Travel Insurance for Kidney Failure

What is kidney failure?

Kidney failure is when the kidneys can no longer do enough of their job, which is filtering waste and extra fluid out of the blood. It is usually the most advanced stage of chronic kidney disease, although kidneys can also stop working suddenly after an illness or injury. You can find related pages in our kidney, liver and urinary conditions section.

People with kidney failure are usually treated with a kidney transplant or dialysis, either at a unit several times a week or at home. Some choose supportive care without dialysis. Diet, fluid limits, and a fair number of tablets are often part of daily life. The NHS kidney disease page covers treatment in more detail.

Why do I need to declare kidney failure for travel insurance?

Kidney failure is a serious pre-existing medical condition, so it must be declared. Whether you’re on dialysis or have a transplant, problems such as infections, access issues or changes in fluid balance can come on quickly and may mean emergency treatment abroad or having to cancel.

We need to know about this so your policy reflects your health. If it isn’t declared, a claim linked to your kidneys, your dialysis or your transplant could be declined 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 kidney failure?

It may be possible. Many people with kidney failure do travel, and some can find cover once their treatment is settled.

The screening will want to know how you are treated, whether things have been stable, and whether there have been recent hospital admissions, infections, problems with a fistula or line, or changes to your transplant medicines. That decides whether cover is offered.

What we’ll ask about your kidney failure

Our online medical screening is quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a handful of questions about your kidney failure, covering how your kidney failure is managed and whether you’re on dialysis. Once this condition is done, carry on and declare any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

When the medical declaration is complete, you’ll move on to the quote page. Where your kidney failure and any other conditions are coverable, a list of quotes appears, with the cost of covering your medical already built into the premium. If cover isn’t possible, you’ll find out before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Kidney treatment can change between appointments. If, before your trip, you start dialysis or move to a different type, you go into hospital, your medicines change, or you’re given a new referral, 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 kidney failure travel insurance cover?

Once kidney failure is accepted, unexpected medical problems linked to it can be covered. If you developed an infection or a dangerous fluid build-up in Florida and needed emergency hospital care, that treatment could be included, and so could repatriation if you need to return to the UK under medical supervision. All of this is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Pre-booked holiday dialysis is different. Because it is planned treatment, it isn’t paid for by travel insurance and may restrict whether we can provide cover.

If you can’t travel because you become unwell, or you get the call for a transplant, cancellation cover may help with costs you can’t recover, depending on the policy wording. Anything linked to a condition you didn’t declare won’t be covered.

Will kidney failure affect the cost of travel insurance?

Kidney failure can be reflected in the price, though the amount comes from your screening result. Through our online medical screening you may be asked how your kidney failure is treated and how well things are controlled. Factors that apply to anyone, including age, destination and length of trip, count as well. You see the final figure before deciding to buy.

Single trip or annual cover with kidney failure

With dialysis to book around, many people find one well-planned trip suits them, and single trip cover fits that. If you have had a transplant and travel more often, annual travel insurance may be available, depending on your screening result.

Travelling with kidney failure: practical tips

This is general travel advice, separate from your insurance.

Holiday dialysis needs booking early, often months ahead in busy seasons. Your renal unit can usually help you find a centre and send over your medical details and blood results. Some units abroad also ask for recent tests for blood-borne viruses before they will accept you. In Europe, a GHIC can help with state dialysis costs if it has been arranged in advance. Elsewhere you may have to pay.

Heat can make fluid limits harder. Sweating more makes you thirsty, and holiday drinks and salty food add up fast. Try to keep to the plan your renal team has given you, and be careful with high-potassium foods such as some tropical fruit.

If you have had a transplant, your anti-rejection medicines must be taken on time, every time. Set alarms if you’re changing time zones, and ask your transplant team or pharmacist how to adjust. Those medicines also lower your resistance to infection, so food and water hygiene matter, and some live travel vaccines may not be suitable. A travel clinic or your specialist can advise.

A few other points worth thinking about:

1. carry a letter from your renal team summarising your treatment, with contact numbers
2. pack medicines in your hand luggage with spares, and read our guide to travelling abroad with medication
3. if you do peritoneal dialysis, ask your supplier whether fluids can be delivered to where you are staying
4. protect your fistula arm when carrying bags or sleeping on unfamiliar beds

How to get a quote

Start with your trip details, then answer the kidney questions as fully as you can. You will see whether cover is available and the price before you pay.

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.