Backpacking with medical issues

sazaccount

Hi lovely forum people, :beer:

I wasn't sure where to put this....

So after not getting the job I had gone for (previous thread in buying my own home) I have decided to go traveling again.

I had been debating it for a long time and saving but in the middle of last year I got the results from an MRI on my hip which has been causing me mobility issues so now I'm under a orthopedic surgeon, after a failed op in feb I have decided not to let it hold me back any longer (I'm not getting any younger )

I kind of have a route planned out leaving in sept, India (hoping to volunteer at a guiding center for 5 months) Thailand, Cambodia, possibly Vietnam (for 2 months) then a couple of months in Australia and then a working hol visa in NZ.

My issue is I'm on painkillers for my hip, I also get migraines (currently on medication each day for but beach life will hopefully mean I dont need them) and IBS which the painkillers for the hip control . Looking online you can get a 3 month supply from the doc here but its being able to get medication locally when I'm travelling. I know I will have to pay and hopefully if someone can help with how much a doctors appointment would be, weather medication costs lots in these countries (Or if someone can point me in the right direction of where I could get rough costs from)

Or even any good insurance companies for pre existing conditions

Also if anyone has any experience travelling with a disability or any places which would be good to visit. On a good day I can properly walk about a mile without stopping (I can do walking city tours if the area is flat as they stop and start), on a very bad day I have to use the wall to support me going to the bathroom (If that helps).

Thanks for any help and advise!!!! :T

agrinnall

I'd speak to your GP, I was given 4 months supply of medication when I was travelling in SE Asia, and I can't see any reason why they wouldn't give you a supply for the duration of your travel unless there is a need for reassessment after a certain period.

Browntoa

staysure for travel insurance , give them a ring


http://www.staysure.co.uk/travel-insurance

[Deleted User]

sazaccount wrote: »

Hi lovely forum people, :beer:

I wasn't sure where to put this....

So after not getting the job I had gone for (previous thread in buying my own home) I have decided to go traveling again.

I had been debating it for a long time and saving but in the middle of last year I got the results from an MRI on my hip which has been causing me mobility issues so now I'm under a orthopedic surgeon, after a failed op in feb I have decided not to let it hold me back any longer (I'm not getting any younger )

I kind of have a route planned out leaving in sept, India (hoping to volunteer at a guiding center for 5 months) Thailand, Cambodia, possibly Vietnam (for 2 months) then a couple of months in Australia and then a working hol visa in NZ.

My issue is I'm on painkillers for my hip, I also get migraines (currently on medication each day for but beach life will hopefully mean I dont need them) and IBS which the painkillers for the hip control . Looking online you can get a 3 month supply from the doc here but its being able to get medication locally when I'm travelling. I know I will have to pay and hopefully if someone can help with how much a doctors appointment would be, weather medication costs lots in these countries (Or if someone can point me in the right direction of where I could get rough costs from)

Or even any good insurance companies for pre existing conditions

Also if anyone has any experience travelling with a disability or any places which would be good to visit. On a good day I can properly walk about a mile without stopping (I can do walking city tours if the area is flat as they stop and start), on a very bad day I have to use the wall to support me going to the bathroom (If that helps).

Thanks for any help and advise!!!! :T

You can get any prescription drug you want OTC in India and SE Asia.

sazaccount

agrinnall wrote: »

I'd speak to your GP, I was given 4 months supply of medication when I was travelling in SE Asia, and I can't see any reason why they wouldn't give you a supply for the duration of your travel unless there is a need for reassessment after a certain period.

Thanks agrinnall, I'm not planning on being bk in the UK for at least a year , But i'll have another chat with the GP/travel nurse

sazaccount

Browntoa wrote: »

staysure for travel insurance , give them a ring

http://www.staysure.co.uk/travel-insurance

thanks browntoa, I'll give them a call as I can't see if they do back packing insurance

sazaccount

Deleted_User wrote: »

You can get any prescription drug you want OTC in India and SE Asia.

Hi Tom, have u been recently?? Reading online it seems Thailand have had a crack down on some of the prescription meds OTC
xx

sazaccount

Hi all,

I thought it would be easier to resurrect the thread instead of starting a new one....

I'm having some issues with insurance, can I not tell an insurance company of a pre-existing condition and not claim if anything happens (with my conditions its unlikely possibly only painkillers which I'm happy to pay for myself either OTC in asia or seeing the doctor and paying via medicare in Oz). Or can I tell them just to dismiss them on any claims.

Or does anyone know of any other insurance companies that do backpacker insurance for pre-existing conditions, I'm waiting a call back from staysure from a nurse to go into further details.

Thanks

xx

AlexMac

Well saz, all I can say is sorry about the job; my "Streep/De Niro Technique" advice (the previous property post you mention) obviously wasn't good enough!

But with positive mental attitude like yours you will be great!

Enjoy the trip.
A

sazaccount

Thanks AlexMac, it wasn't meant to be, its the catch 22 situation of I have the qualification but not the experience and you need the experience for the jobs. I'm currently working on getting some experience but trying to juggle 2 jobs and other bits I'm not too sure when I'm going to sleep for the next week

sazaccount

Hi all,

I hope you lovely forum members dont mind me resurrecting an old thread, but just for anyone who maybe searching the forums:

While searching for backpacking insurance most of the quotes for a year with my pre-existing medical issues (there nothing too major but more than 1 on most company's lists which you dont need to tell them about)

I was getting to the point of just not telling them until I came across alpha insurance, they do annual, normal hol insurence and "long stay" policies for backpackers.
Putting in my medications and issues came up with £100 extra excess to pay ontop of the "normal" excess on for any claims which include any of the declared ones.

This is brilliant for me as other than going to a pharmacy to get some pain killers, I can't see me having a medical emergency with my pre-existing conditions, and if I do the money I'm saving I can keep to one side to cover this.

Cover for 18 months worldwide ex USA (I don't plan on going at the moment and If i do I can upgrade the policy) choosing £100 excess has come up to around £280 which is less than half of the other policies I had been looking at!!!!

Thanks
x