Travel Insurance

Having a bleeding disorder should never stop you from travelling around the world and experiencing new cultures, however, you should always be well prepared. If you are thinking of going aboard, whether for business or pleasure, it is essential that you take out appropriate travel insurance for pre-existing conditions. This will give you peace of mind to enjoy your travels, knowing that you have all the cover you require. Without taking out insurance to cover existing conditions, including your bleeding disorder, you may be liable for any health care costs incurred, whether related to your bleeding disorder or not.
Always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad.


Before you travel, make sure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions to your insurer and answer questions about your medical history in full. The insurance companies listed below provide cover for pre-existing conditions, including haemophilia, von Willebrand disorder, and, in most cases, HIV and Hepatitis C. Following your trip, we would be interested in your feedback on whether the travel insurance company you chose was able, in practice, to meet your needs. This information could help other members in the future when they are looking at travel insurance. If you have any problems with travel insurance, please email [email protected]

Travel insurance companies

Each insurer will have its own list of pre-existing medical conditions and you might have to pay a premium or get specialist cover. You will have to shop around to find the best insurance for you. Below is a comprehensive list of insurance companies that provide cover for existing medical conditions.

What your travel insurance policy should cover

Health and medical emergencies
This is possibly the most important part of any travel insurance policy. If you do not take out adequate insurance, you will have to pay the costs for any medical emergency yourself. A medical emergency in another country can be very expensive, for example:
– £100,000: a stomach bug or infection treated in a hospital in the USA with return flights
– £100,000: a stroke in south-east Asia, with emergency treatment and medical repatriation to the UK
– £15,000: a fall in Spain, resulting in a broken hip, hospital treatment and flights

Your travel insurance should cover:

  • Emergency treatment and hospital bills can be expensive. Check whether your policy covers treatment in public or private hospitals
  • Emergency transport, such as ambulance fees or emergency repatriation on medical grounds
  • Getting home after treatment if you cannot use your original travel tickets
  • Reasonable costs for a family member or friend to stay with you or travel out to accompany you
    home if required
  • Temporary emergency dental treatment for the relief of immediate pain
  • 24-hour assistance helplines to offer support and advice about appropriate treatment
  • Repatriation costs in the event of death abroad (the cost of repatriation can vary; between £3,800 to as much as £17,000 depending on the country).

For more information see: www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance

Important requirements for treatment and travel

  • Get a letter written and signed by staff at your haemophilia centre (on headed paper) confirming that you are fit to travel, explaining the nature of the treatment you are carrying and why this should not be stored in the hold of the aircraft if you are travelling by air.
  • The letter should not be more than six months old.
  • The letter should ideally specify the brand name of the factor you will be carrying.
  • It’s a good idea to pass through security as early as possible to allow for delays.
  • Never put your treatment into the aircraft’s hold as it may get lost.
  • Because of strict security at airports, it is helpful to get a prior agreement to allow you to carry products as hand luggage from the airport and airline before you travel.
  • It is a good idea to contact the airport you are travelling from the UK to check the security requirements for travelling through security with your treatment.