Backpacker Travel Insurance - Type 01 Diabetic

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lemharris

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hey all!

So I am just about to book my flights to start my backpacking adventure (3/6/9months...) to South East Asia. I was looking into my options for travel insurance to cover me for a trip to multiple countries without returning to the UK. Every price comparison site I have been onto are providing me with 0 insurance options, and when I went to get a quote from a random insurance site it came back with £1500-3000 as my options for insurance... Now I have never felt too restricted by my condition, but I am now suddenly freaking out that I do not have any options (other than the above mentioned quotation) to be covered for my trip. There are multi-trip annual insurance options, however I do not know if there will cover me for country hopping without returning to the UK.

Has anyone got any experience with a similar travel scenario to me, and have any advice for insurance/suggestions of insurance companies that aren't going to cost me a major bit of my savings to go travel the world?

Thanks in advance!
 
I think the problem is with the length of time you will be away, not with the diabetes. I have never been charged extra for declaring Type 1, but I've only wanted a standard travel insurance. Most annual multi trip ones limit the length of time you can be away to 30 days at a time, and single trip ones normally stipulate that you must begin the holiday in the U.K.
There must be specialist backpacker travel insurance providers, as it is a common thing for people to want to do. Have you tried asking Trailfinders? They are usually red hot about knowing the ins and outs of all sorts of travel.
 
Inka said:
Hi @lemharris I’ve used the company below for numerous trips. You can get a quote and see if it suits you. They cover medical conditions specifically:

https://www.allcleartravel.co.uk/

.
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Thanks for the suggestion! Allclear only provide single trip/multi-trip annual cover which will only cover for 45days per trip; so as @Robin has mentioned, this seems to be where my difficulties lie. I'll get onto the medical team at Trailfinders tomorrow and report back if there is any success!
 
As you are not coming back to the UK, how are you going to get your insulin and pump supplies if still on a pump? The NHS wont allow you any more than 3 mths worth of supplies?
 
Pumper_Sue said:
As you are not coming back to the UK, how are you going to get your insulin and pump supplies if still on a pump? The NHS wont allow you any more than 3 mths worth of supplies?
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I've had approval for extended supplies of my pump/cgm, and discussed about the countries available for delivery from these companies (so ending up in one of these countries as my supplies diminish). The insulin is another matter, where I will either have to source it out there or... well... come back, as the NHS won't release this to a friend/family member; but this is hopefully the worst case scenario.

I can't imagine a diabetic person hasn't gone on an extended break from the UK for more than 3months... surely not.
 
lemharris said:
Hey all!

So I am just about to book my flights to start my backpacking adventure (3/6/9months...) to South East Asia. I was looking into my options for travel insurance to cover me for a trip to multiple countries without returning to the UK. Every price comparison site I have been onto are providing me with 0 insurance options, and when I went to get a quote from a random insurance site it came back with £1500-3000 as my options for insurance... Now I have never felt too restricted by my condition, but I am now suddenly freaking out that I do not have any options (other than the above mentioned quotation) to be covered for my trip. There are multi-trip annual insurance options, however I do not know if there will cover me for country hopping without returning to the UK.

Has anyone got any experience with a similar travel scenario to me, and have any advice for insurance/suggestions of insurance companies that aren't going to cost me a major bit of my savings to go travel the world?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

If you are looking to head to SE Asia, when are you considering you will travel? At present, most places are still firmly closed to foreigners, only allowing returning nationals of their own countries. Exceptions seem to be for some package deals, but having done recent research for a couple of countries in that region, solo/independent travel is not permitted, and even transiting within countries can get tricky. Allegedly, sometime Q2 thinkg might get a little easier - all very fluffy and non-specific.

I am missing my tropical winters.

I have done longer term travel insurance (up to 9 months in a single trip), but I don't live with T1, and this was pre-Covid, which has changed so many things, including health insurance and cash asset requirements in many countries.

I hope you manage to sort something out.
 
lemharris said:
I can't imagine a diabetic person hasn't gone on an extended break from the UK for more than 3months... surely not.
Click to expand...

One member @trophywench (and husband) is partial to an extended schlep or two around Europe in a camper van (and is a pump user!), but I’m not sure if the trips last longer than 3 months.
 
AndBreathe said:
If you are looking to head to SE Asia, when are you considering you will travel? At present, most places are still firmly closed to foreigners, only allowing returning nationals of their own countries. Exceptions seem to be for some package deals, but having done recent research for a couple of countries in that region, solo/independent travel is not permitted, and even transiting within countries can get tricky. Allegedly, sometime Q2 thinkg might get a little easier - all very fluffy and non-specific.

I am missing my tropical winters.

I have done longer term travel insurance (up to 9 months in a single trip), but I don't live with T1, and this was pre-Covid, which has changed so many things, including health insurance and cash asset requirements in many countries.

