Can you get Travel Insurance if you are on Kidney Dialysis?

Problems with your kidneys, whether that’s kidney failure or an acute kidney condition, may mean you need to undergo regular dialysis treatment to filter and clean the blood.

When you’re travelling overseas, it’s important to make sure you’ll have access to medical care for the duration of your journey.

Organising travel insurance, like planning the rest of the trip, may also require more preparation. That’s because kidney problems which require dialysis are likely to be considered pre-existing medical conditions which may not be automatically covered by all insurers.

If you’re planning a holiday overseas and you undergo dialysis treatment, this guide outlines what you need to know to find the right travel insurance for you.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance can provide you with cover for unexpected emergencies overseas, including but not limited to:

• Medical emergencies – such as breaking a bone or becoming seriously injured or ill overseas.
• Unexpected cancellations – if you have to cancel your holiday due to a medical or family emergency, your flights, cruise or other bookings may be covered.
• Loss, theft or damage to luggage and personal effects – if your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, travel insurance can provide cover for the loss.

Remember to refer to the travel insurer's Product Disclosure Statement for full benefit details as cover will usually differ depending on the type of policy that you choose..

Can I get travel insurance if I’m a dialysis patient?

It is possible to find travel insurance as a dialysis patient. 

However, it’s important to realise that not all travel insurance policies will provide cover automatically. Travel insurance will generally fall into one of the following categories:

1) Pre-existing medical conditions are automatically covered

Some travel insurers provide cover for a range of pre-existing medical conditions. Check with your travel insurer if your medical condition can be covered under their policies.

2) Cover can be purchased for an additional premium

You can ask for a customised quote which can include cover for your pre-existing medical condition. You may be asked to provide some information about your dialysis treatment or complete a brief medical assessment over the phone or online.

Fast Cover offers medical screening for travellers with existing medical conditions and may be able to provide you with cover if you’re a dialysis patient. Check out their Medical Conditions page for more information about medical screening for your existing medical condition, including the period of time that you need to consider when declaring your medical condition and information about the General Exclusions that may apply*.

3) Cover for your condition is not included

This means medical expenses which arise as a direct result of your pre-existing condition would not be covered, but completely unrelated incidents may still be covered.

You should check out the relevant PDS as policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits will apply.

Is it difficult to get travel insurance for dialysis treatment?

Finding the right travel insurance with the right cover within your budget can take a bit of research.

Generally, completing medical assessments for travel insurance where you can add on cover for dialysis treatments doesn’t take a long time. With most insurers, you can get a quote within minutes over the phone after answering a few questions about your condition.

Can you get cover automatically with the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement?

If you’re travelling to a country that’s part of the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, you may have cover for the cost of essential medical treatment. You may be eligible for subsidised health care.

Countries included in the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement include:

• New Zealand
• The United Kingdom
• The Republic of Ireland
• The Netherlands
• Sweden
• Norway
• Finland
• Belgium
• Italy
• Malta
• Slovenia

Check the full list on the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement website to stay up-to-date with any changes to this list.

Do I need to disclose my condition as a dialysis patient?

If your pre-existing medical condition is not covered by your travel insurance policy, you will not have cover for any related medical expenses that arise overseas.

In other words, if you were to experience any complications overseas, you would have to pay the medical costs for emergency treatment or hospitalisation out of your own pocket.

That’s why it’s important to disclose your kidney condition and dialysis treatment when you purchase travel insurance. Some insurers allow you to do this by completing a medical assessment or you can choose to purchase a policy that doesn’t include cover for your kidneys.

Do I need to disclose if I’ve had a kidney operation or transplant?

This will depend on each travel insurer, and the time frame that they require you to consider when declaring a medical condition. The answer would likely be “yes”, but you should check the relevant PDS for the timeframe that is required to report your kidney operation or transplant. This information may affect your travel insurance policy, not only in terms of your overseas emergency medical expenses, but also whether or not you’re covered if you need to cancel your trip if you’re not able to travel because you experience complications with your condition, so it’s important to declare it if the travel insurer requires you to.

You may find that if you’ve had a kidney transplant, some travel insurers may not offer you a policy due to the risks of medical emergencies occurring, or may be able to offer you cover if you complete a medical screening.

Always refer to the insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement to find out if there are any limitations to the cover provided by your travel insurance policy.

What won’t I be covered for if I don’t disclose my pre-existing kidney condition?

If you don’t disclose or purchase cover for your pre-existing kidney condition, you will generally not be covered for any medical expenses related to the condition.

This may include:

• Overseas emergency medical assistance
• Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses
• Daily hospital cash allowance benefit
• Cancellation costs

Benefits and exclusions may differ depending on your travel insurance provider and type of policy. Always read the PDS or ask if you're not sure.

Travelling with dialysis? Remember these tips:

The below is general advice only and is not intended to replace the advice from a medical practitioner or health care professional.

1. Plan ahead – schedule any blood tests or dialysis treatments you’ll need to get done.
2. Consider purchasing travel insurance – even if you’re going to a country that's part of the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, travel insurance may still offer important benefits.
3. Keep a recent letter from your doctor with information about your condition and treatment at all times – just in case!
4. Organise your prescription medications – make sure you have more than enough for the duration of your trip in case you’re delayed getting home. Also check your medications are legal and readily available at your destination.
5. Never put medication or your prescriptions in your checked luggage – replacing these may be difficult if your bags are lost.
6. Be careful what you eat and drink overseas – food poisoning or a gastro virus can cause further health complications.
7. Register with Smartraveller – register your itinerary to receive up-to-date travel advice and consular assistance if an emergency occurs.

Travelling as a dialysis patient may require a little more research and planning ahead, but it doesn’t have to stop you from travelling altogether.

Whether you’re travelling interstate or overseas for business or a conference, taking that worldwide trip of a lifetime, or travelling to attend a wedding, family gathering or reunion with friends, it is possible to travel and continue dialysis treatment away from home.

Finding travel insurance is not only possible, but maybe even an essential travel accessory to ensure you’re covered for any potential incidents or medical emergencies overseas.

Remember to compare policy benefits carefully between each insurer and always read the Product Disclosure Statement so you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.

^*Stories are fictitious examples drawn from the experiences of Fast Cover travellers and staff. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.