Can you get travel insurance if you have a kidney condition?
The last thing you need is an insurance provider who hesitates as soon as they hear the words “kidney patient” or “post-transplant”.
Avanti specialises in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions and any age, including many kidney conditions. With us, you can get unlimited emergency medical expenses,* meaning a sudden infection or kidney stone abroad doesn’t have to become an eye-watering bill. And if things do go wrong, the 24-hour assistance team steps in fast, arranging the right care, and organising a safe journey home if your renal team call time on the trip.
One point to keep in mind: we won’t be able to insure you if you’re on dialysis now or have been advised to start it before you travel. Unfortunately, we’re also unable to cover terminal cases. For earlier-stage CKD, stable transplants, single kidneys or a history of stones, we’ll do everything we can to help you holiday with confidence.
Get your quote
Top tip: call us for complex kidney conditions
Online quotes are quick, but a phone call can be easier when your medical story involves something a bit more complicated, like transplant medication or a single functioning kidney. Our specialist team understand the complexities of travelling with a kindney condition, and will talk you through the screening process with kindness and respect.
If we’re able to provide cover but your condition changes down the line, don’t worry. Just log in to My Avanti or ring us back; we’ll rescreen and update the paperwork, so your cover keeps pace with your medical notes.
What does kidney travel insurance cover?
Here’s a quick look at when your policy will and won’t apply. If you’re not sure how any of these points might affect you, our friendly team can talk them through over the phone and help you understand what your cover includes.
We can usually help if you…
- have to cancel your trip or come home early
If illness, injury or bereavement means you can’t travel or need to cut your holiday short, we’ll help with the costs you can’t get back.
- need emergency medical treatment abroad
If you fall ill or get injured overseas, we’ll cover hospital treatment, ambulance transport and – if needed – medical repatriation, with help from our 24-hour assistance team.
- lose your bags or passport
If your baggage, valuables or travel documents are lost or stolen, we’ll help you replace essentials so you can carry on with your trip.
- are disrupted by bad weather or strikes
If your flight or connection is delayed because of unexpected bad weather, strike action or a vehicle breakdown, we’ll help cover reasonable travel or accommodation costs to get you where you need to be. (This doesn’t apply if the strike or disruption was already public knowledge when you booked your trip).
- are delayed on your journey (Classic and Deluxe)
If your flight or ferry is delayed for 12 hours or more, you’ll get a fixed payment to help with the inconvenience.
- can’t stay in your accommodation (Classic and Deluxe)
If a fire, flood or major power cut means you can’t stay in your hotel or apartment, we’ll help arrange and pay for somewhere else.
- are admitted to hospital while abroad (Classic and Deluxe)
If you’re kept in hospital overnight, we’ll pay a daily benefit to help with small personal costs while you recover. (If you’re injured in a mugging, an extra payment may also apply).
- are delayed by volcanic ash (Deluxe only)
If a volcanic ash cloud grounds your flight for more than 12 hours, you’ll receive a fixed payment to help with the delay.
- accidentally cause injury or damage
If you unintentionally injure someone or damage their belongings, your policy includes personal liability protection.
- are injured in an accident abroad
If you need legal help after being injured overseas, we’ll cover your legal costs, so you’re not left to manage it alone.
Cover won’t apply if you…
- haven’t told us about a medical condition
If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, or if your health changes before you travel and you don’t update your policy, we won’t be able to cover related claims.
- travel against UK Government or medical advice
There’s no cover if you travel somewhere the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against, or if your doctor says you shouldn’t travel for medical reasons.
- have an accident because of alcohol or drugs
We can’t cover claims if alcohol or drugs directly or indirectly contribute to an accident, injury or loss.
- miss a flight because of personal delays
If you don’t leave enough time to reach the airport or check-in, we can’t pay for missed flights or connections.
- leave belongings unattended
There’s no cover if something is lost or stolen after being left unattended – for example, on a sunbed, in an unlocked car or in a public place.
- are travelling for arranged medical treatment abroad
Travel insurance is designed for unexpected illness or injury, not for medical procedures, tests or check-ups arranged before you go.
- booked during a known strike or disruption
If strike action or travel problems were already public knowledge when you booked, your policy won’t apply to those delays or cancellations.
- take part in an activity that isn’t covered
Some higher-risk activities – such as certain winter sports – aren’t automatically included unless you’ve added the right optional cover.
- are waiting for a medical procedure
If you’re awaiting an operation or follow-up test, cancellation and curtailment claims won’t be covered unless it’s an accepted procedure shown on your validation certificate.
Types of kidney conditions we regularly cover
97% of customers who declare a condition are offered cover with us. In fact, since 2014, we’ve helped more than 1.3 million travellers arrange cover for over 1,300 medical conditions (subject to screening) – from high blood pressure and diabetes to cancer and heart disease.
