Traveling in your last stage of life

If you want to go abroad, it is important to consult with your doctor or (district) nurse. Ask what can and cannot be done in your situation and what to consider. Also discuss how she feels about your health and taking a trip. If it is likely that you will be (even more) tired, for example, it is a good idea to take that into account when choosing your destination, how long you are going and what all you want to do.

Some things to think about when planning a trip:

  1. Are there good hospitals at the destination where you can go in case of emergencies and understand the health care providers? And can you get nursing and/or care at your vacation destination if needed?
  2. Ask your doctor for a short letter telling you what is wrong with you. The letter is preferably written in English, and you can deliver it when needed. Make sure it also includes a phone number of your practitioner or family doctor so they can be called if necessary.
  3. Check your travel and cancellation insurance if you are incurably ill. For example, look carefully at the conditions (are pre-existing conditions excluded, for example).
  4. Ask your doctor for a medical certificate for your medications. Preferably in English, but also in the language of the country you are going to. This prevents any problems at customs or at the destination.
  5. Tell your pharmacy you will be traveling. They can help you with an international overview of your medication. They also know what to look out for when traveling to another climate. Then how do you store your medication or what are other side effects like severe sunburn? The international overview of your medications is always in English.
  6. Did the chemo leave you with no fingerprint or is it partially gone? Then get a medical certificate from your doctor.
  7. Do you use oxygen, an IV or tube feeding and want to fly? Then check with the airline what their policy is for in-flight assistive devices. Also compare airlines on costs. KLM and TUI have daily flights from Amsterdam to Bonaire.
    More information on this KLM website
    .
  8. Can you arrange oxygen abroad? Often your own oxygen provider can help you with this. Advice is to contact your oxygen provider at least six weeks before your vacation.
  9. Do you have an international health card? You can request these from your own health insurance company.

For more information on taking medications abroad, visit the website of Rijksoverheid.nl.

Healthcare costs abroad

For vacations shorter than one year, you can remain insured through your Dutch health insurance. If you need medical (emergency) care abroad, it will only be reimbursed if it cannot wait until you return to the Netherlands. Different arrangements may apply for nursing and care. Several health insurers have made arrangements for this.

It is important to contact your health insurance company well before you leave.

With your Dutch health insurance, you have world coverage. Sometimes your health insurance doesn’t cover some costs or not all of them. For example, if the care is more expensive than in the Netherlands (for treatment in a private clinic). Check with your health insurance company. Also make sure that when you purchase travel insurance or supplemental insurance, you purchase European or world coverage.

Difference between health insurance and travel insurance

Travel insurance provides a supplement to the legally required Dutch basic health insurance. This means that the travel insurance additionally reimburses what your health insurance does not or insufficiently cover. This is because basic health insurance only covers the cost of emergency care abroad, up to the amount that the same treatment would have cost in the Netherlands. In countries where healthcare is much more expensive than in the Netherlands, travel insurance will reimburse (if this is stated in the terms and conditions, or in an additional module taken out) the additional healthcare costs. It is therefore advisable to purchase travel insurance.

Palliative care abroad

Palliative care is regulated differently in each country and can also vary greatly from country to country. If you want to go abroad for an extended period of time, it is best to contact specialized palliative care providers. For example, the palliative care team in your hospital or a palliative care (district) nurse. They can help you figure out what the options are.

Source: website of About Palliative Care