Posts Tagged ‘specialist travel insurance’

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How many people now qualify for a birthday message from the Queen?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
travel insurance for the elderly

A birthday message from the Queen?

Now, a birthday message from the Queen on turning 100 is something we have spoken about before in our blogs. But now the number of people in Britain who have reached the age of 100 has soared five-fold in just 30 years. There were 12,640 people over the age of 100 in the UK in 2010, compared with only 2,500 in 1980.

The dramatic increase has been put down to improved medical treatment, better nutrition and rising living standards, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

As the number of centenarians reached a record high in 2010, so did life expectancy The UK’s population is also becoming more of an ‘inverted pyramid’, with the proportion of people aged over 85 doubling from one in 100 in 1985 to one in 50 today. By 2035, this is projected to rise to one in 20 people.

As a result of increases in the proportion of older people, the average age of the UK population has increased from 35 in 1985 to 39.7 years in 2010. In 2010, West Somerset had the highest average age in the UK, at 52.7 years, with North Norfolk next at 51.5.  All of the 10 areas with the highest percentages of people aged 65 and over were located on the east or south coast, as people are more likely to retire to these areas.

So what does this longer retirement mean? Well, one thing it can impact on is our leisure time. If your retirement is going to be a third of your life, or more, then you may find you have lots more time to travel. Our point is that difficulty in finding travel insurance shouldn’t be an obstacle to those experiences.

However, unfortunately, a lot of elderly people, or those with medical conditions, often find it difficult to get the comprehensive travel insurance that they need. If you are looking for travel insurance, make sure you use a specialist provider, so you can get the insurance you need and travel with complete peace of mind. And remember AllClear Options was the first comparison site for medical travel insurance, so you can get a range of quotes here, and make sure you get the travel insurance that suits you.

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Do you know about World Heart Day?

Monday, September 26th, 2011

World Heart Day was created in 2000 by the World Heart Federation. World Heart Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness of heart disease and how to promote healthy hearts. National activities such as public talks and screenings, walks and runs, concerts or sporting events  are organized worldwide by members and partners of the World Heart Federation.

 World Heart Day is at the end of this month, on the 29th September – it takes place on the same day each year.

The Theme this year is ‘One World, One Home, One Heart’. For the last 2 years, World Heart Day has focussed on heart health in the workplace, but this year we are urged to take charge of improving heart health within the home, for all the family. This includes choosing healthy food options, increasing physical activity, and saying no to tobacco. This year, we are challenged to take charge of our family’s heart health and become our home’s advocate for heart-healthy living.
The recommendations include:

1. Ban Smoking from your home: The risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half one year after quitting and 15 years after quitting the risk is nearly the same as someone who never smoked.
2. Stock your home with healthy food options: Recommendations include making sure that every evening meal contains at least 2 to 3 servings of vegetables per person, and including fruit in your breakfast.
3. Be Active: Just 30 minutes of activity on most days can help to prevent heart attacks and stroke. World Heart Day recommends families should limit the amount of time spent in front of the TV to less than 2 hours per day. It recommends organizing more outdoor activities for the family and this is especially interesting to us in terms of travel.  For example, could your next holiday be a cycling or hiking trip?
4. Know your numbers: Visit a healthcare professional who can measure your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, together with waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI). You can then develop an action plan specific to your own family’s heart health and  make this action plan clearly visible in your home as a reminder!

Ok, so a lot of these recommendations are things we know already, but it’s always useful to be reminded of them, and you may want to think how some of these recommendations might apply when booking your next holiday! You can get more information on travelling with a heart condition in our Medical Travel Insurance Guide.

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Exercise a ‘super drug’ for cancer survivors that can stop disease returning

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
travelling with cancer

Moderate excercise, such as badminton, can help in cancer recovery

 

Exercise is a ‘wonder drug’ for cancer survivors and may prevent the disease returning, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.  Physical activity could also benefit those undergoing treatment for cancer. Macmillan say doctors should prescribe exercise rather than telling patients to rest.

A review of more than 60 studies for the charity found that being active during treatment does not worsen fatigue and has positive effects on mood and wellbeing.

Once treatment has finished, exercise can reduce the impact of side effects, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, impaired mobility and weight changes.

The research also showed exercise has an impact on preventing recurrence of a few specific cancers. For example, women with breast cancer who exercise for 150 minutes a week at moderate intensity have a 40% lower risk of recurrence  of disease compared to women  who are active for less than one hour a week.

