Travelling with a heart-child

The Summer is now fast approaching and thoughts are turning to sunshine (cross fingers) and holidays.  Here is some information and tips to ensure you travel with peace of mind…

Europea Health Card

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is simply a pass available to people who are ordinarily a resident in the UK, allowing free or reduced cost medical treatment whilst on holiday within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.  Whilst this seems like an excellent facility to have, the benefits of the EHIC can be limited and may not cover all the things you might expect, so should not be relied on solely as a means of getting emergency medical treatment in Europe.

It’s a misconception that the EHIC can be used as a substitute for travel insurance if you are travelling within Europe.  As it can only be used in “state” or “government run” hospitals or medical service facilities; anyone requiring privatised treatment would have to look to recover their costs from their travel insurance policy.  Bear in mind Spain, Cyprus and the Canary Islands operate a high level of private health care and whilst you could spend time searching for a government run hospital, it may not always be possible, especially in an emergency.  Should an ambulance be required, it may be out of your control which type of hospital your child is taken to, plus, in these areas, if you fail to show your EHIC before your child  receives treatment he/she will probably be treated as a private patient anyway, incurring medical costs.

Each of the EEA countries and Switzerland have their own rules.  In some treatment is free.  In some you have to pay part of the cost.  In others, you will need to pay the full cost and then claim a full or partial refund.  You may find simple treatments which are available for free on the NHS at home are not dealt with so generously in other countries.  These could include blood tests, X-rays and injections.

The most important factor is that the ECIH will never cover cancellation of a holiday in relation to a medical condition and will definitely not cover your expenses to get home or to be repatriated.  For further information about applying for an ECIH card and the parameters set for each participating country, visit the Department of Health website.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must when planning a holiday. There’s just one slight problem. When you have a child with a heart condition or any other pre-existing medical condition, standard or ordinary travel insurance, commonly sold by travel agents, banks and building societies etc, will often exclude cover for anything relating directly or indirectly to a diagnosed medical condition.

It is obviously vital that, especially when travelling abroad, travel insurance is taken out.  Not only does this protect you against financial loss, provide peace of mind and allow you to relax and really enjoy that well deserved break, but most importantly you know you will be covered in the case of a medical emergency (especially if it’s related to your child’s pre-existing condition/s) and will be covered for repatriation if necessary. So where can you buy travel insurance that will genuinely include cover for your condition(s)?

Freedom Insurance is a company we have discovered who specialise in this field and have extensive experience in providing travel insurance solutions for those with pre-existing conditions. Their one-stop-shop offers a confidential medical screening facility, quotation and policy fulfilment that can be conducted in a single phone call and better still, all quotes are based on current health status.

To avoid travel insurance shocks, there are a few things to be aware of and Vicki Moses, Marketing Manager of Freedom, gives some tips:

“Destination plays a key role in the premium calculation of travel insurance. Private health care areas like the USA, Canada and the Caribbean generate the highest prices, especially if you have medical conditions to declare. It’s wise to check the cost of insurance before you actually book your holiday.

The exclusion of cover for pre-existing medical conditions on basic travel insurance can apply to your travelling companions too. Although they may not have any medical conditions, it’s unlikely these schemes will pay out if your companion needs to cancel, curtail or stay longer at a destination due to your child’s medical condition causing trip complications. It’s advisable that all travelling companions are insured on the same specialist policy, eliminating gaps or grey areas in the cover.

Insurer’s terms will vary and whilst some will offer cover for your medical conditions the extent of cover may be limited and excesses may be high. Worst of all, they may impose an on-going health declaration/ warranty. This simply means you are duty bound to inform your insurer of any change in health status and if there is, they reserve the right to alter the terms, ask for an additional premium or void your policy altogether. I am very pleased to say, Freedom does not operate on on-going medical warranty so BE CERTAIN, buy a policy you can trust!”

For travel insurance advice and quotes contact Freedom on 01223 454 290 or visit www.freedominsure.co.uk.