Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance When You Have a Pituitary Condition
Planning a holiday or travelling abroad
Having a pituitary condition should not necessarily prevent you from travelling. With some planning and the right preparation, many people living with pituitary conditions enjoy holidays and travel both within Ireland and abroad.
If you are travelling outside Ireland, it is strongly recommended that you arrange comprehensive travel insurance before you travel.
Travel insurance can help protect you against unexpected costs, including emergency medical treatment, hospital care, medical repatriation to Ireland, cancellation, curtailment and other travel-related problems.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) recommends shopping around and checking that your policy provides the level of cover you need.
If you have a pre-existing pituitary condition
A pituitary condition is generally considered a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance purposes.
This may include conditions such as:
Hypopituitarism
Adrenal insufficiency
Growth hormone deficiency
Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency (AVP-D)
Diabetes insipidus
Cushing's disease
Acromegaly
Prolactinoma
Pituitary adenoma
Sheehan's Syndrome
Rathke's Cleft Cyst
Other pituitary or endocrine conditions
Having a pre-existing condition does not automatically mean that you cannot obtain travel insurance. However, you may need to complete a medical screening questionnaire, and the insurer may charge an additional premium or apply specific terms or exclusions.
Different insurers assess medical conditions differently, so it is worth shopping around and comparing several policies.
Always declare your medical condition
When applying for travel insurance, answer all medical questions accurately and honestly.
Make sure you declare:
Your pituitary diagnosis
Any hormone deficiencies
Any other relevant medical conditions
The medications and hormone replacement treatments you take
Recent hospital admissions or significant changes in your health
Any investigations, treatment or procedures you are awaiting
Any changes to your health since taking out an existing policy
If you do not declare a relevant pre-existing condition, you may find that a claim relating to that condition is not covered.
The CCPC advises travellers to disclose relevant pre-existing medical conditions and to check carefully whether their policy covers those conditions.
Has your health changed?
If your health changes after purchasing your travel insurance but before you travel, contact your insurer.
A change in your medication, diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission or other significant change in your health may affect your cover.
Always ask the insurer whether your policy remains valid.
Shop around for the right cover
Do not assume that the first travel insurance policy you find will be the most suitable.
You may find that one insurer will provide cover for your particular pituitary condition while another may exclude it or charge a significantly higher premium.
When comparing policies, consider:
Emergency medical expenses
Medical repatriation to Ireland
Cover for your pre-existing medical condition
Cancellation and curtailment
Lost, stolen or delayed baggage
Travel delays and missed departures
Personal liability
The policy excess
Any geographical restrictions
Any activities or sports you plan to take part in
The maximum duration of each trip
Any age restrictions
The insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance arrangements
The CCPC recommends comparing policy features and costs and carefully checking exclusions and restrictions before purchasing travel insurance.
Recently diagnosed or newly started treatment?
If you have recently been diagnosed with a pituitary condition or have recently started or changed treatment, obtaining travel insurance may sometimes be more complicated.
An insurer may ask additional medical questions or request further information before confirming cover.
This does not necessarily mean you cannot travel or obtain insurance.
However, do not assume that you are covered.
Contact the insurer or medical screening provider and explain your circumstances. Ask specifically whether your pituitary condition and any related complications are covered.
If one company cannot provide suitable cover, consider obtaining quotes from other insurers or specialist providers.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are travelling to an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you should also carry a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The EHIC allows people ordinarily resident in Ireland to access necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, subject to the healthcare rules of the country you are visiting. citeturn1search0turn1search1
The EHIC is free and each person travelling needs their own card. citeturn1search0
Important: an EHIC is not travel insurance
An EHIC does not replace comprehensive travel insurance.
It does not provide the same protection as travel insurance and does not cover everything, including medical repatriation to Ireland.
The Irish Government specifically advises travellers to have both an EHIC and appropriate travel insurance when travelling in Europe. citeturn1search2turn1search6
Check your medication before travelling
If you take hormone replacement medication, make sure you have enough medication for your entire trip.
It is sensible to take more medication than you expect to need, particularly in case your return journey is delayed.
Before travelling:
Check that all medications are in date.
Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging where possible.
Pack medication in your hand luggage rather than your checked baggage.
Carry a list of your medications and doses.
Consider carrying a copy of a prescription or letter from your GP or endocrinology team.
Check the rules for taking your medication into the country you are visiting.
Keep important medication easily accessible during your journey.
The Department of Foreign Affairs advises travellers to take enough medication for their trip, including extra medication in case of delays, and to check whether medication can be brought into the destination country.
If you take steroid replacement
If you have adrenal insufficiency and take steroid replacement, such as hydrocortisone, travelling requires additional preparation.
