Jetting off on holiday is exciting, but dealing with high cholesterol on your travels can sometimes be challenging.
Read on to find out how you can travel safely with high cholesterol, and how this condition can affect your travel insurance.
The risks of travelling with high cholesterol
There are numerous risks to watch out for when travelling with high cholesterol, including:
- salty and fatty foods
- long periods of being sedentary
- lack of fluids
What to do before travelling with high cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your next trip.
Speak to your doctor
Talk to your doctor to make sure they don’t have any concerns about the trip you’re taking.
You could also request a letter from your doctor about your condition so that if you do need medical treatment abroad, you can give this to any healthcare provider.
Prepare your medication
This includes making sure you’ve got enough medication for your trip (prescription medications are allowed in your carry-on luggage), as well as making sure the country you’re travelling to allows you to bring your specific medication across their borders.
Read our guide on how to safely travel with your medication.
Organise your documents
Keep your travel insurance documents, a list of the medications you take for high cholesterol, and your European Health Insurance Card or Global Health Insurance Card close to hand if you have one.
Consider your destination
Your access to medical attention may be more limited than in cities and towns if you’re travelling to a remote location.
Pack healthy snacks
It may be worth packing some healthy snacks for your journey or during your time at your destination so you can avoid high salt and fat foods.
What does travel insurance cover for people with high cholesterol?
People with pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to need medical assistance when on holiday, and might need to claim on their travel insurance.
A typical travel insurance policy should cover:
- emergency medical fees
- lost, stolen or damaged medication
- the cost of cancelling or cutting a trip short due to your condition
- repatriation if you need to return to the UK
If slightly older and travelling with high cholesterol, check out our guide to travel insurance for over 65s.
Does high cholesterol count as a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes. High cholesterol is considered a pre-existing medical condition by insurance companies, along with similar conditions like high blood pressure.
Does my condition affect my travel insurance?
Most insurers consider high cholesterol a pre-existing medical condition.
If you suffer from related conditions, like heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes or circulatory issues, you should also tell your provider after you’ve been diagnosed.
Do I have to declare I have high cholesterol when buying travel insurance?
Yes. If you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol (including if this is only controlled by diet) or another pre-existing medical condition, you should tell your current travel insurer immediately (regardless of whether you have any trips booked).
If you’re about to sign up for travel insurance, make it clear that you have this condition when you register.
If you don’t tell your insurer about a pre-existing medical condition (including high cholesterol), you may not be able to claim if something happens as a result of your condition on holiday.
Will it affect the price of my travel insurance?
If you have high cholesterol or another pre-existing medical condition, it may make your travel insurance more expensive.
But having to pay for your own medical care abroad, if you needed to, would be more expensive.
The cost of your travel insurance policy will always depend on:
- where you’re travelling to
- how long your trip is
- what you’ll be doing on your trip
- the nature or severity of your pre-existing medical condition
Does a GHIC or EHIC cover my high cholesterol?
Yes, it can do. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) can be used to reduce medical costs when travelling in certain EU countries.
It’s important to remember the EHIC and GHIC don’t fully cover medical expenses but can help reduce the cost. No repatriation or private medical costs are covered by either of these cards.
Read our guide on using the EHIC or GHIC card.
FAQs
Does my condition affect my travel insurance? Most insurers consider high cholesterol a pre-existing medical condition. If you suffer from related conditions, like heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes or circulatory issues, you should also tell your provider after you've been diagnosed.
Does cholesterol medication affect travel insurance? ›
In many cases, particularly if your cholesterol is well controlled by medication, adding this to the policy should not impact the price of your insurance.
What is considered high cholesterol for insurance? ›
What is considered high cholesterol for life insurance? The NHS recommends that 5 is a health level of cholesterol, with 3 or below being a healthy level for LDL (bad cholesterol). When applying for life insurance, if your readings are above 6, you are likely to find it more difficult to find life insurance.
Is it safe to travel with high cholesterol? ›
With the okay from a doctor, there should be no reason why your cholesterol levels will stop you enjoying your time away.
Is high cholesterol considered a pre-existing condition? ›
In the health insurance world, a pre-existing condition is any injury, sickness or condition that exists before the date an insurance policy takes effect. Examples include asthma, diabetes, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so on.
What doctors don't tell you about cholesterol? ›
Everyone knows that high cholesterol is a health problem. But you may be surprised to learn that cholesterol itself—a waxy, fat-like substance—is essential for important body functions, like making hormones, cell membranes, and certain vitamins. Cholesterol is produced and regulated by the liver.
What if I forgot my cholesterol medicine on vacation? ›
So, here's what you should do: Contact your healthcare provider back home. Ask them to email you a copy of your prescription, if you don't already have it, along with a letter from your doctor that explains why you need the medication.
What do insurance companies consider high cholesterol? ›
Typically, cholesterol over 200 is considered borderline high from a medical perspective. However, insurance companies may still offer preferred best rates for people with cholesterol of 275 or 300.
Can you fly while taking statins? ›
Lovastatin was followed by simvastatin (Zocor®), fluvastatin (Lescol®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), atorvastatin (Lipitor®), pitavastatin (Livalo®), and rosuvastatin (Crestor®). Every statin listed here is on the FAA Accepted Medications Database as approved for use while flying.
What are the 5 signs of high cholesterol? ›
You develop symptoms of heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis in other blood vessels, such as left-sided chest pain, pressure, or fullness; dizziness; unsteady gait; slurred speech; or pain in the lower legs. Any of these conditions may be linked to high cholesterol, and each requires medical help right away.
If total cholesterol levels are 240 mg/dl or above, a doctor will consider this very high, while 200–239 mg/dl is borderline high. Very high levels of LDL are 190 mg/dl and above. HDL cholesterol levels of 40 mg/dl or less are very low and a major risk factor for heart disease.
How to reduce cholesterol in 7 days? ›
The key things you can do to lower your cholesterol levels include:
- Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and avoid trans fat. ...
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes five times a week while increasing daily physical activity, such as a brisk walk or taking the stairs when possible.
- Lose weight.
- Stop smoking.
The short answer is, yes! Although high cholesterol is often seen as a minor condition, it's important to declare it on your travel insurance policy in case of any linked conditions. That way, if something happens to you whilst you're away, you can rest assured with peace of mind that it is covered.
Will taking statins increase my travel insurance? ›
Does taking statins affect travel insurance? If you're taking statins for controlling cholesterol levels, let your insurer know before you take out a policy. Even though they're a very common medication, they can still affect how likely you are to make a claim.
What can throw off a cholesterol test? ›
In other cases, you may get a result that seems off, but is actually correct and due to a factor you may not have thought of, like a medication you are on. There are several things that can affect your cholesterol test results, from alcohol consumption to pregnancy to simple human error.
Is high cholesterol considered a medical condition? ›
Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, and other problems. Common medical terms for high blood cholesterol are lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia, or hypercholesterolemia, with the last being the most precise.
Will high cholesterol deny life insurance? ›
Some life insurance companies require blood testing when applying for life insurance. High cholesterol may increase the price of life insurance. Depending on the insurance company, it could even cause your application to be denied. However, there are insurance companies that don't require these blood tests.