In the rare event we can’t offer you travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, we’ll always try to point you in the right direction. We’re proud to be listed by MoneyHelper – a government-backed money guidance service that keeps a free, independently run directory of those who might be able to help with pre-existing medical conditions.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
From early-stage monitoring to more advanced management (but before dialysis), CKD can often be added to our travel insurance policies.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Whether you’re living with occasional discomfort or regular follow-ups, PKD is something we routinely consider for cover, subject to screening.
Kidney stones
Stones have a habit of choosing the worst moments to strike. Share a few details during screening. In many cases, we can include them, so you’re protected if discomfort turns into a detour to A&E.
Impaired kidney
Many customers travel happily with one working kidney or lower-than-average function levels. Let us know about your condition, and we’ll help you find the right cover.
Kidney failure
If your renal team hasn’t scheduled dialysis and you’re cleared to fly, we’ll aim to build a policy that reflects your current health.
Kidney transplant
A settled transplant, routine clinic reviews and medication you know inside out? In many cases, we can include your transplant on the policy.
Get your quote
Top tip: GHIC cards vs travel insurance for kidney patients
Your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is great for basic, state-run care in Europe, but it usually stops short of the heavy-duty help kidney patients sometimes need. Travel insurance, on the other hand can often cover:
- emergency dialysis sessions if an acute injury bumps you into kidney failure.
- replacement immuno-suppressants if airline delays leave your transplant drugs stranded in a suitcase (on Classic and Deluxe policies).
- an air ambulance home if dehydration triggers an emergency that local hospitals can’t stabilise.
Will my kidney condition limit where I can travel?
Not usually, but every kidney patient has their own comfort zone. Some travellers prefer Europe so they’re never more than two hours from a UK renal unit; others happily cross the Atlantic once their transplant meds have settled. As long as your doctor’s happy, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gives the green light, our policies can stretch from Alicante to Auckland.
Europe
Handy if you’d prefer to stay within a two-to-three-hour flight of home and travel on a GHIC back-up. Our Europe policies cover a long list of holiday hotspots, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and more.
Worldwide
Our worldwide kidney condition travel insurance covers high-cost hotspots such as the USA, where emergency renal care can run into six figures.
How long can I travel for with a kidney condition?
Travellers with a kidney condition can choose from a single-trip or an annual multi-trip policy:
Single-trip
| Age |
Region 1&2 |
Region 3 |
Region 4 |
| 0-65 |
Maximum 550 days per trip |
| 66-70 |
366 days |
276 days |
184 days |
| 71-75+ |
366 days |
184 days |
123 days |
Annual multi-trip
| Age |
Annual multi-trip |
| 0-70 |
Maximum 50 days per trip |
183 days in total |
| 70+ |
Maximum 35 days per trip |
183 days in total |
How to buy travel insurance for kidney patients
Step 1
You can get a quote online or over the phone. We’ll start by asking a few quick questions – like whether it’s single trip or annual cover, your travel dates, destination and if you’re going on a cruise.
It’s easy to cover an individual, couple, family or group of up to nine travellers online (or up to 30 by phone).
Step 2
Next, we’ll go through a few details about your health over the past two years – including any diagnoses, symptoms, tests or treatment. We might ask some of the following questions about your kidney condition:
- Has your condition led to any impairment of kidney function?
- Do you require dialysis?
- How many unplanned hospital admissions for this condition have you had in the last 12 months?
- Are you currently awaiting a kidney transplant?
Step 3
Once you’ve shared your details, we’ll talk you through your quote, whether online or over the phone. You can choose your level of cover, add any extras and confirm your policy there and then.
You’ll get instant access to your policy documents in My Avanti, where you can view, download or update your details any time.
Get your quote
When to buy travel insurance for kidney conditions
Martin Lewis’s ASAB rule – As Soon As You Book – really earns its keep when kidneys are involved. Blood results can shift overnight, and a sudden spike in creatinine might ground you until things stabilise.
Buy your Avanti kidney condition travel insurance the day you pay a deposit, and cancellation cover starts instantly (unless you pick an annual policy and choose to delay your start date), guarding those upfront costs if your renal team asks you to stay put.
Airlines add another deadline: most need a fit-to-fly letter no older than 10 (in some cases 7) days if you have an unstable or complex medical condition. Secure insurance early, so if your consultant changes their mind at the last check, you’re already covered to claim back what you’ve spent and rearrange once your numbers look better.
How much is travel insurance with kidney conditions?
The price of your policy reflects how likely you are to need help, and how much that help will cost. Kidneys come with a few extras your travel insurance has to be ready to support in an emergency: IV fluids for sudden dehydration, emergency scans, and the possibility of medical repatriation with a medical escort.
Trip length matters, as longer holidays abroad give more room for something to go wrong. Your destination plays a part too. A renal ward in Florida will usually charge far more than one in France. Age, any additional conditions and the cover level you choose will also have an impact.
