Travel Insurance for COPD Patients
Getting travel insurance when you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can often be challenging, with insurers potentially quoting higher premiums. At Holiday Extras, we want to ensure your pre-existing medical condition won't inhibit you enjoying your holiday to its fullest.
Our medical travel insurance is available on both single trip and annual policies at four distinct cover levels. Cover is available whether you're travelling in the UK, Europe or worldwide. If you're planning a cruise and need cover, Holiday Extras also offers medical cover for cruises. We cover the majority of pre-existing medical conditions and all conditions will be considered. This includes COPD.
Why choose Holiday Extras for your COPD travel insurance?
- - Over 25 years experience selling travel insurance.
- - Voted best insurance provider 12 years running.
- - Tailored policies to suit your personal requirements.
- - UK-based contact centre and 24/7 helpline.
- - All medical conditions considered.
How do I declare my condition?
To declare any pre-existing medical conditions, simply enter your travelling details into the search form at the top of this page and you'll be directed through to our medical screening process. Answer the questions regarding your COPD honestly, as they are designed to provide us with enough information about your condition so we can calculate the most suitable policy for you. This will also be crucial should you need to make a claim that pertains to your medical condition. If you would prefer to speak to someone directly, this can also be done via our friendly insurance team by calling our UK based landline.
Some of the questions you may be asked include:
- How many medicines are prescribed for your breathing condition (count each inhaler as one medicine)?
- How many hospital admissions have you had for your breathing condition in the last year?
- How short of breath do you get when you are walking on the flat?
- Have you ever been prescribed oxygen other than when you are in hospital?
- Have you ever been a smoker?
- In the last year have you had a chest infection or an episode of pneumonia?
Can you fly with mild COPD?
Most people without any form of respiratory condition will experience a drop in oxygen saturation during a long-haul flight. At the most, this results in drowsiness which usually goes away once they are back on the ground.
For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease however, a long-haul flight at higher elevations may result in a more substantial drop in oxygen saturations, with symptoms including headaches and muscle cramps.
If you are unsure as to whether you fall into the minority of COPD sufferers that need extra measures when taking a flight, then the best thing to do is to visit your doctor before the departure date. You can find out from your doctor whether your oxygen requirements will change at higher elevations, and they may also be able to prescribe a refill on your COPD medications. If your doctor recommends supplementary oxygen during flight, then be sure to contact the airline a few weeks in advance before the date of departure, to find out their policies on supplementary oxygen.
There are also some simple steps you can take to ensure you have a comfortable flight as a COPD sufferer:
- Carry your oxymeter with you at all times during the flight so you can frequently measure your oxygen saturations.
- If you notice saturations falling below 90, begin pursed lip breathing.
- Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine, before, during or directly after the flight
Tips for travelling with COPD
Speak to your doctor before travelling
Your first port of call should be to consult your doctor before travelling. They will be able to give you advice not only in preparation for your trip, but also while away too. This includes the aforementioned advice about flying with COPD. They will also be able to provide you with a doctors note confirming your condition, as well as any medications you are currently taking and their doses. This may help in securing medication abroad should you need it.
Do your own independent COPD research
There's a wealth of information online concerning travelling with COPD. Some great examples of this include the British Lung Foundation, COPD Foundation and Healthline, all offering up useful advice for the entirety of your trip.
Get vaccinated
As a COPD sufferer, you should be vaccinated against pneumonia and be having a yearly flu jab. If you haven't had these vaccinations yet, it's advisable to speak to your doctor about the best time to have them.
Take into account your environment
Find out what sort of climate and weather your destination experiences. If you are visiting an urban location, remember that many cities outside of Europe have more lax pollution restrictions and experience excessive smog and haze at certain times of the year. Taking basic precautions, like wearing a dust filtering mask may greatly reduce your discomfort. Additionally, areas with higher altitiude, such as mountainous regions can make exascerbate existing breathing issues.
- Find more information about cover for your condition below:
- Medical Insurance Homepage
- Allergies Travel Insurance
- Angina Travel Insurance
- Arthritis Travel Insurance
- Asthma Travel Insurance
- Brain Tumour Travel Insurance
- Breast Cancer Travel Insurance
- Broken Bones Travel Insurance
- Cancer Travel Insurance
- COPD Travel Insurance
- Crohn's Disease Travel Insurance
- Dementia Travel Insurance
- Depression Travel Insurance
- Diabetes Travel Insurance
- Disability Travel Insurance
- DVT Travel Insurance
- Epilepsy Travel Insurance
- Fibromyalgia Travel Insurance
- Heart Condition Travel Insurance
- High Blood Pressure Travel Insurance
- HIV Travel Insurance
- Gall Stones Travel Insurance
- Lung Cancer Travel Insurance
- Lupus Travel Insurance
- MS Travel Insurance
- Myeloma Travel Insurance
- Prostate Cancer Travel Insurance
- Stroke Travel Insurance
- Children with medical conditions:
- Travel Insurance Child with Medical Conditions
- Travel Insurance for Child with Autism
- Travel Insurance for Child with Cystic Fibrosis
- Travel Insurance for Child with Heart Conditions
- Travelling with a Disabled Child
- Child Travelling with Medication
- Additional information:
- Do you have to declare medical conditions for travel insurance?
