In the US, Tweets about illnesses were analysed to find out who was ill, their location in the country,  what medication they were taking and whether they were treating themselves correctly. John Hopkins University computer scientists analysed 1.5 million tweets sent between May 2009 and October 2010 which all referred to health matters. 

An interesting part of the study was medical misperceptions. For example, some people tweeted that they were taking antibiotics for flu. But antibiotics don’t work on the flu, which is a virus, and this practice could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance problems.

In about 200,000 of the health-related tweets, the researchers were able to draw on user-provided public information to identify the geographic state from which the message was sent.  That allowed them to track some trends by time and place, such as when the allergy and flu seasons peaked in various parts of the US. 

The scientists have been talking to public health scientists who say that future studies of tweets could uncover even more useful data, both only about medical trends but also about public perceptions concerning illnesses and medications. (However, the researchers did point out that there is a limit to what people will share on Twitter, and all research will be limited by this).

This got me thinking about other ways that Twitter provides useful information, particularly in the world of travel, travel insurance and travelling with medical conditions. It really is a wealth of information with people providing their own personal tips or recommendations. This could be anything from places to visit, good restaurants, and insurers to try, for example. At AllClear Travel, we do our best to provide you with useful information on Twitter too, you can find us at www.twitter.com/allcleartravel. Please do check us out and follow on Twitter. And then we are really interested in finding out how we can provide even more useful information for you on travel, particularly travelling with medical conditions. Do let us know in the comments box below how we can help

How are you enjoying half term?

So you are halfway through the half term holidays –are you pulling your hair out, or have you enjoyed spending more time with the kids? It always makes me laugh how in the week before half term, the TV and social media are full of good free/cheap things to do with your kids. But it is understandable that some people would rather try and go on holiday abroad during half term.

So I thought that I would put this blog together for people to share their half term experiences.

Did you choose to go abroad this year? Was that a good idea? How was it sorting out your travel insurance?

Or did you choose to stay at home? Is that working out more expensive than going abroad, do you think? Or have you managed to find cheaper ways to keep the kids occupied.

Please do share your experiences, we would love to know what you think…

Do you know the difference between AOP and OAP?

No, that is not a typo. We all know/use the term OAP to designate Old Age Pensioners, but now there is a new term on the block  – AOP, Athletic Older Person.

I am sure you have experienced this.  Someone aged over 60 who overtakes you effortlessly in the swimming pool, or seems to be running so much faster than you? In fact, I experienced this when I did a 14 mile charity hill walk. It was amazing how many people aged 60 and over seemed to be finding the walk so easy.

A survey of more than 1,100 men and women for Bupa healthcare has found that Britons aged 60-plus are much more likely to exercise than those in their 20s. The AOPs cite Helen Mirren, 65, and  Joanna Lumley, 64, as their role models. They are almost three times as likely to exercise every day than those in the prime of life – 1 in 7 exercise every day of the week. And 22% exercise at least five times a week – compared with just 15 per cent of 20-somethings.

Almost four in ten of the over-60s polled said they were exercising more now than they did ten years ago. Walking was the most popular method, followed by swimming and cycling. Growing numbers of pensioners are entering half-marathons each year.

Today’s over-60s are also running more quickly than before, with the average woman finishing the 13.1-mile race more than ten minutes faster than six years ago.

The AOPs surveyed credited their exercise regimes with a host of advantages, from boosting weight loss to aiding relaxation and improving quality of life. So I imagine these AOPs really enjoy travelling too, but unfortunately this can become more and more difficult as people get older because they may struggle to find travel insurance for their trip. At AllClear we believe that everyone deserves the right to travel, and these AOPs prove that. That is why we have no age limit on our single trip travel insurance policies. We offer a medical travel insurance comparison site so that people of any age can choose the medical travel insurance policy that best suits them. You can check out AllClear Travel to find out more. In the meantime, best get exercising, no matter what age you are!

How many times have I heard people say, ‘I dont need insurance I get a free one with my bank’? Quite a few times, I would say…

But this article in the Insurance Times, explains why we should be wary of bank deals on insurance, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.

You need to make sure that you check the wording of the ‘free’ travel insurance policy you receive with a bank account or credit card very carefully, to make sure you are actually covered for pre-existing medical conditions. Some of these policies may offer to extend cover for pre-existing medical conditions provided you call them back and declare them, but the majority will not cover pre-existing medical conditions at all, especially more serious conditions like cancer.”

A medical condition is unique to the person who is suffering from it, and so if you want comprehensive travel insurance, that includes your medical conditions, you may be well advised to use a specialist insurer like AllClearTravel. This is important because when travelling abroad unexpected medical treatment is very expensive. If you don’t have comprehensive cover, that includes your medical conditions, any medical claims could be invalidated, and could be a very costly experience for you.

