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Travel Insurance for surgery abroad

Selkie216

By Selkie216, in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

I now have my date and travel plans in place for surgery in the Czech Republic in early March. Do I need specialised travel insurance and if so where do I get if from?

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perforce    243

perforce
Posted (edited)

I chose not to get specialized insurance, but my surgery company did recommend a provider: http://medicaltravelshield.com/

Remember the EHIC card (E111) will not cover you if your purpose for travelling is to have surgery (though, if you injured yourself in a way unrelated to your surgery, like dropping you suitcase on your toe in the airport and breaking it, you would still be covered).

Who are you having your surgery with?

Edited by perforce

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

I've taken out travel insurance with Medical Travel Shield and it wasn't as much as I thought it would be. £240 for me and my partner.

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

I thought I didn't have enough information and joined various closed Facebook groups. Most people seemed to be doing liquid diets for a couple of weeks before hand so I did that too just to get a bit of weight off before I went. They are lovely people out there. Unfortunately they didn't do my op because one of the blood tests showed a high thyroid reading. So had an extra holiday. My GP very surprised they didn't do the op as the reading not high enough to warrant investigation. Just waiting for blood results here to come back. He can then put me on thyroxin for long enough to get the op done. If I want to go back out. The travel shield insurance doesn't pay for cancelled operations. I was so disappointed and will have to see how much it will cost me to go back

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scaredandexcited    5

scaredandexcited
Posted

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles did this mean you lost all of the money as you pay 4 weeks before surgery don't you?

I guess that them not doing surgery shows they don't take unnecessary risks but I cannot imagine your disapointment

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted (edited)

Being private they are very risk averse. My GP was impressed with all the tests. Bloods, chest X-ray, breathing and scope. I only lose the price of the tests and the transfers. Not the cost of the op, hubbies accommodation and anti clotting injections. So it will just be my flights and tests to pay for and a couple of extra nights hotel. I'm hoping that if I go out quite soon they won't have to do the scope and X-ray again.

Edited by Selkie216

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

They said they expected to see me back soon. So yes I assume once I have the tsh reading within their limits they will do the op. But I will be double checking before I go. I was totally floored by the whole thing. But we were going back to Prague before flying home so had 4 extra days holiday and just made the most of it and enjoyed ourselves.

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

I have just asked for the balance to be returned. They won't do the op till my TSH is within their limits. I can't get a blood test till the beginning of May. So have decided to get my money back and have a rethink of where I go.

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

I had my surgery on Tuesday and all has gone well. I went with a different organisation and felt much happier about them and the information provided. Things happen for a reason.

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RosieCheeks    105

RosieCheeks
Posted

Where did you go and who with in the end and how are you feeling?

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Selkie216    8

Selkie216
Posted

Czech Republic again but with New Leaf. Would recommend them. And they have a great on line support group. They also put you in touch with others travelling out at the same time

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Go To Topic Listing Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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