A chronic disease doesn't have to keep you home. On the contrary, even seriously ill people should go on vacation. Appropriate climate change, detachment from the daily routine significantly reduce symptoms and strengthen the body and psyche.
Chronic diseasemeans that we won't spend everywheresafe holidays . When choosing a destination, it is worth considering where you can go so that the climate is favorable for he alth. People with orthopedic problems, asthmatics and people after a heart attack should not go to high mountains. A trip to the seaside is not recommended for people with dermatological problems, unstable arterial hypertension, migraines and dizziness. Seniors should consider whether it is a good idea to travel to countries where temperatures often exceed 40 ° C. In old age, such heat is uncomfortable and the trip may end with sitting in an air-conditioned room.
Take your medication with you
People who are constantly taking medications should make sure that they take the right amount of medications. This is important, especially when we are going on holiday abroad. We should also remember that we do not keep any medications in the sun (some must be stored in the refrigerator - the information is on the packaging) and protect them from getting wet. Plastic bags with a zipper are a good idea for a handy first aid kit, which ensures their tight closure and protects them from getting wet or damp (available at household goods stores). In serious illnesses, e.g. after a heart attack, it is worth having a short medical history with you, so that in the event of a deterioration in he alth, the local doctor knows what treatment was used, what medications were given and how we responded to them.
EHIC card
The European He alth Insurance Card en titles you to take advantage of medical services in the countries of the European Economic Area (which countries belong to this group - see the box). It confirms the right to use, at the expense of the National He alth Fund, the necessary he alth services during a stay in another EU Member State. Eligibility for free care is defined in detail and is limited only to cases of sudden illness or accidents during your stay abroad. It is worth adding that Polish citizens are being treated forabroad under the same conditions as the nationals of the country in which they are staying. In some countries there is patient co-payment for medical services, so we too must comply with this regulation. It is worth making sure that the facility that is to help us respects the conditions of the EHIC. The card is issued free of charge at NFZ branches to all insured persons. It is valid for 5 years for pensioners, while for pensioners, employees and their families, students only 6 months.
Worth knowingWhere to with the EHIC?
Countries belonging to the European Economic Area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, M alta, Germany, Portugal , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary, Great Britain, Italy. These countries also include Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway - although they are not EU members.
Additional insurance
When buying a vacation in a tourist office, we are insured in accordance with the general terms and conditions of insurance. Unfortunately, such insurance usually does not cover the cost of treatment abroad if we are hospitalized because of a chronic disease or its complications. Therefore, you should carefully read the insurance conditions, the so-called travel policy, so that in the event of a he alth deterioration, we do not feel disappointed that we have to cover the costs out of our own pocket. Of course, you can buy additional insurance, but in the case of chronic diseases it is much more expensive (sometimes even 300-400%) than the standard one. It is also worth reading what a given insurance company understands by "chronic disease". These are usually conditions that last longer than 2 months, e.g., asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, etc. But the insurer will cover the cost of treatment if the chronic disease is not diagnosed before traveling abroad and during travel symptoms that required immediate attention or life-saving measures. It is also worth knowing that some insurance companies exclude the consequences of practicing, for example, extreme sports from insurance coverage. So if we plan such classes, it is better to take additional insurance.
ImportantCheck if your policy will be honoredWhoever plans to travel outside Europe must check if they have the correct insurance before leaving. Proper, that is, one that will be honored by local authorities. This is extremely important as many countries do not honor policies signed withPolish insurance companies or EHIC cards. For example: in the United Arab Emirates, only the policies of companies operating in that country are recognized. Côte d'Ivoire only accepts the policies of major French insurance companies. But you can go to Uruguay with the Polish policy, although the scope of medical services provided on the spot under the policy will differ from our standards.
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