Hope that information is useful for you. If you have any other questions about the different types of insurance, please do ask in the comments box below, and we will be happy to help.

Well we are nearing the end of the year, and what a year has been. I thought now was as good a time as any to reflect on the year that has been, and look forward to 2011.

There was quite a lot of uncertainty in 2010, we had the General Election, and the resulting Government spending cuts. This made a some of us a bit more reluctant to plan our next holiday, at least in the early part of the year. And then of course, there was the announcement of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and all the implications that has for our tourism next year. And finally, towards the end of the year, we have been having all this snow, which has been bringing large parts of the UK to a standstill (by the way, if your holiday plans have been disrupted by the snow, check out my last blog, to find out what you could do about it).

Ok so what does that mean for 2011? Well if the snow continues, that could cause further problems, at least at the start of the year. But then there is a lot to look forward to –  if you haven’t already got a holiday booked, then that could be something fun to do during those gloomy January days (Remember even if you are only going on a short break, you will still need comprehensive travel insurance). And at AllClear, we are working on some great travel apps for you to use during or before your holidays too.  

But if you have a holiday booked for next year already, and do not already have travel insurance, then you really have another task you should think about in 2010. There is a tax on insurance, called Insurance Premium Tax, and this is due to increase in line with VAT from 17.5% to 20% from the 4^th January 2011. Therefore, it could save you money to book your travel insurance in 2010…And at the moment, for a limited period only, we are also offering up to 20% discounts on your policy – so even more chances to save! www.allcleartravel.co.uk

Ok well there is a little snapshot of 2010 and some things we have to think about for 2011. For now, it just leaves me to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 Some people who really might not be enjoying the snow, are people who have a holiday booked, and have had their flight cancelled or their airport is closed. And there are a lot of mixed messages out there, as is always the case in these situations, about what you as a customer can do.

 So we at AllClear wanted to help you out, and let you know your rights, in terms of your travel insurance, and making a claim. This information applies if you hold an AllClear travel insurance policy.

• FIRST CONTACT THE AIRLINE/TOUR OPERATOR BEFORE LEAVING HOME: If you have a booked flight, which is cancelled due to the airport being closed, you should contact the airline you booked with. You have a contract with the airline to provide a flight, and in most cases the airline will be offering alternatives. But please keep a note of names and calls that you make, as claims may be considered if flights are delayed for more than 12 hours. If you booked with a tour operator, they will provide a refund or alternative arrangements
• MISSED DEPARTURE: If you are late in reaching the airport, you are covered for necessary hotel and travelling expenses to reach you holiday destination. This applies if the car you are travelling in breaks down or is involved in an accident or the public transport being used is delayed, resulting in you arriving too late to commence your booked journey. But make sure that you leave sufficient time to make your journey in the snow, as otherwise you are not covered. If you were delayed by trains in reaching the airport, you will need to get a letter from the public transport provider to confirm that the service did not run on time.
• AFTER CHECK-IN: If you have turned up and checked in for your flight, and it is then delayed for over 12 hours, you could claim under the Travel Delay/Abandonment section of your policy, section 4, they are covered under section 4 – Travel Delay – of their policy. If you abandon your trip after the first full 12 hours, you can claim up to the amount under section 1 – Cancellation. Remember you will need to obtain written confirmation from the airline, shipping, coach or train company stating the period and the reason for the delay.

 Remember if you have contacted the airport prior to travelling and been told not to turn up, then it’s down to the airline/tour operator to compensate or offer alternatives.

 Any questions about your cover, please do just ask us below.

Now, I have actually spoken about this topic before, but I thought it was so important that I will talk about it again! The key really is preparing for your holiday in advance, so it is not all a last minute rush but I know that it is easier said than done!

Insurance: Buy your travel insurance well in advance so you can travel with compete peace of mind, especially if you have existing medical conditions. Don’t forget a European Health Insurance Card if you are travelling in Europe as well.

Work: Make sure you let everyone know when you are going to be away a long time in advance so that you don’t get left with loads of work to do on the day before you go. Write a detailed handover email and fill this is over the week before you go away, so you have less chance of forgetting stuff.

Packing: Make a list, again to avoid forgetting stuff. Put everything on there, no matter how silly it sounds, because otherwise you know that is the one thing that you won’t have.

House: Consider investing in those timer lights to put into your house and make it look ‘lived in’ while you are away. If you have a friend or relative dropping in while you are away, ask them to open and close curtains etc for the same reason. Here is a useful list of electronics you might want to take with you

Camera: Make sure you download old pictures onto your computer well before you go away so that you know you have lots of space for your lovely new pictures. Take a spare memory card with you so that you don’t need to worry about downloading while you are away

Ok well there are probably loads more hints and tips, but here are a few to start off with. Please do add in other tips and hints below to avoid stress and just get on with enjoying that holiday you deserve!

