Travel insurance - Tips & Advice - Holiday health
You’ve spent a chunk of money on your holiday and have been looking forward to it for ages – so the last thing that you want once you go away is to fall ill. Unfortunately, this is what happens to thousands of people each year. From minor stomach bugs to potentially life-threatening diseases, there is a whole range of illnesses that can befall the unwitting traveller.
The good news is that as people travel more and more, they are becoming more sophisticated and knowledgeable about certain diseases. And thankfully, these days there are plenty of precautions you can take before you leave home to help reduce the risk of contracting something while you're away.
Immunisations
Travelling to certain countries brings risks from insect-borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. If you are concerned that the country you are visiting might put you at risk from such diseases then it’s vital that you visit your doctor in order to get the right vaccination or medication.
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) is an invaluable resource when it comes to finding out exactly what risks are present in which countries. Not only can you search on a country by country basis, but it has the latest updates on any outbreaks or epidemics.
You will need to make sure that you visit your doctor well in advance as it may take weeks or months for a vaccine to become effective. You may also have to start malaria tablets in advance of your journey. It’s important to note that not all doctors can give yellow fever vaccinations and you may have to go to a different vaccination centre.
NaTHNaC also has some very useful information on how to reduce the risk of insect bites – with advice on repellents, clothing, screening and knock down sprays.
Prescription medicine
If you're taking prescription medicines, then you should check with your doctor whether you'd be able to get them while you're away. If not, you should make sure you have an adequate supply before you leave.
It’s also important that you check whether you can take your medicines in and out of the UK or the country you are visiting – some medicines available over the counter in the UK may be controlled in other countries. Again, check with your doctor.
It’s also possible that you might need a letter from your doctor or a personal health record card giving details about the medicine. Always carry medicines in a correctly labelled container. If you're given any medicines while you're away, try to find out if it's legal to bring them back into the UK. If you're in any doubt, declare them at Customs when you return.
It’s also advisable to keep a written record of any medical conditions you have, and the proper names – not just the trade names – of any medication you are taking.
Travel insurance
In the event that you become ill while away, it’s vital that you have adequate travel insurance in place that covers you for the areas of the world that you are headed to. The cost of repatriation and medical assistance can be high, so make sure that you are properly covered and have the right travel insurance policy in place.
You also need to make your travel insurer aware of any pre-existing medical conditions before you travel. If you fail to do this and become ill whilst on holiday, your travel insurance may be invalid. Find out more about how this affects Direct Line travel insurance policyholders in our article about pre-existing medical conditions.
Related information:
Guidance on pre-existing medical conditions – you may need to give us details before you travel – find out whether this applies to you.
Avoiding disease abroad – more information on the types of disease that may require immunisation and the holiday destinations where you’re more at risk from serious disease.
Travel medical insurance – find out what a Direct Line travel insurance policy will cover if you do have an accident or become ill while you’re on holiday.
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