Travel Insurance To Cover Rare Diseases
Travel insurance that covers for rare diseases such as CIDP, Haemophilia and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia.
Free Spirit is different from standard travel insurance policies as we can provide essential cover for people with medical needs. We look at people’s health on an individual basis as we are aware everyone is unique and we will try and cover the majority of medical conditions including rare diseases and a terminal prognosis.
Rare Conditions Covered By Free Spirit
Some rare diseases and disorders Free Spirit covers:
Aplastic Anaemia
Aplastic Anemia is a serious blood condition. It occurs when bone marrow can’t create a sufficient amount of new blood cells for the body to function as normal.
CIDP
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a long-term and rare type of autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disease is when the body damages its own tissues (myelin sheaths).
Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD)
Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD) is rare. It alters how our body uses and stores glycogen, (sugar or glucose). Glycogen is stored in the liver where it is broken down into glucose for energy. However, if someone lives with GSD, they’re lacking an enzyme that breaks down glycogen.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bar-ray) syndrome is a condition which affects your nerves, senses and movement, as well as your breathing and heartbeat. Your arms and legs are usually affected first before other body parts.
Haemophilia
Haemophilia changes the blood’s ability to clot. Unfortunately, people living with haemophilia don’t have as many clotting factors as needed to make their blood sticky and form a clot when they cut themselves. So, they often bleed for longer.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) triggers overgrowth or tumors on one or more of your endocrine glands. The glands are part of the endocrine system, which creates hormones to control specific body functions. The tumors or growths from MEN can either be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous.
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare condition that is inherited. It affects various organs and worsens with time. Often there are problems with mucus build-up before inflammation occurs throughout the airways and infections appear in the lungs, nose, sinuses and ears.
7,000 Rare Conditions
Despite there being 7,000 rare conditions that affect less than 1 in 2,000 people across the UK, Free Spirit is passionate about giving anyone with any condition the freedom to travel, with confidence. Check out the Genetic Alliance UK website, which shares more information about the number of rare conditions Free Spirit aims to provide cover for.
Why Choose Free Spirit To Cover You?
- Most medical conditions and disabilities covered
- No upper age limit for most destinations on Single Trip and Annual Multi-trip policies
- Choice of several cover options
- Single trips covered up to 115 days (45 days if aged 76 years or over)
- Annual Multi-trip provides cover for any number of trips during the year – travel up to 32 days per trip (Standard and Super cover) and 45 days (Super Duper)
Get a Medical Travel Insurance Quote
With a Free Spirit medical travel insurance policy, you gain the peace of mind to travel knowing that you and your medical condition is fully covered.
Our Guide To Rare Disease Travel Insurance
If you live with a rare disease, disorder, or any other medical condition, the important part of buying travel insurance is to get the right cover. The last thing you want is to purchase a policy only to find it doesn’t cover the things you need. Should anything go wrong while on holiday, your Free Spirit insurance policy could be your saviour!
Why Is It Important To Cover Your Rare Disease Before You Travel?
It is not a legal requirement to buy specialist rare disease travel insurance when travelling. However, should you have a medical emergency, you could have to pay thousands of pounds in medical costs or even repatriation charges if medically necessary.
There are many standard policies available at very cheap prices, however, check the policy wording carefully! It is possible they will not include the cover you need (or indeed may exclude existing medical conditions altogether!) which could leave you with hefty bills, especially in the event you have to cancel because of your conditions or need emergency assistance abroad.
Top Tips For Buying The Best Insurance For Travelling With A Rare Disease
- Always add your family and travelling companions to your policy. They too could claim if you needed to cancel your holiday because of your medical condition or if it had to be cut short while away because you became unwell.
- Buy holiday insurance through a specialist provider as they can be more sympathetic to your unique medical problems and these policies are specially designed for people like you.
- Consider changing your destination to Europe rather than the USA, Canada, or the Caribbean. Medical costs can be very expensive in these areas of the world and repatriation is far from cheap. This doesn’t mean we can’t cover you outside Europe, however, be prepared for slightly higher premiums.
- Check that your policy covers not just emergency medical and cancellation costs but your personal belongings and travel documents. Your home insurance cover limits may not be sufficient to cover your travel baggage. If your flight is delayed does it cover you for travel delay or journey disruption? In the event, you lose your prescribed medication or medical aids, are these covered?
- Check the excess you will have to pay in the event of a claim. Some standard policies with cheap prices may be tempting but they may have a high excess which could catch you out!
We’re On Hand To Help You
Free Spirit has a dedicated UK-based customer service team to answer any questions and help with your inquiries. If you would prefer to speak to us on 02392 419 080 your call will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Please read the Insurance Policy for the full terms, exclusions, and conditions of this specialist medical travel insurance cover to make sure it’s suitable for your needs.
Customer reviews
″Holiday travellers with medical conditions, look no further than ‘Free Spirit’. After trying five other companies with little satisfaction I came across Free Spirit. I spoke immediately to a real person who took me through screening with courtesy, sensitivity and efficiency giving me all the security I needed and most importantly, a realistic price. Couldn’t be better!″