Travel Insurance for Kidney Transplant patients

At Holiday Extras, we understand that the idea of travelling can appear to be a bit of a challenge when you have had chronic kidney (renal) failure and have undergone a kidney transplant. Finding the ideal travel insurance policy for you might seem one of too many things to consider when it really needn't be.

How do I declare my condition?

When taking out any travel insurance policy, we always ask if you have any pre-existing medical conditions and we like to keep things as straightforward as possible for you. We want to make sure you feel at ease when disclosing the sensitive details of your recent medical history.

Here are some examples of questions you might be asked when being screened for kidney failure and/if you've had a transplant:

Although medical travel insurance is completed via our online screening system, in some slightly more complicated cases, you might have to declare your condition over the phone to one of our brilliant insurance specialists.

Our policies:

We have just two policies, with four levels of cover: single-trip or annual multi-trip insurance; bronze, silver, gold and platinum. You can add extras on to your policy, such as gadget cover and wedding cover — both of which are automatically included in the Platinum level of cover.

Our top tips:

Diet

• One of the most enjoyable things about going on holiday is sampling local cuisine. If you've previously undergone dialysis treatment and after your kidney transplant, most people enjoy a much more varied diet.
• The NHS website recommends to keep a "low salt, high fibre diet" and to prevent food poisoning by avoiding unpasteurised cheese, milk or yoghurt, raw eggs, as well as undercooked meats and fish.

Medication

• Keep all of your medication in a clear plastic bag and its original packaging. That way, when you pass through security at an airport, it's all ready for inspection.
• Make sure you're well and truly stocked up on your immunosuppressants. These counteract your body's potential rejection of your new kidney.
• Travelling often involves different time zones depending on your destination and can disrupt your medication schedule. We would advise you consult with your doctor about your medical schedule before travelling.

If you've still got some questions about life post-kidney transplant, then check out the websites of the NHS and Kidney Research UK.