- Are mental health conditions classed as a pre-existing medical condition?
- What is classed as a pre-existing medical condition?
- What medical conditions can stop me from flying?
- Travelling with Arthritis
- Travelling with Diabetes
- Travelling with Medication
- Guide to Flying with Back Pain
- Which countries have the best medical care?
- Deep Vein Thrombosis when Travelling
- Senior Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions
- Travel vaccinations:
- Travel Vaccinations
- BCG Tuberculosis Vaccine
- Cholera Vaccine
- Hepatitis A Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
- Meningitis Vaccine
- Polio Tetanus and Diphtheria Vaccine
- Rabies Vaccine
- Typhoid Vaccine
- Yellow Fever Vaccine
- Upgrade your policy with extra cover to suit how you like to travel:
- Business Travel Insurance
- Gadget Travel Insurance
- Cruise Travel Insurance
- Golf Travel Insurance
- Wedding Travel Insurance
- Excess Waiver Travel Insurance
- Car Hire Excess Cover
- Extreme Sports Travel Insurance
- Water Sports Travel Insurance
- Winter Sports Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance homepage
- Travel insurance FAQs
- Our cover levels:
- Basic cover policy
- Standard cover policy
- Premium cover policy
- Our policies:
- Single Trip Travel Insurance
- Annual Travel Insurance
- Latitude Medical Travel Insurance
- Coach Travel Insurance
- European Travel Insurance
- Worldwide Travel Insurance
- Cheap Travel Insurance
- Compare Travel Insurance
- Cheap Travel Insurance Europe
- Cheap Travel Insurance Worldwide
- Family travel:
- Children's Travel Insurance
- Family Travel Insurance
- Pregnancy Travel Insurance
- Single Parent Travel Insurance
- Under 16 Travel Insurance
- Under 18 Travel Insurance
- Single-Trip Family Travel Insurance
- Annual Family Travel Insurance
- Over 50's Travel Insurance
- Over 65's Travel Insurance
- Over 65's Travel Insurance
- Over 70's Travel Insurance
- Over 75's Travel Insurance
- Over 80's Travel Insurance
- Over 85's Travel Insurance
- Student travel:
- Backpacker Travel Insurance
- Gap Year Travel Insurance
- Nomad Travel Insurance
- School Trip Travel Insurance
- Student Travel Insurance
- Volunteering Abroad Travel Insurance
- Working Holiday Insurance
- Sports cover:
- Sports Travel Insurance
- Adventure Travel Insurance
- Camping Travel Insurance
- Football Travel Insurance
- Horse Riding Travel Insurance
- Hiking Travel Insurance
- Kayaking Travel Insurance
- Kitesurfing Travel Insurance
- Motorcycle Travel Insurance
- Mountain Biking Travel Insurance
- Off-piste Ski Travel Insurance
- Safari Travel Insurance
- Sailing Travel Insurance
- Scuba Diving Travel Insurance
- Ski Travel Insurance
- Snowboarding Travel Insurance
- Surfing Travel Insurance
- Trekking Travel Insurance
- Windsurfing Travel Insurance
- Further information:
- Annual Cruise Travel Insurance
- Brexit and Travel
- Couple's Travel Insurance
- EHIC Information
- End Supplier Failure Cover
- Group Travel Insurance
- Holiday Cancellation Insurance
- Independent Travel Insurance
- Interrail Travel Insurance
- International Travel Insurance
- Long Term Travel Insurance
- Senior Travel Insurance
- Travel Health Travel Insurance
- Weekend Travel Insurance
- What Happens If You Miss Your Flight?
- Travel insurance advice for your destination:
- European Travel Insurance
- Worldwide Travel Insurance
- UK
- Africa
- Australia
- Austria
- Bali
- Bangkok
- Barcelona
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Budapest
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Caribbean
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- Czech-Republic
- Denmark
- Dubai
- Dublin
- Ecuador
- Edinburgh
- Egypt
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Halong Bay Vietnam
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Ibiza
- Iceland
- India
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- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kenya
- Lanzarote
- Lapland
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- Marjorca
- Marrakesh
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Orleans
- New York
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Peru
- Philippines
- Prague
- Romania
- Russia
- Scotland
- Singapore
- Spain
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Tenerife
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uganda
- USA
- Vietnam
- e-Passport
- Visa Waiver Program
- ESTA
- B1 visa
- B2 visa
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 828848.
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is provided by Taurus Insurance Services, an insurance intermediary licenced and authorised in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission under Permission Number 5566 and authorised to passport general insurance intermediary services into the UK and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK under registration number 444830.
The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE. Great Lakes Insurance SE is a German insurance company with its headquarters at Königinstrasse 107, 80802 Munich. UK Branch office: 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC3M 5BN, company number SE000083. Great Lakes Insurance SE, UK Branch, is authorised and regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht. Deemed authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number: 769884. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.