. Also, try not to cross your legs while you’re sitting.
• Take Regular Walking Breaks – When you fly after DVT, it’s important that you take regular breaks from sitting with your legs bent for a sustained period of time. Where possible, try to avoid storing baggage on the floor where your feet are. Doing so can often lead to a restriction in your movements.

When you can fly after DVT – make sure you have the COVID-19 travel essentials

To ensure you’re ‘airport ready’ it is recommended that you take with you the following essential items.

• A Face Covering – Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, you are now expected to wear a face mask in public spaces. Click here for more information on face coverings.
• Antibacterial Gel – Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and others from Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here for more information on hand washing.

However, when flying it may not always be possible to wash your hands as frequently. Antibacterial gel works in a similar way to soap, inactivating the virus by breaking down the lipid layer.

You’ll need an antibacterial gel that’s at least 60% alcohol concentration. Click here for more information on hand cleansers.

Why Choose AllClear for Deep Vein Thrombosis/ DVT Travel Insurance?

We hope you have found this AllClear guide to travel insurance for DVT helpful in making your holiday insurance decisions. We at AllClear offer award-winning cover, rated 4.9 on Trustpilot by our ever-increasing base of loyal customers. We offer expert guidance when choosing your policy and are always happy to go the extra mile when it comes to our customer’s satisfaction.

When travelling with AllClear you can travel with peace of mind knowing that you are covered by the experts.

Read AllClear Trustpilot Reviews

By Daniel Davies – AllClear Medical & Travel Content Creator. “It’s our job to ensure our customers feel secure and confident when choosing their insurance policy. That’s why at AllClear we go the extra mile to keep our customers as well informed as possible!”. 29/1/2021

Edited Letitia Smith MSc