Before you leave, make sure you know your healthcare team's advice regarding:
Sick Day Rules
Make sure you understand when and how your steroid dose should be adjusted if you become unwell.
Emergency hydrocortisone
If you have been prescribed an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit:
Take it with you when travelling.
Check the expiry date before departure.
Keep it readily accessible.
Make sure you know how and when it should be used.
If travelling with a companion, consider teaching them how to administer the emergency injection if appropriate.
Medical identification
Consider carrying medical identification explaining that you have adrenal insufficiency and require steroid replacement.
This could include:
A steroid emergency card
Medical alert jewellery
A medical ID stored on your smartphone
Other appropriate medical identification
If you are unsure about your emergency arrangements, speak with your GP, endocrinologist or specialist healthcare team before travelling.
Consider taking a medical information pack
A small travel health folder or digital record can be useful, particularly if you are travelling internationally.
You may wish to include:
Your diagnosis
A current medication list
Medication doses
The names of your hormone replacement medications
Your GP's details
Your endocrinology team's details
Emergency contact details
Details of any allergies
A copy of relevant medical letters
Your travel insurance policy and emergency assistance telephone number
Your EHIC, if travelling within the EU/EEA or Switzerland
Keep important information somewhere that is accessible if you become unwell.
Before you travel
A little preparation can make travelling with a pituitary condition much easier.
Travel checklist
Arrange comprehensive travel insurance.
Declare all relevant pre-existing medical conditions.
Check that your pituitary condition is covered.
Check medical expenses and repatriation cover.
Read the policy exclusions and conditions.
Obtain or renew your EHIC if travelling within the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
Make sure you have enough medication for the entire trip.
Take additional medication in case of delays.
Keep medication in your hand luggage.
Check medication requirements for your destination.
Take your emergency hydrocortisone kit if prescribed.
Check that your emergency medication is in date.
Carry appropriate medical identification.
Make sure you understand your Sick Day Rules.
Take copies of important medical information.
Save your insurer's emergency assistance number in your phone.
Check the latest travel advice for your destination.
What if you become unwell abroad?
If you become unwell while travelling, follow the medical advice provided by your healthcare team and your insurance policy.
If you require emergency medical treatment, seek medical assistance immediately.
If you have travel insurance, contact the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance service as soon as reasonably possible and follow their instructions.
Keep your insurance policy number and emergency contact details easily accessible.
If you have adrenal insufficiency and believe you may be experiencing an adrenal crisis, treat this as a medical emergency and seek urgent medical attention.
Choosing a travel insurance provider
There are a number of insurers and specialist providers operating in or offering travel insurance to residents of Ireland.
Examples of providers currently advertising travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions include:
JustCover
JustCover offers specialist travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions and states that it provides cover for more than 1,300 conditions. Medical screening is part of the application process.
JustCover — Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions
Staysure Ireland
Staysure offers travel insurance specifically for people living in Ireland and provides medical screening for pre-existing conditions.
Staysure Ireland — Travel Insurance
The AA Ireland
The AA offers travel insurance to customers in Ireland and provides a medical screening process where pre-existing medical conditions need to be declared.
AA Ireland — Travel Insurance
Important: These are provided as examples of providers that advertise cover for people with medical conditions. Pituitary Ireland does not recommend or endorse any particular insurance company.
Insurance products, eligibility criteria, prices, medical screening requirements and policy terms can change. You should make your own enquiries and compare policies carefully before purchasing.
Official Irish travel information
For the most up-to-date information before travelling, we recommend checking official Irish sources.
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
The CCPC provides independent consumer information about travel insurance, including what to look for when comparing policies and how pre-existing medical conditions can affect cover.
CCPC — Travel Insurance
Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides country-specific travel advice, including information about safety, security and local conditions.
Department of Foreign Affairs — Travel Advice
European Health Insurance Card
Government of Ireland — European Health Insurance Card
Pituitary Ireland
At Pituitary Ireland, we want people living with pituitary conditions to be able to live their lives as fully and confidently as possible.
Having a pituitary condition does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel.
Good preparation, including appropriate travel insurance, sufficient medication, medical identification and an understanding of your emergency treatment, can help you travel with greater peace of mind.
If you are unsure whether you are medically fit to travel, or have questions about your medication or emergency treatment, speak with your GP, endocrinologist or specialist healthcare team before travelling.
Important disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general information and educational purposes only. Pituitary Ireland does not provide medical, financial or insurance advice and does not recommend or endorse any particular insurance provider.
Travel insurance policies vary considerably. Always read the full policy terms, conditions, exclusions and medical screening requirements and confirm directly with the insurer that your individual pituitary condition and related medical needs are covered before you travel.