Travel Insurance for Kidney Stones

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are small, hard lumps that build up from waste chemicals in your urine. They sit within our kidney and urinary conditions. Many are tiny and pass out of the body without much fuss. Larger ones can get stuck in the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder and cause sudden, severe pain in the side, back, or groin, often called renal colic.

Not drinking enough is a common factor, and stones are more likely if you have had them before. Small stones are often managed with pain relief and plenty of fluids, while bigger ones may need treatment such as shock wave therapy to break them up, or a procedure to remove them. See the NHS page on kidney stones for more.

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

Kidney stones that you have now, have had recently, or are being seen about count as a pre-existing medical condition. We ask because a stone can move at any time, causing severe pain, an infection, or a blockage, and that could mean an emergency admission abroad or having to cancel your trip.

Declaring them lets the risk be assessed on the facts. If kidney stones aren’t on your policy, a claim linked to them, such as for renal colic, could be refused 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 stones?

Usually you can. Kidney stones are common, and having had them doesn’t rule out cover.

A stone that passed some time ago with no problems since is likely to be looked at differently from a current kidney stone, a recent hospital visit, a stent, or waiting for treatment to break up or remove a stone. Those details affect whether cover is offered.

What we’ll ask about your kidney stones

The online medical screening is short and easy to get through. It may ask a few questions about whether you currently have kidney stones, if you've had any recent episodes, or about your kidney function. When you’re done declaring this condition, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

After the declaration, you’ll be taken to the quote page. You’ll be shown a list of quotes if your kidney stones and your other conditions are coverable, and each premium includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we’re unable to offer cover, you’ll be told before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Kidney stones have a habit of coming back. If you have another episode of pain, you’re booked in for a procedure, you start new medicine, or you’re admitted to hospital before you travel, 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 kidney stones travel insurance cover?

Once your kidney stones are accepted, an emergency linked to them can be covered. If a stone moved while you were in Dubai and you needed hospital pain relief, scans or an urgent procedure, emergency treatment could be included, along with repatriation if you need medical help to get home. That is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

An attack shortly before you go can wreck plans. If a doctor says you shouldn’t travel because of it, cancellation cover may let you claim back non-refundable costs.

Treatment you planned to have abroad isn’t covered, and nor is anything linked to a condition you didn’t declare. Stones in the bladder are a separate issue, covered on our bladder stones page.

Will kidney stones affect the cost of travel insurance?

Kidney stones can have a bearing on the price, but this will depend on your screening result. Our online medical screening may ask how your stones have been treated and how well they are controlled now. Your age, destination, and how long you’ll be away are factored in for every traveller. You can look at the price first and buy only if you’re happy.

Single trip or annual cover with kidney stones

If you travel once in a while, single trip insurance is simple. Regular travellers may get better value from annual multi-trip cover, which depends on your screening result.

Travelling with kidney stones: practical tips

These are general tips for your trip. They aren’t part of what the policy covers.

Hot weather is a real risk. You lose a lot of fluid through sweat, your urine gets more concentrated, and that is the sort of setting where stones form. Carry a refillable bottle and keep sipping through the day, more than you would at home. Pale urine is a good sign you’re drinking enough. Go easy on alcohol, which dehydrates you.

Holiday eating can work against you too. Very salty food and large amounts of meat can raise the risk for some types of stone. If you have been given diet advice for your type, it is worth sticking to it while away.

If you have a stone that hasn’t passed, or you are waiting for treatment, ask your GP or urologist whether you should travel and what to do if pain starts. Having pain relief you know works for you, and a note of what has been prescribed, can help a lot. Read our guide to travelling abroad with medication if you are taking strong painkillers, as some are controlled in other countries.

Know when to get help. Pain that you can’t control, a high temperature with pain, or being unable to pass urine needs urgent medical attention, wherever you are.

How to get a quote

Start by entering your trip, then answer the medical questions, including those about your kidney stones. You’ll see your options and prices 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.