Travel Insurance when using Home Oxygen (2024)

FAQs

Can you get travel insurance if you are on oxygen? ›

Therefore, even if your doctor has said that you are healthy enough to travel, you cannot buy these policies. This includes occasional home oxygen users – if you currently have an active prescription for home oxygen and are not using it, you would still be excluded from purchasing one of these policies.

You may bring personal medical oxygen cylinders through the screening checkpoint and into the gate area. However, personal medical oxygen cylinders are not permitted in the aircraft cabin as they are considered hazardous materials by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Is portable oxygen covered by insurance? Portable oxygen concentrators are considered durable medical equipment (DME) by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance plans. If you have original Medicare, Part B will cover the costs of oxygen equipment and accessories prescribed by your doctor for home use.

If you have COPD, it needs to be declared on your Travel Insurance so that you are covered if you need emergency medical treatment for COPD. This is also the case for conditions such as chest infections, pneumonia and pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

The only oxygen equipment allowed on an airplane is the portable oxygen concentrator (POC). If you need oxygen in flight, you must take a portable oxygen concentrator with you, and , you must let your airline know ahead of time. They may require a doctor's letter to verify the need for the POC on the plane.

Pursuant to Federal Aviation Regulations, a customer who would like to use a portable oxygen concentrator unit on board an airline must obtain a written statement from his or her physician answering the questions listed below.

If you have Medicare and use oxygen, you can rent oxygen equipment from a supplier for as long as you have a medical need, but payments for the equipment stop after 36 months of continuous use. After 36 months, your supplier must continue to provide oxygen equipment and related supplies for an additional 24 months.

In accordance with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), oxygen concentrators are considered a Class II Medical Device. This means that you must have a valid prescription from a board-certified doctor in order to purchase one.

When you live with COPD, this decrease in oxygen can exacerbate challenges you already experience with blood oxygen levels. Your doctor will conduct a high-altitude simulation test to determine your supplemental oxygen needs while flying. Explicitly telling your doctor you plan to travel is important.

Severe COPD can qualify for disability benefits. Achieving a disability approval though requires you have not just a diagnosis, but appropriate medical evidence to back up your claim. Financial hardship can sometimes prevent people from seeking treatment and building a medical history in the process.

What is a good state to live in if you have COPD? ›

Delaware, Idaho, and Arizona have the lowest reported 30-day readmission rates for COPD of all 50 states. These states have a lower COPD prevalence among U.S. adults aged less than 18 years old compared to the national average.

Oxygen cylinders are heavy and bulky and hold a finite amount of oxygen. Additionally, most airlines don't allow passengers to bring their own oxygen cylinder on board, though some will allow empty cylinders as checked baggage.

A pre-existing condition for travel insurance refers to an injury, illness or medical condition that prompted you to seek treatment, experience symptoms or take medication before buying the travel insurance policy, according to Allianz Travel.