Travel and kidney disease

We know how much it means to you to break free of your routine and experience something new. But to minimise the chance of any emergencies, please discuss the timing of your trip with your doctor before you leave.

While overseas, keep an up-to-date treatment letter from your doctor (summarising your health condition, recent blood results and your medications) with you at all times. We also recommend keeping a hard copy in your checked luggage, and an electronic copy in your email in case you lose the letter or need to send it to someone urgently.

As a back-up, you may consider creating a profile and registering these details on Australia’s electronic database, My Health Record.

If you have end-stage kidney disease and require dialysis, you’ll need to do a little more planning than those in early-stage or middle-stage. As well as taking into account all the advice mentioned above, please be aware that blood tests are compulsory for most dialysis units in Australia and around the world – so make sure you allow time for this to happen throughout your travels.

For more information, you can view our travel on peritoneal dialysis page. If you are currently undergoing dialysis at home, you can view our travel on home haemodialysis page.

Travelling with a kidney transplant is possible, but it requires special attention. The first step is talking to your medical professional before making any plans. For supporting information, you may read our transplant and travel fact sheet. It provides an overview of what you should know before you go.

Whether you take out travel insurance with your credit card provider, private company or preferred insurance broker, we strongly suggest reviewing the wording of your policy carefully and securing an appropriate level of cover before you book any travel. Ideally it covers pre-existing conditions.

As a guide, travel insurance may be granted if you:

• have chronic kidney disease
• have had a transplant six months ago or more
• are free of complications from your transplant and your overall health is stable.

As a guide, travel insurance may not be granted if you:

• are on a transplant waiting list
• require dialysis treatment
• have a complex health history.

If you had private health insurance at the time you developed chronic kidney disease, you may have some cover for dialysis while travelling. Check with your provider directly.

If you find it difficult to secure travel insurance that covers your current condition, we recommend taking out basic travel insurance that will at least cover some emergencies. Another option is asking your bank or private health provider (pending you have a policy). If they offer travel insurance and you’re already a customer, you may be in a better position to secure a policy that features coverage for what you need.

Please note that formal Reciprocal Health Care Agreements that exist between Australia and New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Malta, Slovenia and Norway do not replace health insurance. For further information, you may find Overseas visitors and dialysis useful.