Crohn's Disease Travel Insurance

To get a quote by telephone, please call us on 01273 773 017 or chris@jsinsurance.co.uk

JS Insurance provides Single Trip, Annual Multi Trip and Long Stay Travel Insurance to those who have Crohn's Disease.

Crohns Disease:

Crohns Disease is a chronic inflammation of the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract. The inflammation can occur anywhere but usually occurs in the last section of the small intestine or the large intestine. This inflammation can damage the digestive system causing complications.

Travel Advice:

It is essential to take out comprehensive travel insurance. Inform the insurance provider that you have Crohns disease so you are fully covered in case you need treatment while you are away. If travelling in Europe, be sure to take your European Health Insurance Card.

Be sure to take plenty of medication with you plus some extra in case of delays. Keep your medication in its original packaging and make a note of its generic name in case you need to find replacements while away. Keep your medication in your hand luggage to reduce the chance of it being lost.

It is important to take all necessary precautions against picking up travellers diarrhoea as this can be particularly dangerous to people with Crohns disease. Eating under cooked meat, vegetables and fruit is particularly hazardous. Consuming unpasteurised dairy products should also be avoided. Do not drink the tap water if it is unsafe and be wary of ice in drinks and salads washed in tap water.

Make enquiries as to where you can receive medical assistance at your destination in case of emergency. Symptoms such as high fever and chills, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, dizziness and dehydration should be taken extremely seriously and medical assistance should be sought at once.

Symptoms:

Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, blood/mucus in faeces due to ulcers, weight loss, and fatigue. Symptoms can be highly variable and patients can go for months without experiencing any symptoms only to suffer a phase where the condition becomes aggravated. There is currently no cure but there are a wide variety of medications available to manage the symptoms. 80% of suffers will require surgery at some point in their lives to remove inflamed sections of the digestive system.

The main risk factor is smoking. It is known that smoking at least doubles the risk and smokers with Crohns disease are usually affected more severely. Crohns disease is far more common in developed countries so it is though to be caused by environmental factors combined with genetic predisposition.

Complications from Crohns Disease include:

• Stricture: This is the narrowing of the gut due to inflammation and scar tissue. This can cause pain and vomiting as the food is blocked from passing through the intestine.
• Perforation: If the blockage builds up enough pressure the gut can rupture, so causing the contents of the gut to leak into the abdomen. This can cause an infection or an abscess and is a potentially life threatening condition.
• Fistula:The inflammation can cause a channel to form between two parts of the body such as the small intestine to the colon, or the small intestine to the bladder. Perianal fistulas occur when a fistula forms between the anus or rectum and opens onto the skin near to the anus. They are common in Crohns disease patients and can be very painful.
• Cancer: People with Crohns disease have a slightly higher chance of developing colon cancer.
• Osteoporosis: Due to the poor absorption of food patients have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

When getting a quote for Crohns Disease, you will be asked a number of questions to ensure you get the right quote for you. These will be:

• Have you ever had any abdominal surgery for this condition?
• Have you ever had any episodes of bowel obstruction?
• How many hospital admissions have you had for THIS condition in the last 2 years?

If you are travelling with others, we can include them on the policy even if they do not have any pre existing medical conditions.

We will ask you a number of questions relating to your pre existing medical conditions, this will help us to provide you with a comprehensive quote.

We recommend that you read the Terms and Conditions for the full details of our Travel Insurance policy.

Useful Websites: Crohns Disease - Crohns Disease Wikipedia - Crohns Disease NHS - Crohns Disease Information

To get a quote by telephone, please call us on 01273 773 017 or chris@jsinsurance.co.uk

This Insurance is arranged by JS Insurance, underwritten by Towergate Underwriting and administered by UK Underwriting Ltd on behalf of Ageas Insurance Limited.