This post could possibly be seen as just an excuse to put a gorgeous pic of Fiji in (and it partly is – ahhhh, wouldn’t you love to be going there!).
However I wanted to mention a couple of things about travel insurance which I’ve learnt lately.
1. Make sure you have disclosed that you are a T1 diabetic (sorry T2s and gestationals I’m not sure what the story is here for you)
2. I recently found out that you also need to get extra cover or mention that you have an insulin pump. I’m going to Melbourne for a few days at the end of the month (last child free holiday!) and have already booked travel insurance but have just emailed them again to find out what the story is with the insulin pump. Will let you know how I get on.
(on another insurance note: I don’t think the group of us on this blog actually got to the bottom of this, but it’s probably worth itemising your insulin pump on your house and contents insurance too: I’ve had both my Cozmo and Animas listed and it doesn’t cost any extra).
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Chris wrote
I am going to the Surfers Paradise in about 6 weeks. I am also taking an extra pump with me (on loan from NZMS). Insurance for each pump is costing me $171.00 (total $342.00).
Last year I went to Cairns and Adelaide (2 separate trips) and also Rarotonga ( the Cook Islands was $30.00 cheaper per pump for insurance).
So insurance is not cheap however I prefer to pay it (and to have a spare pump) rather than have to go back to MDI whilst overseas. Travelling with a pump is so much easier.
Sianne wrote
Hi Guys
I phoned up my Insurance company and they said “yes you should have the pump listed seperately”. The first person I spoke to said it wasn’t necessary so it pays to check.
Whichever travel insurance policy you go with I would check the wording re pre existing conditions. They all differ. I went with Southern Cross as the wording specifically mentioned Type 1 was covered and gave a definition of controlled which most policies don’t do.
By controlled, we mean:
You have not had a change in medication or treatment in the last 3 months or experienced symptoms of such a nature as would have caused a prudent reasonable person to seek medical attention, or been hospitalised for that condition in the last 12 months.
I felt this covered me ok.
Kris wrote
We took our T1 daughter (aged 5 at the time) on a big family trip to Europe last year & initially had travel insurance with Southern Cross. Unfortunately she was hospitalised about 4 months before the trip( she had to be on a drip because of very low blood sugars & high ketones after a tummy bug). I let Southern Cross know & they couldn’t drop us fast enough for her insurance coverage! They were horrible and rude too. As a replacement I found Mike Henry travel insurance to be great & they couldn’t have been more helpful – apparently they are good if you have a few health issues of any sort.
Nic wrote
Hmmmm, Chris – great idea re taking a spare pump, does NZMS charge you a rental fee for it? I got a quote from Southern Cross the other day ($137.00 to specify the insulin pump, including the online 20% discount). Am wondering though if my house and contents would cover it seeing as I’ve had it itemised on that – might ask.
Sianne wrote
Wow isn’t insurance expensive. When I tried to get income protection insurance the cost was 3 times the normal rate because of diabetes so I declined it. I did see in one of the Diabetes Magazines an Ad for a company that deals with Insurance for Diabetes but can’t remember the name. Would love to know if anyone knows.
Chris wrote
To answer Nic, no, NZMS does not charge a rental.
To answer Sianne – Tower Insurance.
My travel agent insures with Mike Henry and I have never had any problems with them. In the early 90s I went overseas a few times (and made a claim for reading glasses and for an ambulance (severe hypo) and they paid up with no questions asked. Have not had any travel insurance claims since then.
nic wrote
me too on the income protection insurance, Sianne – think life was more expensive too from recollection
Nic wrote
For anyone who’s interested, I just heard back from my home and contents insurance provider – AMI – as follows:
Unfortunately AMI’s contents policies only extend to cover your goods while in New Zealand.
If anything happens to the pump you would need to make a claim under travel insurance.