I hope you manage to sort something out.
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Covid restrictions are of course a big impact one plans/planning; which has driven me to have a very fluid/flexible plan of where to go (especially as they change so quick and without any warning). However my initial stop is Sri Lanka which is currently achievable as a couple of friends flew out last week, then I will hopefully extend across to SE Asia; although this is all dependant on this insurance debacle.
 
lemharris said:
Covid restrictions are of course a big impact one plans/planning; which has driven me to have a very fluid/flexible plan of where to go (especially as they change so quick and without any warning). However my initial stop is Sri Lanka which is currently achievable as a couple of friends flew out last week, then I will hopefully extend across to SE Asia; although this is all dependant on this insurance debacle.
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Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, although not strictly in SE Asia, but let's not let my pedantry get in the way here.

I would suggest wherever you decide to go that you join the local (to that place) ex-pat online forum. There are lots of them around, because they will be able to give you information of things like obtaining insulin, if needs be. In some countries it is over the counter, and some countries only limited options, unless you are extremely lucky to be at a university hospital.

My insurance arrangements usually end up a blended arrangement between my medical insurance and travel insurance (via the same insurer and underwriter). That is very unusual due to the potential for double insuring, which can end up invalidating one policy or the other, but I happen to have some continuing cover from a former employer who is also a provider of this class of cover.

Whatever you do; don't skimp on cover.

Finally, a T1 friend of mine has used the Post Office for backpacker style insurance cover, so they might be worth a look. Have you looked at MoneySavingExpert? Annoying though he is, he has some good resources on his website.

Have a wonderful adventure.
 
AndBreathe said:
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, although not strictly in SE Asia, but let's not let my pedantry get in the way here.

I would suggest wherever you decide to go that you join the local (to that place) ex-pat online forum. There are lots of them around, because they will be able to give you information of things like obtaining insulin, if needs be. In some countries it is over the counter, and some countries only limited options, unless you are extremely lucky to be at a university hospital.

My insurance arrangements usually end up a blended arrangement between my medical insurance and travel insurance (via the same insurer and underwriter). That is very unusual due to the potential for double insuring, which can end up invalidating one policy or the other, but I happen to have some continuing cover from a former employer who is also a provider of this class of cover.

Whatever you do; don't skimp on cover.

Finally, a T1 friend of mine has used the Post Office for backpacker style insurance cover, so they might be worth a look. Have you looked at MoneySavingExpert? Annoying though he is, he has some good resources on his website.

Have a wonderful adventure.
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Thanks for your advice! I also completely noticed my mess-up on the SE Asia/Sri Lanka, but hit the post button too soon and hoped no one would pick up on it haha.

I have looked into the generic comparison sites (including MSE), and they all come back with 0 finds/options which was my first point of concern.

I've just looked at the Post Office, and they've come back with a quote of £870 for a 6month stint... a lot more affordable than the other companies I have been quoted by, but still quite a considerable cost! I completely agree however on the "don't skimp on cover" comment, so if it comes to it I may have to bite the bullet 😱.
 
Try Battleface

www.battleface.com

Home - battleface

TRAVEL INSURANCE BUILT JUST FOR YOU COVID-19 Medical expenses (for travellers 65 or under) COVID-19 Trip cancellation (for travellers 65 or under) FCDO ‘Non Essential Travel’ cover Purchase while already travelling Winter Sport Cover (optional) Activities and Sports (optional) GET A QUOTE...
www.battleface.com www.battleface.com
 
Whether or not you get your insulin sorted, I assume you are in the process of getting all the required vaccinations for those diseases which are endemic in some of those countries you are visiting such as cholera or typhoid, and you might also consider a Hepatitis B vaccination. And most of the backpacker hostels should supply you with a mosquito net in malarial areas.
 
Well - first thing is our extended trips have only ever been to western Europe and have never been that much longer than 3 months.

Second thing is - I have always relied on the E111/whatever it's called now, on the basis that the healthcare is always available anyway (cos it's very civilised) providing you have the readies ££££ to pay to initially consult a local GP, which we always have. (So take eg France, it costs approx £25 to see a GP if you are French anyway, hence would cost me or you the same should we need to) I've always managed to build up a stock of pump consumables before embarking on visits - but haven't been anywhere abroad at all for the last 2 years and can't see us going anywhere in the foreseeable future anyway - so I am no longer any sort of reliable source for this sort of info I'm afraid.
 
lemharris said:
Thanks for your advice! I also completely noticed my mess-up on the SE Asia/Sri Lanka, but hit the post button too soon and hoped no one would pick up on it haha.

I have looked into the generic comparison sites (including MSE), and they all come back with 0 finds/options which was my first point of concern.

I've just looked at the Post Office, and they've come back with a quote of £870 for a 6month stint... a lot more affordable than the other companies I have been quoted by, but still quite a considerable cost! I completely agree however on the "don't skimp on cover" comment, so if it comes to it I may have to bite the bullet 😱.
Click to expand...

You might also find the ex-pat fora could be useful for your travel insurances. Whilst most of the members will be folks living there, there will be others in your circumstances, or have relevant experiences.

Big adventures are important in life. Enjoy it to the full.
 
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