Hi Bubbles -
Yes, buy the travel insurance with your flight package. I bought with our Hawaii vacation, it was about $350.00 and was well worth the cost! I booked utilizing Expedia, it was fairly clear cut.
Good luck to you on your travels and have fun!
Thank you all for your kind replies! I called AAA but need to call them back at 9am when they start working ;).
Laura I will go check out your friends website right now!!
Doublevision, this makes me sad :(.... When I travel home to the UK I never bother with insurance as I know I'll be fine there if anything happens, but I'm not so sure about japan so want insurance. If I can't find a good plan I might go with a refundable flight instead? Then if I need to cancel/ rearrange its ok. Better than paying for insurance thats worth nothing.
I'm having an MRI today to see how Rebif is working for me. I feel really great and I think its working!! I have had two small relapses this year though, so they will not count it as stable...... but I'll keep digging around :)
Thank you all!!!
AS if it were meant to be, I got an email from a friend today, unveiling her new website that is all about travel for people with disabilities- Deb is great and I know she would be happy to talk with you about travel insurance. Her new site is
http://scooterview.com/
Here's a example of what to look for in understanding this aspect of a travel insurance policy:
"Pre-Existing condition" is defined in the policy booklet as a medical condition that exists before your effective date of insurance.
"Medical condition" is defined in the policy booklet as an injury, illness or disease; complication of pregnancy within the first thirty-one (31) weeks of pregnancy; a mental or emotional disorder that requires admission to a hospital or acute psychosis
Stable – a medical condition is stable if all of the following apply:
you have not had a new symptom, or an increase in how frequent or severe any existing symptoms are; and, a physician has not found a new symptom;
you have not received any new test findings;
your physician has not received any test results showing that your medical condition is getting worse;
you have not received, been prescribed or had a physician recommend any new medication, any change in medication or any new treatment or any change in treatment;
you have not been in the hospital or referred to a specialist or specialty clinic (including a referral that a physician has started or recommended);
you have not had further tests and are not waiting for any test results.
"Change in medication" means the medication dosage or frequency has been reduced, increased, stopped and/or new medication(s) has/have been prescribed. Exceptions: the routine adjustment of Coumadin, Warfarin or insulin (as long as they are not newly prescribed or stopped) and there has been no change in your medical condition; and, a change from a brand name medication to a generic brand medication of the same dosage.
Other conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. Please see the policy for details.
http://www.coverme.com/products/travel-canadians-limit.jsp
Travel insurance policies typically have exclusions with respect to pre-existing conditions, and require a specified period of stability of that condition prior to purchase, in order to be eligible for reimbursement, should you need to file a claim. The last policy I purchased required six months' stability of pre-existing condition in order to be covered, should I need to cancel/interrupt travel. Time periods vary so be sure to know the details of the specific policy. Read all of the definitions, such as what they consider to be "stability...."
When I was planning my visit to Hong Kong last year, I was on the verge of purchasing a plan when I asked the insurance agent to explain this part to me. She said ANY change in symptoms, meds, MRI results, etc means the condition is not stable. I had happened to just switch meds, I think it was from amitriptyline to nortriptyline, which is virtually the same thing, but the latter tends not to cause as much urinary hesitancy. She said in their opinion my condition hadn't been stable for 6 months (despite 18 months since prior relapse) so if I needed to file a claim related to my MS, the exclusion clause would apply. I explained to her I WAS stable and had the neurology reports to prove it, and that the med change was like changing from Advil to Motrin, but no go. Since my only health related concern was my MS, I took my chances and didn't buy insurance. If need be my flight could be changed for a fee, and hotel cancelled with no fee, so the only possible issue was of course health care in Hong Kong should I have needed it, but fortunately my friend there had a private doctor who he said would treat me and not to worry about a fee. ( Luckily I didn't need him, though I did happen to end up with laryngitis the whole time I was there. Bleh.)
Research and compare plans with a focus on exclusions related to pre-existing condions. As much as possible, try to purchase flights, hotels, etc that can be cancelled for zero or nominal fee.
Lastly, you might want to consider asking your neuro for a Rx of oral steroids, should you relapse while travelling. I did this when I was travelling through Northern Europe /Russia in case access to care was an issue. It was agreed I was only to take the meds if I had a serious relapse, not just minor sensory stuff. I didn't need it but it was reassuring to have it on hand just in case.
TashaPup, have fun planning Italy. I'm there next May too. :)
Kat...I don't have a lot of info to add to your question, except that I am currently working with a AAA agent, to help me with scheduling my flight, etc to Italy, next May. She was actually the one who brought up travel insurance (after I had mentioned I was being tested for possible MS...also am recovering from a brain injury). I had not even thought about that...so, my point is...I agree with Laura, that a AAA agent, might be a good source to contact, re. your issue. I wish you the best of luck, Kat! And...have a great trip! Jan.
Be sure to check your existing plan. We're due in Japan in May (if our friend ever tells us his wedding date!) and our regular policies include up to €100,000 for each of us. We may get a separate 'top-up' from our provider, but when travelling in Europe or the Caribbean, this already included cover has been what we've gone with.
Great link, Milliepede!
So glad you're in remission and enjoying it!
There's a fellow MSer with a website, ActiveMSers, http://www.activemsers.org. His name is Dave and he and his wife travel a lot. He may have some tips for you.
Travel? I love it and wish I could take a trip to Japan or anyplace in the Far East. I've been in the habit of buying trip insurance to cover the cost of our airline tickets or cruises, but I'm not sure about insurance for all of your possible needs. Do you happen to belong to AAA? I would contact them and discuss it with their agents who know these answers.
Good for you to not hesitate on these trips and I'm especially happy to head your are feeling well. ~Laura