Moderate exercise includes very brisk walking, heavy cleaning – such as washing windows, vacuuming and mopping – mowing the lawn, cycling and badminton.

Macmillan Cancer Support found that more than half of GPs, practice nurses, oncologists and cancer nurses did not speak to their patients about the possible benefits of exercise, or only spoke to a few of them.

We decided to think about what this means for travel. If you are recovering from cancer, in between treatments, or your cancer is in remission, a holiday can be just what you need to recharge the batteries. But, based on this research, you may want to think more about what kind of holiday you should go on, as a more activity based holiday could actually aid in recovery. For example, could you consider going on a walking holiday, or somewhere where you could hire a bike while you are away? You should discuss any travel plans with your doctor though, and our travelling with cancer tips may help with your decision too.

One more point is obviously to make sure that you have cancer travel insurance cover in case of any problems while you are away.

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Posted in Travelling with Cancer | 1 Comment »

Travel to the Rugby World Cup

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
long haul flights

Are you lucky enough to be travelling to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand?

The Rugby World Cup is being held in New Zealand this year. It would be an amazing experience to be there. Are you are lucky enough to be going to the World Cup, rather than simply watching on television? There is one problem though – the distance you will be travelling to get to the World Cup could raise some particular travel health considerations.

So if you are travelling to the World Cup in New Zealand, or indeed have any long haul flight coming up, here are some tips for you to make flying healthier and less stressful.

  • Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance. Long haul flights are expensive and you will want to make sure you are covered in case anything goes wrong.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes for ultimate comfort.
  • Dress in layers so you will be ready for variations in temperature. You don’t want to be sitting freezing on the plane, but you don’t want to be boiling hot either.
  • Bring your own neck pillow to give you added comfort.
  • Consider a seat with extra leg room. Wherever possible, check in online and select your seat before you travel, consulting www.seatplans.com beforehand to see where the best place to sit is. Then, when you’re actually flying, be sure to walk and stretch frequently.
  • Airline travellers are more likely to catch a little case of the sniffles. Take added Vitamin C beforehand to try and boost your immune system. Use a hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes to wipe down your seat if you can. Check out this blog for more ways to keep those plane germs at bay.
  • Apply moisturising lotion to your hands and face to avoid the problem of dry skin.
  • Jetlag occurs when our normal body clock is disrupted by travelling through time zones.  It is more apparent when travelling from west to east as the body finds it more difficult to adapt to a shorter day than a longer one.  The body clock is conditioned to respond to a regular rhythm of daylight and darkness. When travelling across time zones it effectively becomes out of sync, experiencing daylight at what it considers the wrong time. The body’s natural pattern for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and temperature is upset and cannot immediately realign its usual rhythms; it is jetlagged.
    • Take a second watch/travel clock set to your home time. This will help remind you of when you should be sleeping or awake.
    • Adjust your sleep pattern: Try and rest well before you travel. For a few days prior to your trip, adjust your sleep pattern by 1 or 2 hours to be closer to your destination time zone.
    • Remember a sleep mask may help if you struggle sleeping on the plane. Sleep if you would be sleeping at home, and vice versa.
    • If possible, schedule your flight so that you arrive at your destination in the evening and go straight to bed.
    • If possible include a stop over in your journey.
    • If you take regular medication ensure you tell your GP prior to your departure that you shall be crossing time zones.  He/she will advise you how to adjust your dosage if necessary.
    • Dehydration can worsen the effects of jet lag.  Avoid alcohol and keep your fluid intake up by drinking plenty of juice or water. Drink water as soon as possible after landing to replenish your body’s supply  
    •  It takes some time to recover each time zone crossed, so take it easy when you arrive.

These tips should help you be a happy, healthy passenger on a long haul flight. The important thing to remember is that once that long plane journey is finished, you then have that lovely holiday to look forward to! If you are lucky enough to be on a long haul flight to the Rugby World Cup, do let us know your experiences…

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Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
raising awareness lymphatic cancer

Raising awareness of lymphatic cancer from 12th to 18th September

This week (12th to 18th September) is Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of lymphoma and fundraise for this important work. We checked out the Lymphoma Association website, and there are still a number of ways that you can help and get involved…

We have picked out just a few ideas here:

Tell people online – If you are on Twitter, you could tweet: ‘This week is #Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week, which raises awareness of the UK’s fifth most common cancer. http://www.lymphomas25.org.uk/lymphatic-cancer-awareness-week-2011

Text Giving – You can support Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week by texting LCAW11 and the amount you would like to donate (e.g. LCAW11 £5) to 70070. The Lymphoma Association will receive the whole amount.

Here at AllClear we support Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week. We know that if you have lymphatic cancer, then a holiday can be a great way to recharge the batteries, or aid in recovery. So we have collected the following tips for people with lymphatic cancer who either have a holiday planned, or want to plan one in the future (Thanks to the Lymphoma Association for a lot of this information).

Here are our tips on travelling with lymphatic cancer:

  • Planning: What type of medical facilities are there at your destination? Could you get medication if you needed it? Talk everything through with your doctor – they might be able to recommend a colleague in the local area who you can speak to if you need to.
  • Travel Insurance: Make sure you get specialist travel insurance that covers your cancer, in case you need any medical treatment while you are away.
  • Lymphatic cancer Medication: Take enough medication for your trip, plus extras. Some medications are not readily available in other countries, so it is worthwhile to check out beforehand what you should do if your supply gets low.
    • Keep all medications in their original containers with labels. Prescription bottles should have your name, and the name and dosage of the cancer medication clearly indicated.
    • Consider carrying a note from your doctor with a list of your required medications on it to prove that you need them. This is especially important for pain medications, antidepressants, and stimulants that may be illegal in other countries.
    • Carry all your medications in a re-sealable plastic bag to prevent spills. If you are traveling with chemotherapy or injectable medications, this is particularly important.
    • Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to handle your medications if you will be traveling to a different time zone.
    • If you need syringes for your medications, make sure you bring enough for your entire trip, as well as a note from your doctor explaining why you need them.
  • Infection: If you have active lymphoma, you may be more prone to infection because of the impact of the disease on the immune System. This is particularly true if you  are currently receiving chemotherapy or steroids. You can greatly reduce the risk of infectious disease by attention to simple hygiene. For example, wash hands thoroughly; buy all drinking water in sealed bottles and do not have ice if you are unsure of the water source
  • Vaccines: Some vaccines are not recommended for people with lymphoma because the vaccine contains live organisms (a small weakened version of the disease-causing organism, causing an immune reaction so the person is protected in the future) . Consider this when deciding your destination. Here are some examples, but you would need to check with your doctor for your individual circumstances.

1. Polio Vaccine – the inactivated vaccine is suitable for people with lymphoma

2. Meningitis Vaccine – people who have had their spleen removed are at particular risk of contracting meningitis

3. Yellow fever vaccine – for certain countries in Africa and South America. Since it should not be given to people with lymphoma, it may restrict your ability to travel to such countries.

4. If necessary, make sure you are protected against mosquito bites. If you are need to take malaria tablets, check with your GP that  that anti-malaria tablets recommended would not result in any chemotherapy treatment or other medication for your lymphoma.

If you have any other useful tips on travelling with lymphatic cancer, do please add them to the comments box below.

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Have you got the BBQ Blues?

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Ok, so the UK weather has been typically temperamental so far this year. We have had some lovely, long hot days, but also more than our fair share of rain. With the school summer holidays now upon us, the question is, will there be lots more sunshine to enjoy?

 Given the ups and downs of the weather then, it is quite surprising then that many Brits are postponing their summer holidays until the Autumn, because they don’t want to miss sunny weather at home, according to this travel agents survey. (although to be fair, I think at the time this survey was done, we had been having a very hot and sunny spell!)

So why this change? It seems we want to make the best of the UK weather and enjoy those British BBQs, beaches and beer gardens! A lot of the time, this does seem like a good plan. After all, there has been numerous instances over the last few months when  the UK weather has been better than in the Mediterranean. Going abroad in the Autumn or winter means you can avoid those peak periods, high prices,  and stifling heat, that can occur in July and August.

travelling with medical conditions

Do you have a holiday abroad booked over the summer, or are you waiting until the Autumn?

So what are the main reasons for saving that holiday until the Autumn, according to the survey of 1092 people? Well, the site asked respondents ‘Are you holidaying later than normal this year, for example in autumn or winter, instead of summer?’ Some 56% of respondents said they were.

The reasons broke down as follows:

  • Cheaper holidays later in the year: 42%
  • Expecting UK summer to be hot: 37%
  • Due to work (e.g. holiday availability): 21%
  • No particular reason: 19%
  • Have longer to save up money: 8%
  • Other: 5%

So have you booked a holiday yet? Are you hoping to make the most of the good weather in the UK (and have more time to save up) and going away in the Autumn instead? This can make particular sense if you have a medical condition, like Arthritis – you can benefit from the milder weather here over the summer, and then when it starts to get colder in the UK, enjoy a holiday abroad (Remember, if you do have a medical condition like Arthritis, you will need to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers your conditions.)

So for those who have a holiday booked in the Autumn, let’s hope the British weather is not too disappointing for the rest of the summer. And for those who DO have a holiday abroad booked over the summer, I hope you don’t get too jealous if we have lovely weather at home too!

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Feeling inspired by the Tour de France?

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

You have probably all heard of the Tour de France, and the ubiquitous yellow jersey which runs throughout the month of July. But in the same way Wimbledon can get you in the mood for playing tennis, and the Marathon can tempt you to take up running, how are you feeling about cycling right now?

cycling holiday travel insurance

Have you ever considered a cycling holiday?

 

The Tour de France runs from Saturday July 2rd to Sunday July 24th and will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres. The race is designed to cover a range of different terrains, from downhill to very steep (the race is in the Pyrenees), to a final stretch facing the sea, exposed to the wind! The route of the 2011 Tour has been determined with two objectives in mind: to set the pace from the beginning of the race and maintain suspense right up until the very end.

So has the race got you feeling inspired to take up cycling again?  Do you have dreams of wearing that yellow jersey? Well, if you plan on incorporating a little cycling or some other type of biking activity into your holiday, here are our thoughts…

  1. Cycling is good for you – but you knew that already. However, we are all so busy that it can sometime be hard to find the time to cycle. This is why you might want to consider a cycling holiday to get you back into the swing of things and then you can try to keep it up when you get home. So what are the fitness benefits? Well, cycling strengthens the cardiovascular system and burns off the calories, so your  stamina and fitness will increase. It also improves breathing quality. A strong pair of lungs is essential in pumping oxygen round the blood and, in turn, energising leg muscles over a lengthy period when cycling. With constant bike exercise, your lung capacity will improve. Cycling also builds leg muscle strength –  your quad, calf and glut muscles will all tone up
  2. Enjoying the great outdoors. We know how much better we feel when we have been outside in the fresh air, and what better way to do this than on a bike? It can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety and promote psychological well-being
  3. Reduced risk of injury. Cycling, like swimming, is not a weight bearing form of exercise, meaning it does not require the whole body to be supported while you do it. With the pressure being taken off your joints, it reduces the risk of injury.

Ok so cycling is good for fitness, and good for your psychological well being – it’s a no brainer really. So how could you incorporate cycling into your holiday?

  • Consider what kind of cycling holiday you might enjoy – would you fancy cycling along the beach, in a forest, or be really hard-core and head up the mountains? What about a mountain biking holiday, in the Alps or the Pyrenees, for example. If you like the idea of a cycling holiday, but not all the ‘uphill part’, then you can also go on a holiday somewhere a little flatter like Holland. Either way, cycling can be a lovely way to get fit while enjoying the stunning scenery of your chosen destination. For family holidays, there are lots of different options to carry the little ones.
  • Consider whether you will want to cycle the holiday or whether you would want some time out to relax on a beach as well and plan your trip accordingly
  • Would you want to transport your own bikes, or just rent out bikes while you are away?
  • Make sure that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you just in case of any problems, and check the details of your insurance cover to make sure that you are covered for cycling or any sporting activities you have planned. If you are not sure, check with your travel insurance provider and they should be able to help you

 Do let us know of any cycling holiday experiences in the comments box below.

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5 Popular misconceptions about travel insurance

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Insurance of any kind can be quite a complicated thing – there are often lots of jargon terms used and understanding the levels of cover, and excesses etc, can be quite tricky. The AllClear Jargon Buster could help you here, but to help you even more, we wanted to put to rest some of the popular misconceptions about travel insurance.

Misconception 1: “If I don’t tell my insurers about my medical conditions they won’t find out”

Reality: If you do not tell your travel insurance provider about a pre-existing medical condition, then you will not be covered for any claim arising from or related to the condition. If you then need medical treatment abroad, this could work out very expensive. Make sure you get comprehensive travel insurance that includes your existing medical conditions.

Misconception 2:  “You don’t need travel insurance in Europe if you have an EHIC card”

Reality: Even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you’re not fully covered and should still take out travel insurance. This is based on official guidance from the FCO.

Why is that? An EHIC does not mean you are insured. Basically there are restrictions on the treatment available with an EHIC:

  • Few EU countries pay the full cost of medical treatment, even under the European Union’s healthcare arrangements. You still need sufficient travel insurance to cover healthcare costs.
  • In some countries, like Greece, the health service only covers medical treatment, and will not extend to feeding and personal care. But if you have travel insurance, this part of your healthcare will be covered by your travel insurance.
  • If you need an air ambulance home or you can’t travel home on your booked ticket, you could still face a bill of thousands. Just a simple broken ankle, for example, will often mean a medical escort home (usually required by the airline in case of complications in flight) and a first class seat for extra leg room.
  • You will not be covered if you  need extra accommodation to stay with a sick relative

    • 

Misconception 3: “I’ve got annual insurance so I’m covered for everything”

Reality: This is just not true. For example, even if you have annual travel insurance, you will only have winter sports cover if you have added it separately. This blog explains more.

You also need to check two things. First, does your policy have a limit on the number of days you can ski a year? Second, does your policy cover you for where you want to ski?

Misconception 4: “My travel insurance will cover all my costs”

Reality: Make sure you check your policy limits before you buy, as there will be maximum limits on payouts. Also, you will often need to pay an excess (The portion of a claim which must be paid by you, the policy holder). Remember to check the excesses in the policy booklet before you actually buy the policy.

Medical treatment abroad can be very expensive (particularly in certain countries like the USA) so make sure you have sufficient medical expenses cover – many will cover you for millions.

In the same way, check the maximum payout value for cancellation cover. If you are going on a luxury holiday, you may find that the cost of your holiday is more expensive than the standard payout offered in your policy, so make sure you check if you are covered. Some travel insurance providers may offer additional cancellation cover for these circumstances, like AllClear Cruise.

 Misconception 5: “I need to allow an extra few days for my travel insurance, just in case the return flight is delayed”

 Reality:  This is incorrect, you are normally covered by your travel insurance if your flight is delayed. You just need to use the actual dates of your holiday.

Remember, if you are in any doubt about what you are covered for, find out before you go from your travel insurance provider. Also, you can ask any questions below, and we will do our very best to help…

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Silver Surfers Day

Thursday, May 19th, 2011
travel insurance for older people

Are you a silver surfer?

This Friday is Silver Surfers Day, but before you all head out to Newquay with custom designed silver surfboards, I am talking about surfing of the online variety for the over 55s.

Silver Surfers’ Day is the biggest, national campaign to promote the use of digital technologies by older people and was launched by Digital Unite in 2002. They estimate that over the years more than one hundred thousand older people have engaged with digital technologies as a result of Silver Surfers Day events.

This year, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Silver Surfers’ Day, they have extended the campaign to a week-long activity, Spring Online, 16-20 May, to encourage more people than ever before to take part. Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day is delivered by Digital Unite in partnership with UK Online Centres, the BBC and Race Online 2012. 

At AllClear Travel, we think that Silver Surfers Day is a great way to encourage older people to get online.  One way where being online is useful is when searching for travel insurance. Unfortunately, a lot of elderly people often find it difficult to get the comprehensive travel insurance that they need for their holiday, especially if they have medical conditions, but this is where being able to search online makes things a little easier. AllClear Options is the UK’s first specialist travel insurance comparison site, so you can go online and enter all your details just once and then get a range of comprehensive travel insurance quotes, making sure you get the travel insurance that suits you.

Consider yourself a silver surfer? Not been online long? Do let us know your online experiences. And please take a look at AllClear Options and let us know what you think of it, too

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Do you need some sunshine in your life?

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

travel insurance for the elderly

How much do you enjoy the sunshine when you are on holiday?

‘After 70 years of age all is trouble and sorrow,” observed Robert Burton in his 17th-century treatise The Anatomy of Melancholy (read more here)

Now that might be a bit of an exaggeration nowadays, but one thing that we can notice as we get older is age-related disturbances of body rhythm – particularly the pattern of sleep and waking. How many older people do you know who get up incredibly early in the morning for example, even though they are retired, or don’t go to sleep until 2am – or are you one of those people?

Well there is some treatment for these disturbed sleep patterns, according to a report in the Archive of General Psychiatry . This is Bright Light Treatment. Just three weeks’ worth of light treatment produced a significant improvement in mood, comparable to that achieved by drugs, along with an increase in ”sleep efficiency’’. This form of treatment, he suggests, “provides a viable alternative to those who refuse, resist or are unable to take antidepressant medication”.

An interesting idea. Or maybe we all just need lots more holidays in the sunshine instead!? Remember, AllClear can provide specialist travel insurance for the elderly or if you have any existing medical conditions.

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