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Key things to know about what to declare with travel insurance for strokes
Compare travel insurance for stroke survivors
Travelling after a stroke is a huge milestone in your recovery. You’re doing so well physically that you have the confidence to visit another country. So, having the right travel insurance is even more important for you than someone who hasn't had a stroke. That's why it's crucial that when you’re comparing travel insurance options, you consider policies from specialist insurers. This is because some standard policies may not cover you for having a pre-existing condition, which includes previous TIAs (Transient Ischaemic Attack)/strokes. So if you had another stroke abroad, you may have to pay the full cost of your treatment yourself.
What does stroke travel insurance cover?
It’s important to know that ‘stroke travel insurance’ is the same as any other travel insurance policy. The only major difference is it is designed to cover a pre-existing condition, in this case, a stroke.
- Emergency medical expenses - You'll be covered for hospital stays, diagnostic scans, and emergency surgeries related to a stroke/TIA or any other unrelated medical assistance you might need.
- 24/7 medical assistance - You may get access to a multilingual emergency team that can coordinate with local doctors and manage your care.
- Medical repatriation (Being returned to your home country) - If you need to be flown home with a medical escort, it can cost you anywhere from £10,000 to over £100,0001, depending on your location.
- Travel for companions - You can be reimbursed for travel costs for a family member or friend to stay with you while you’re in hospital, or accompany you back to the UK.
- Medication replacement - Provides cover for emergency supplies of essential post-stroke medications (such as anticoagulants or statins) if they are lost or stolen.
- Cancellation/ending your trip early - If you’re unable to travel due to health reasons or an emergency, you can get a refund for the cost of your trip. You can also get a refund if you had to cut your trip short due to ill health or an emergency.
- Loss/theft of belongings - You can be compensated if you lose items or have them stolen during your trip so that it’s easier to replace them.
Why you might need travel insurance after a stroke
After your stroke, to travel with peace of mind, you’ll need travel insurance. In some countries, the GHIC and EHIC cards are valid, but even then, they have their limitations. You will usually only have access to basic levels of public medical treatment. If anything more severe were to happen to you, such as another stroke, this wouldn’t be enough to cover all the associated treatments.
For example, if you had a severe stroke and had to be repatriated back home from France, it could cost you over £6,000. Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC would be able to cover this. This means that without a specialist travel insurance policy, you’d have to cover this cost yourself. Having a policy from a specialist insurer that doesn’t penalise pre-existing conditions gives you the confidence to know that if something did happen, you’d be covered.
What is not covered by stroke travel insurance?
- High-risk activities - If you plan to go skiing, or skydiving or para-gliding, for example, you’ll need to get a specific activity add-on to make sure you’re covered.
- Non-emergency care - Travel insurance is specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does not cover routine check-ups, elective surgeries, or cosmetic treatments.
- Intoxication - If you become ill, or get injured, as a result of taking illegal drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, your policy will be invalidated.
- Not disclosing pre-existing conditions - It’s important to disclose all the details about your stroke history and any other medical conditions. This includes when your last TIA was, and the severity of it.
- Travelling against medical advice - If a doctor has advised you not to travel, and you go against that advice and have another stroke, your claim will be rejected and your policy will be invalid.
How much does stroke travel insurance cost?
Travel insurance premiums are highly personalised; it all depends on your specific circumstances. Some things that can impact the cost of travel insurance include:
The duration of the trip | Longer trips increase the risk of you making a claim, which often leads to higher travel insurance costs. |
The planned activities during the trip | If you plan to do riskier activities such as skiing, hiking or mountain biking, it’s more likely the cost of the premium will be higher. |
Destination | For example, holidaying in New York City may cost you more in travel insurance than relaxing in Paris. This is because New York City is in the most expensive tier of travel insurance (Worldwide, including North America). Paris is in the Europe region, which is generally cheaper. |
Age | Your age can affect the price of your cover. Costs will increase at certain age milestones, such as 65 and 75. This is because insurers tend to see older people as a higher risk, as they’re more likely to make a claim. |
Medical history | When it comes to strokes, it depends on the time since your last stroke, and the severity of it. Most pre-existing conditions will increase the price of travel insurance policies, as insurers see these as a higher risk customer. |
Single Trip vs Annual Multi-Trip (AMT) policies | The price of your travel insurance can also be affected by whether you choose a single trip or annual multi-trip policy. |
Tips on finding affordable travel insurance for stroke survivors
- Declare all pre-existing conditions - You can make sure your policy remains valid by being completely transparent about your medical history. Make sure to declare all the details of every TIA.
- Compare specialist providers - When using comparison sites, such as PayingTooMuch, try to focus on insurers that specialise in policies for pre-existing conditions.
- Adjust your excess - Increasing your voluntary excess can significantly lower your upfront premium. Just ensure the total excess remains an amount you can comfortably afford if you need to claim.
- Annual vs. Single-Trip - If you plan to travel more than twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy is often more cost-effective. However, remember that you must re-confirm your medical stability for each trip.
Do your own research and make sure you find the right travel insurance policy for you by comparing quotes now.