So how can you get involved in lupus awareness month? Well, there are a few things.

Adopt a Hospital. If you have lupus you will probably have to spend some time visiting your local hospital rheumatology clinic so why not order a Display Board and leaflets to put there. You could also try to get some of these boards located in your local shops, libraries, bookstores and any other location.

Hold a lunch 4Lupus with your family and friends.

The guests, instead of bringing a traditional party gift, will be invited to make a donation to LUPUS UK. The host will receive invitations to send to their guests together with donation forms and some helpful hints on hosting a successful event. If lunch isn’t possible, members can host a coffee morning or a dinner party.  You can always add to fundraising by holding raffles, auctions or party games. Lupus UK would prefer the event to be hold in October, but if it is easier you can hold it after that. You can download a form for a Lunch 4 Lupus here.

If you suffer from Lupus, or know someone that does, you will know that you often need to be organised, because it involves taking quite a lot of medication. This can be especially important if you are going on holiday so here are some tips that may help if you are travelling with lupus.

Make sure that you have comprehensive travel insurance that includes your lupus. This is important in case you need medical treatment while you are away. This can be very expensive, and you may not be covered if you have not declared your condition.

Remember to take enough lupus medication with you on your travels!

Make sure that you take extra supplies of all your medication with you in case any is lost or damaged. Keep the medication in your hand luggage with you if you are going on a plane, and keep the names of the medication separately with you, in case you need to get more while you are away.

Make sure you communicate about your trip with your doctor with plenty of time still to go. That way your doctor can let you know whether you need to make any changes to your medication etc

So hope it all goes well if you are involved with Lupus Awareness Month, and I hope that the travelling with lupus tips help too.

Um, not neccesarily. A survey has revealed that 11% of adults have been victims of theft while overseas, with men more likely to be robbed than women.

Thieves have stolen an estimated £1.7bn of possessions from Britons holidaying abroad in the last five years. Yet only 51% of those who had something stolen reported the incident to local police, the poll of 2,000 British adults showed. The average value of the stolen items was £326 per person, with 5% of victims being robbed of valuables worth more than £1,000. The most common form of theft is pickpocketing (21%), followed by theft from a car (17%) and bag snatching (16%). Also, 15% of victims had items stolen from their hotel room or villa. As many as 35% of victims had cash stolen, while 15% lost their camera to thieves and 14% had their mobile phone taken.

Ok so what can you do about this? Obviously losing your possessions is rubbish at any time, but particularly when you are on holiday – it could ruin your entire break. But here are a few things that you can do about it.

• When you are packing think about what you really need to take. Is it worth taking that designer jacket if you are never going to wear it? Do you need to take both your mobile phones? Maybe leave the newer windows 7 phone or iphone at home to keep it safe! And how much of your jewllery will you actually wear on that walking holiday!
• Be particularly careful with sentimental possessions. For example, if you can, download your pictures each night or change the memory card, in case your camera is stolen
• Check your travel insurance and what belongings it covers you for, so that you are prepared in case the worse should happen. Make sure you read the small print, and your travel insurer should be able to help you if you are still not clear. A previous blog explained that up to £1.6bn gadgets are uninsured when people go on holiday.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these tips should help a bit, so that you can just get on with enjoying your well-deserved holiday!

According to a BBC report, the right has been suspended by the High Court. In November 2009, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the damage sustained by air passengers in cases of long delay is comparable with that of cancellation, unless the delay is caused by “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the control of the airline. However, the High Court has referred the matter back to the ECJ for a further hearing and has put a stay on new rulings in the UK, until the ECJ has time to reconsider.

This new judgment from the ECJ could be delayed until the first half of 2012 so that leaves a while to wait for a decision.

Oh dear! Now we all know how annoying it is when you are at an airport and your flight is delayed. All you want is to get to your holiday destination  (or get home) and start relaxing. It is especially problematic when you have a short break and then a large proportion of your holiday might be lost. So what can you do about this?

Well unfortunately, not much. We all know that some airlines seem to be worst offenders for delays than others, so you might want to be a bit choosy with the flights you book. Alternatively, you could always consider a cruise as a least if there are any delays (although this is unlikely) you are still enjoying your holiday at the same time!

One other big consideration should be your travel insurance. If you opt for a comprehensive travel insurance, then you can still claim for travel delays. For example, AllClear offer up to £100 benefit if you experience delays (depending on the length of delay). This is the case if your trip is delayed by industrial action (provided industrial action wasn’t expected when the policy was taken out); adverse weather or technical fault.

So what do you need to do if the worst should happen and you are delayed? Well first of all stay calm, and try and not let the delays spoil your holiday! And then secondly make sure you obtain written confirmation from the airline stating the period of delay and the reason for it.

If you have any other questions about travel delay, or claiming for it, please do ask them below and we will try to help…