INSURING EQUIPMENT WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD FROM UK

Hi. I’m new to this forum, and looking for some advice. I’m heading to Tenerife from UK and I have to get my cpap equipment insured. House insurance say they won’t cover it as it doesn’t actually belong to me, plus they don’t insure medical equipment.
Any suggestions?
Thank you

"Have to get it insured"?

Carrying it on your person ( carry on luggage ) eliminates most all risk of problems with it getting lost or damaged.

Even insurance cannot get you a replacement machine and equipment any faster than you can do it yourself.

The cost of the insurance might be prohibitive. Or not. You will have to research that on your own. But insurance typically makes money for the agency at a rate that might make you better off to "self insure". If you can spare the money to buy the equipment out of pocket, buying insurance is likely a waste of money. Especially over time.

realshelby wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:50 am

"Have to get it insured"?

Carrying it on your person ( carry on luggage ) eliminates most all risk of problems with it getting lost or damaged.

Even insurance cannot get you a replacement machine and equipment any faster than you can do it yourself.

The cost of the insurance might be prohibitive. Or not. You will have to research that on your own. But insurance typically makes money for the agency at a rate that might make you better off to "self insure". If you can spare the money to buy the equipment out of pocket, buying insurance is likely a waste of money. Especially over time.

I'm not sure if it's covered by travel insurance. My bigger worry is the need for immediate replacement than the cost. I always get travel insurance anyhow, since a lot of things can happen. The really expensive contingency is if you need evacuation, especially medical evacuation. The more normal things that they pay for are doctor visits, lost luggage, missed connections, the need to cancel before the departure date, and that sort of thing.

Instead of getting medical insurance, get a second used machine.

You can get some terrific deals, if you're patient.

Hi Jessie,

I live In Gloucestershire, and I've travelled a bit. And through working in publishing, I've learned a bit about UK law.

The first question is, should anything happen to your sleep apnea equipment while in Tenerife, whose is the loss?

Since – if you are an NHS patient – the machine is on permanent loan to you from the NHS, the machine belongs to them. If anything happens to it while it is in your possession, the loss is theirs. And in theory, as a remedy, they could sue you.

So, if you wanted to guard against that, what you are looking for is liability insurance – the same as you might set up if you were a publisher, wishing to protect yourself against possible libel claims or prosecutions for indecency.

You would need to contact a specialist broker – one who specialises in liability insurance. Such insurance isn't something you can pick up at any High Street travel agent.

But for one sleep apnea machine, plus mask, I have to say: for the financial risk involved in this case – with replacement cost less than £1,000 – I don't know if any major liability insurer would take you.

For one thing, there would be the business of specifying what the precautions must be. In the case of publishing, the insurer can stipulate that all major copy is read by a lawyer to 'certify' that it is not defamatory (or else the insurance is invalid). Or in the case of pictorial matter, that a lawyer experienced in indecency law would review 'the art' to remove any that is likely to get prosecuted.

But I don't think anything like that applies to you, one patient, planning to go on your travels – although you are being conscientious and public-minded to think about it. I think you can safely assume that the NHS has factored into its 'sums' that there will be a percentage of loss in any batch of a thousand machines they buy and distribute to patients. And that they accept that some losses will occur.

So it is unlikely that the NHS would sue you. They would probably just write it off as unfortunate. And issue you with another machine.

The real issue is, I think, your health and well-being. And what it's worth thinking about is the various things you can do to make sure that you don't go a night without treatment.

Hello again, Jessie,

This may have already occured to you. If not ...

In some countries, including the USA, there are regulations which say that sleep apnea equipment does not count as part of carry-on baggage allowance, and in effect say that you may not be separated from it, if you wish to keep it safely with you.

But in other jurisdictions and with some non-US-based airlines, there aren't any such rules.

As an added protection and to make things easier at check-in and at the boarding stage, you should get a covering letter from your doctor. So, well before you travel, you should ask your sleep-medicine department to provide you with such a letter on official hospital-name-headed notepaper, saying 'this is vital medical equipment', and requesting that you not be separated from it.

(The staff at the SMD will have been asked for this before, so it shouldn't be a problem for them.)

You may find that you do not need this document. But if there is a problem, you will be prepared.

You can also call the airline several days before you travel to let them know you are bringing medical equipment – and to confirm that their policy allows you take it with you into the cabin. And make a note of the name of whoever at the airlines's head office speaks with you.

If there is any problem at the gate, you can bring up that name and that conversation.

I have flown with Ryanair, Delta and Tui from Bristol, Heathrow and Gatwick no questions asked about my cpap device and a backpack. I place it by my feet so I am not taking up vital overhead space (unless sitting in emergency exits where it goes in the overhead with everything else)

I did get a letter from my local hospital but it's never been asked for.

I think the ground crews at UK airports are all pretty hip by now. They process thousands of people a day. They catch on fast, and they've seen enough PR or ResMed bags to 'get it'.

What I had in mind was Jessie having 'insurance' should s/he meet up with a real unaware jobsworth.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:43 am

Instead of getting medical insurance, get a second used machine.

You can get some terrific deals, if you're patient.

I do recommend having a spare machine at home. However, it is not feasible to travel with tow machines, so an immediate replacement or loaner is needed when away from home. That is what I would want insurance to handle.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 4:23 pm

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:43 am

Instead of getting medical insurance, get a second used machine.

You can get some terrific deals, if you're patient.

I do recommend having a spare machine at home. However, it is not feasible to travel with two machines, so an immediate replacement or loaner is needed when away from home. That is what I would want insurance to handle.

The problem with insurance is....they work on their schedule. Just calling from the airport to say your luggage is lost won't necessarily get them to help right away. THAT is why I say it is up to you to purchase one locally if possible. Then wait on reimbursement if you do have insurance or file with the airline. There is a reason some countries allow the extra carry on cpap luggage. They know the record on lost luggage!!!

Even if lost or damaged luggage would be a rarity, I still would not want to take the chance. I don't know the danger of missing one or two nights, and I don't want to find out or ruin my vacation by feeling lousy.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:36 am

Even if lost or damaged luggage would be a rarity, I still would not want to take the chance. I don't know the danger of missing one or two nights, and I don't want to find out or ruin my vacation by feeling lousy.

Except, you keep basing your assumption that when traveling, should your machine get lost or damaged, one quick call to the insurance and you'll have your replacement machine within the hour.

It just doesn't work that way.

Let me guess---you were told you "needed" insurance by a party hoping to SELL this insurance?
Equivalent to a surgeon pushing unnecessary surgery.
Always consider the intent of the messenger . . .

Best Way to Insure your XPAP is safe while traveling is to keep it in your personal control (With You). If you think you can't do it yourself, ask D.H. how he does it. Jim

Not Really!!!

jesscaper wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 21, 2021 5:21 pm

To be honest, I haven't insured my equipment yet.

kind of you and all, but the op hasn't been back since november 2020.