If you take more than two holidays a year, compare single-trip prices with an annual multi-trip policy; if the annual premium tops £80, you can spread the cost over monthly payments.**
How to get cheaper travel insurance for kidney patients
Having a kidney condition doesn’t always mean a sky-high premium – a few smart choices can keep costs in check without stripping away the cover that matters:
- Trip duration – shorter trips usually cost less to insure because there’s less time for something to go wrong.
- Destination – some places are more expensive to insure than others. The USA, Canada and the Caribbean have some of the world’s highest medical costs, while Europe and the UK are often cheaper to cover.
- Policy level – Avanti offers three levels of cover – Essentials, Classic and Deluxe. Essentials is the most cost-effective option for travellers looking to keep things simple.
- Luggage cover – think about what you really need to take with you. Packing lighter and setting a lower luggage limit on your policy can bring the cost down.
- Excess – a higher voluntary excess means a lower premium. Just make sure it’s an amount you’d be comfortable paying if you claim.
- Discounts – it’s also worth checking our current offers before you buy. You can find the latest Avanti discount codes on our discounts page.
If your quote for worldwide annual multi-trip holiday insurance tops £80, you don’t have to fund the full amount upfront. With Avanti, you can spread the cost over 12 monthly instalments.**
Avanti pays when it matters most
We know how important it is to feel confident that your claim will be handled quickly and fairly.
Between February 2024 and July 2025, our customers received more than £31 million, with over 18,000 claims settled.
You can expect to hear from our claims team within five working days of submitting your claim, and in most cases, Avanti strives to make a decision within five days of receiving your documents.
That’s one of the reasons Avanti has been awarded Best Insurance Customer Service by the Personal Finance Awards (2025).
Winner 7 years running: Best Travel Insurance
Our Best Travel Insurance award (Personal Finance Awards, 2018-2025) is based on the experiences of real people who travel with us. They’ve trusted us to help when plans change, flights are cancelled or medical emergencies happen abroad.
From updating policies to arranging hospital care or getting someone home safely, we do what good travel insurance should do – put things right.
Can one policy cover both my family and me if I have a kidney condition, and they don’t?
Yes, it can. That’s because if one of you has an emergency that causes the holiday to be cancelled, and you’re all on the same policy, all of you will be covered.
Buying your policy together isn’t just convenient. It means you and your family are spared the worry that a medical emergency will come with a financial burden. Instead, you can be covered for the cost of your holiday.
Can I get cover if I’m waiting to start dialysis treatment or awaiting a transplant?
If your renal team has already scheduled you to begin dialysis before (or during) your trip, our underwriters usually can’t offer cover.
If you’ve been referred for dialysis but no start date is fixed, or you’re on a waiting list that’s unlikely to move for months, we can often arrange a policy that excludes kidney-related claims but still protects you for everything else, like lost baggage, flight delays, and new, unrelated medical emergencies.
Give our team a call; we’ll talk through the medical notes and tell you exactly what we can and can’t cover. And if we really can’t help, we’ll point you to the MoneyHelper directory for specialist insurers who might be able to pick up the baton.
What if I’m having tests or waiting for results and my kidney condition hasn’t been confirmed yet?
If doctors suspect a kidney condition but haven’t confirmed it yet, you can still arrange travel insurance for undiagnosed conditions for your trip. Anything linked to those pending results won’t be covered, because the condition is still classed as undiagnosed. The rest of the policy stays in place – cover for lost, stolen passports and medical emergencies unrelated to your undiagnosed symptoms are all protected as normal up to your chosen cover level.
Waiting on further tests for a kidney condition you already know you have, say, a kidney-function check? We can usually still insure the holiday as normal. Once those test results are back, let us know; we’ll update your record so future trips include full kidney condition cover.
Hear it from our happy travellers…
“This is my second policy with Avanti. Whilst comparison websites offer a flat ‘no’ to individuals with certain conditions, Avanti are my ‘Go to Insurers’. Not only are the insurance products really good, the cost of cover is reasonable too. Following my kidney transplant back in October, I’m preparing to travel the world once more!”
Paul, January 23 2023
“I chose Avanti as my husband had travel insurance this last year as he is over 80 & my insurers wouldn’t insure me any more as I have kidney failure, so Avanti were so professional & we are both insured together with no problem at all. My hospital recommended them!”
Elizabeth, 13 April 2019
“I had a kidney transplant 8 years ago & as not all insurance companies will quote for worldwide annual travel insurance for my medical condition, I decided to go online with Avanti.
Absolutely delighted with my quote & the questions that were asked for my medical assessment covered my transplant fully.
Paid my annual premium upfront & my documents were sent to me online to print off.
Thank you Avanti.”
Lynn, 7 December 2021
