Travelling with Acute Kidney Injury or Renal Failure

What is acute kidney injury?

Acute kidney injury, or AKI, is when the kidneys suddenly stop working as well as they should, over hours or days rather than years. You might also hear it called acute kidney failure or acute renal failure. It’s grouped with other kidney, liver and urinary conditions, but it’s different from long-term kidney disease because it comes on quickly and often follows another illness.

Common causes include severe dehydration, serious infections, low blood pressure and some medicines. It usually happens to people who are already unwell, often in hospital. Many people recover fully once the cause is treated, although some are left with lasting kidney damage. The NHS acute kidney injury page has more on causes and recovery.

Why do I need to declare an acute kidney injury for travel insurance?

Having had an acute kidney injury counts as a pre-existing medical condition, and so does whatever caused it. Kidneys that have been damaged once can be more vulnerable afterwards. Dehydration from heat, a stomach upset or certain medicines abroad could tip them over again and lead to a hospital stay.

We need to know about this so your policy reflects your health. If your AKI isn’t declared, a related claim might be refused or paid at a reduced amount.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance after an acute kidney injury?

Usually, yes. Kidney problems can be linked to all sorts of illnesses abroad, from a stomach bug to an infection, so the screening looks at the bigger picture as well as the injury itself.

It helps if your kidney function has returned to normal and you’ve been discharged from follow-up. Needing dialysis, still being monitored, or having been left with chronic kidney disease can all affect whether cover is offered.

What we’ll ask about your acute kidney injury

It only takes a few minutes to get through the online medical screening. The questions about your acute kidney injury focus on the tablets you take and whether you’ve been referred for more tests. Once that’s done, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

Once everything is declared, you’ll reach the quote page. If cover is available for your acute kidney injury and your other conditions, you’ll see a choice of quotes, each with the cost of your medical cover included in the premium. Should we be unable to cover you, you’ll know before proceeding.

If your health changes before travelling

Kidney function can take time to recover. If, before your trip, your tablets change, you go into hospital, you’re referred for more tests, or you receive a new diagnosis, you must let us know. We may have to review your cover and refer your medical details to the underwriters, and sometimes we may not be able to proceed with cover. If changes in your medical go unreported, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can acute kidney injury travel insurance cover?

Once AKI has been accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad can be covered if you’re taken ill. A bad bout of sickness and diarrhoea in Egypt, for instance, can leave you dehydrated enough to put your kidneys under strain. Hospital treatment and, where needed, an assisted return to the UK can be covered, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If you become unwell before departure and your doctor advises you not to go, cancellation cover may help with costs you’ve already paid.

Treatment you planned to have abroad isn’t covered. Neither is anything linked to a condition you left off your declaration.

Will an acute kidney injury affect the cost of travel insurance?

Having had an acute kidney injury may change the cost, and how much is decided by your medical screening result. You can complete this through our online medical screening, which may ask how the injury was treated and how well things are being controlled now. As with any trip, your age, destination and time away also count.

Single trip or annual cover after acute kidney injury

Choose single trip insurance for one holiday, or look at an annual policy if you travel a few times a year. Annual cover will depend on what the screening shows.

Travelling after acute kidney injury: practical tips

Here are some general tips. They aren’t part of the insurance cover.

Dehydration is the thing to watch. Hot weather, long flights, too much alcohol and stomach bugs can all dry you out quickly. Carry water, drink regularly, and keep a few oral rehydration sachets in your bag in case you get a tummy upset.

Ask your GP or pharmacist about sick day rules before you travel. Some common medicines, including certain blood pressure tablets, water tablets and diabetes medicines, may need to be paused temporarily if you’re being sick or have diarrhoea. Only do this if a healthcare professional has told you to, and make sure you know which of your medicines it applies to.

Be careful with painkillers bought abroad. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can be hard on the kidneys, and they’re sold over the counter almost everywhere, sometimes under unfamiliar brand names. Take your usual pain relief from home and check the label of anything you buy.

A few other points:

1. take a copy of your discharge letter or recent blood results
2. be strict about food and water hygiene in places where stomach upsets are common
3. get medical help early if you’re passing much less urine than usual
4. if you’re on any regular medication, see our guide to travelling abroad with medication

How to get a quote

Add your trip details, complete the medical questions, and choose the level of cover you want. You’ll know the price before buying.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Kidney,Liver,Urinary Pages

• Acute Kidney Injury or Failure Travel Insurance
• Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Travel Insurance
• Bladder Stones Travel Insurance
• Chronic Kidney Disease Travel Insurance
• Enlarged Prostate Travel Insurance
• Fatty Liver Disease Travel Insurance
• Hepatitis Travel Insurance
• Interstitial Cystitis Travel Insurance
• Kidney Failure Travel Insurance
• Kidney Infection Travel Insurance
• Kidney Stones Travel Insurance
• Liver Cirrhosis Travel Insurance
• Liver Failure Travel Insurance
• Overactive Bladder Travel Insurance
• Polycystic Kidney Disease Travel Insurance
• Prostatitis Travel Insurance
• Urinary Retention Travel Insurance
• Urinary Tract Infection Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.