Travel Insurance for Heartburn and Acid Reflux

What are heartburn and acid reflux?

Acid reflux happens when acid from your stomach travels back up into the oesophagus (food pipe). It's often accompanied by heartburn, which is a burning feeling in the chest. These things happen typically after eating, while lying down or bending over. There might also be a sour or bitter taste in the back of the mouth, a cough, or hoarseness. Doctors may call it gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD, and it's a very common digestive complaint.

Triggers include large or fatty meals, alcohol, smoking, coffee, and being overweight or pregnant. A hiatus hernia can also make it more likely. Most people manage it with lifestyle changes and medicines from a pharmacy or GP. The NHS heartburn and acid reflux page explains it well.

Why do I need to declare heartburn and acid reflux for travel insurance?

Diagnosed reflux, or reflux treated with prescribed medicine, counts as a pre-existing medical condition. Most of the time it’s a nuisance rather than a danger, but any kind of chest pain abroad can lead to an emergency assessment and a night in hospital.

Should a claim turn out to be linked to reflux that wasn’t on your policy, it could be turned down or reduced.

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 with heartburn and acid reflux?

For most people it’s straightforward. Occasional heartburn eased with an antacid from the chemist may not need to go through screening at all, while diagnosed GORD usually can be considered. Reflux kept under control with one daily tablet looks very different from reflux that has caused Barrett’s oesophagus, narrowing of the food pipe, or that needs surgery you’re waiting for, and those details shape whether cover is offered.

What we’ll ask about your reflux

Declaring your reflux online doesn’t take long. The screening may ask whether you've had any additional procedures. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your reflux and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Reflux symptoms can change over time. If you start or stop medication, you have a stay in hospital, you’re referred to a specialist, or you receive a new diagnosis between now and departure, you must let us know. It may mean reviewing your cover or referring your medical situation to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to proceed with cover. Not telling us about a change in your medical can lead to a future claim being affected or denied.

What can heartburn and acid reflux travel insurance cover?

Chest pain abroad is always taken seriously, and it isn’t always easy to tell reflux from something else. If your condition is accepted and you’re taken to hospital in Lisbon with chest pain that turns out to be severe heartburn, emergency medical treatment can be covered. Repatriation can be covered too if you need medical help to get home. All cover is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If your doctor advises you not to travel because of a worsening of your condition shortly before you leave, cancellation cover may help you recover non-refundable costs.

Planned procedures abroad are not covered, and nor are claims linked to a condition you left off your declaration.

Will acid reflux affect the cost of travel insurance?

Reflux may change the price a little, or it may not, and that comes down to your screening. When you go through our online screening, you’ll be asked how the condition is treated and whether it’s well controlled day to day. General details count as well, like your age, the destination and the length of the trip. Nothing is charged until you’ve seen the figure and decided to go ahead.

Single trip or annual cover with acid reflux

Single trip cover suits a one-off holiday. If you get away a few times a year, annual cover might be the better buy, depending on your screening result.

Travelling with heartburn and acid reflux: practical tips

These general suggestions may help you stay comfortable. They have no bearing on what your insurance covers.

Long flights can be awkward. Sitting slumped for hours, eating airline meals at odd times and drinking coffee or alcohol to pass the time can all set reflux off. Eat lightly before you fly, wear something loose round the waist and get up to walk the aisle now and then.

Holiday food is the other big trigger. Late, heavy dinners are common in Spain and Italy, and an all-inclusive buffet makes it easy to overdo it. Try to finish eating two or three hours before bed. If you normally raise the head of your bed at home, a couple of extra pillows or a travel wedge pillow can do the same job in a hotel.

Pack your usual remedies. Antacids and reflux tablets are sold widely abroad, but brand names differ and you may not find the exact one you use. Keep enough for the whole trip in your hand luggage, and look at our page on travelling abroad with medication if you take prescription medicines.

Don’t assume chest pain is reflux. If it’s crushing, spreads to your arm, jaw or back, or comes with breathlessness or sweating, call the local emergency number straight away.

How to get a quote

Tell us about your trip, answer the screening questions about your reflux and any other conditions, and choose your cover. The price is shown before you commit.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Gastrointestinal Pages

• Acute Pancreatitis Travel Insurance
• Appendicitis Travel Insurance
• Chronic Pancreatitis Travel Insurance
• Coeliac Disease Travel Insurance
• Crohn's Disease Travel Insurance
• Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome Travel Insurance
• Diverticular Diseases Travel Insurance
• Gallstones Travel Insurance
• Gastritis Travel Insurance
• Heartburn and Acid Reflux Travel Insurance
• Hernia Travel Insurance
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Travel Insurance
• Stomach Ulcer Travel Insurance
• Ulcerative Colitis 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.