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Due to unrest in the Middle East, please check Key takeaways for mental health Travel Insurance
- Mental health problems are very common, affecting around one in four people in England every year, according to Mind. But this shouldn’t be a barrier to travel. Mental health Travel Insurance covers you if you are living with any mental health related conditions and wish to travel with peace of mind.
- Some insurers do not cover mental health issues, so it’s important to find the right policy to make sure you’re fully protected. At AllClear, we can cover mental health conditions as we are a specialist provider.
- This cover is is vital to protect you from unexpected medical bills if you have a medical emergency while you are away, including those relating to your mental health condition.
- Getting away from it all can be a great way to improve your mental health – a holiday can help you relax, reduce your stress levels, and boost your wellbeing.
Can you get Travel Insurance when you have a mental health condition?
Yes, if you have a mental health condition, like anxiety or depression, you can get comprehensive Travel Insurance. However, as with all pre-existing conditions, you will need to declare it when you buy your Travel Insurance policy, and you might need a specialist Travel Insurance provider like AllClear.
A mental health issue should not prevent you from travelling, but it’s important to get the right cover. That way, you’ll be financially protected and can travel with peace of mind.
Do you need to declare mental health conditions on your Travel Insurance?
Yes. Failing to declare a pre-existing condition can invalidate your insurance. Your claim for any mental health-related issues could be denied, and you could end up having to pay the bill for any medical care or trip cancellations yourself.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests in the last 2 years.
Mental health Travel Insurance: cover levels and benefits
SWIPE TO COMPARE POLICIES
Gold |
Gold Plus |
Platinum |
|
| Emergency medical expenses and Repatriation costs | Up to £10m | Up to £15m | Unlimited |
| Cancellation* and cutting your trip short | Up to £2k | Up to £15k | Up to £25k |
| Travel Delay | Up to £300 | Up to £1,500 | Up to £1,500 |
| Personal Belongings | Up to £2k | Up to £2.5k | Up to £5k |
| