Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions in the UK⁹ with more than 8 million people (over 12% of the population) having been diagnosed with the condition⁸. Research has shown that young adults are most likely to be diagnosed with the condition with the number of asthmatic children decreasing and the number of asthmatic adults increasing⁸. Despite its commonality, asthma is a condition which is often overlooked and left undeclared when purchasing travel insurance.
Whether you suffer from mild or severe asthma, the thought of having an asthma attack can be daunting enough in the comfort of your own home, let alone having an asthma attack whilst on holiday. This is why it’s important to make sure you tell your insurer if you have a condition like asthma so that you can travel with peace of mind knowing that you have suitable cover, should your condition flare up while you’re away.
Is asthma classed as a respiratory condition on my travel insurance?
Yes. Asthma is the most common, chronic respiratory disease with two fundamental components that can make breathing difficult; inflammation and airway constriction¹. Therefore, it is important to declare your asthma – no matter how mild – when taking out a travel insurance quote, in case anything affects you during your trip. You’ll be asked a short set of questions when taking out a quote around your condition and day-to-day life, you can do this yourself online or with our friendly team by contacting us.
Will having asthma affect my travel insurance cover?
It shouldn’t do – we will ask a few questions to understand your overall health, then do our very best to offer cover. The questions we ask help us to provide the right cover and make sure that you’re protected if something were to go wrong on your trip.
Do I need to declare asthma on my travel insurance?
Whether your asthma is mild, severe, stable, or well-controlled, it’s still a respiratory medical condition. Therefore, like all other medical conditions, you must declare your condition when purchasing a policy to make sure you have suitable travel insurance protection and cover in place, should the unexpected happen while you are away.
What are the benefits of a travel insurance policy with asthma cover?
Living with asthma shouldn’t limit you from seeing the wonders of the world, or stop you from travelling to your favourite holiday destinations. Here at Get Going, we want to help you fulfil your travel goals and that means offering the right level of protection and cover for you. Our policies provide cover for the following:
- Up to £10 million medical expenses cover³
- Standard COVID cover included on all policies⁴
- Up to £5,000 cancellation cover⁵
- Mobility and disability equipment covered
- Up to £5,000 if you have to cut your trip short⁵
- Over 100 sports and activities included as standard
- Up to £4,000 personal possessions cover⁶
- Exclusive discount available for at-home COVID tests
Why Choose Get Going Travel Insurance with Asthma Cover?
- Rated ‘Excellent’ By Over 7,200 Customers!⁷
- Access to our 24/7 emergency medical assistance team
- 93% of our customers rated us 4 or 5 stars on Trustpilot⁷
- UK, Europe and Worldwide policies available
- Discounts available when buying cover online
- Discounts on Couples & Family policies
- FREE and SECURE Customer Area to access your policy details
Travel insurance for mild and severe asthma
Asthma impacts many people in many different ways, it is mostly categorised as either mild or severe, for some, having asthma is just an inconvenience. However, for others, having asthma can be an everyday struggle and cause problems in day-to-day life, from walking up the stairs to performing regular errands. But why should that stop you from experiencing your much-needed holiday?
We’re here to enable you to travel and offer you the right level of cover and protection needed for your trip. Although travelling with asthma can require a few more precautions and considerations than the usual traveller, with our cover in place, you’ll have the reassurance you need to fly away to your chosen destination.
Why Choose Get Going?
Over 1000 medical conditions considered
24/7 emergency medical assistance team
£10m cover for emergency medical expenses
93% of customers have rated us 4 or 5 stars $
Our top tips for travelling with asthma:
Preparation is key when travelling with asthma or with someone who has asthma. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some of the most important things to consider:
- Climate: For some people, changes in temperature and humidity can make asthma symptoms worse. No one knows you better than you, so make sure you choose a destination where the climate won’t worsen your condition. If you know your conditions get worse when it’s cold, maybe opt for somewhere hot. Don’t agree to go somewhere that could seriously impact your health just to please other people.
- Keep your inhaler on you at all times: Make sure you carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times (even in your hand luggage) and continue taking your regular preventer inhaler, as prescribed by your doctor.
- Know your triggers: Knowing what triggers your asthma is important, especially when you’re on holiday. Second-hand smoke, animals, alcohol consumption and open fires are just some of the many things that may worsen your condition. Try and avoid these situations as much as possible. You can do this by ensuring your accommodation meets your needs, avoiding certain activities, and planning ahead, in case you do potentially face an asthma trigger.
- Keep people informed: It’s important to let people know that you have asthma, especially those that you are travelling with. You don’t have to make a big deal about it, but make sure that they know where your reliever inhaler is, just in case your symptoms worsen. You could also give them a copy of your written asthma action plan, which is extremely handy if you’re visiting a country where not many people speak English.
- Speak to a doctor: If you have any concerns about going on holiday, make sure that you speak to a doctor or nurse, so they can answer all of your queries and concerns. For many, stress can be a trigger of asthma, so try and stay as relaxed as possible. When you have severe asthma, going away can be a scary thought, but as long as you have suitable cover and are well prepared, everything should run smoothly on your holiday.
For further information about going on holiday with asthma, please see the following resources:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/travelling-with-asthma/
SAVE 15%Ɨ BUYING ONLINE!
Frequently Asked Questions
¹ Pricing based on an individual, aged 50, travelling to France, for 3 days, if purchased within 93 days of travelling on an Get Going Basic Single Trip policy. Prices correct as of 12/09/2023
² Based on independent research conducted by finder.com in 2020: https://www.finder.com/uk/travel-insurance-customer-satisfaction-awards.
³ Under all Get Going policies
⁴ For more information about our coronavirus cover, including what is covered as standard on our policies and what additional cover can be purchased, please visit this page
⁵ Under all our Premier & Diamond policies
⁶ Under all our Diamond policies
⁷ Based on Trustpilot data from 2022
⁸ Source: https://statistics.blf.org.uk/asthma, up-to-date as of December, 2022
⁹ Source: https://borgenproject.org/six-common-diseases-in-united-kingdom/, up-to-date as of December, 2022
*ƗPlease note, Get Going ‘s online prices automatically include a 15% discount against our Customer Service Centre prices. This is discounted from our core policy price before you add any additional cost of optional extensions or additional medical premium.
$Get Going has been rated 4.7 out of 5 (Excellent) based on over 7000 customer reviews on Trustpilot. Based on Trustpilot data 2023
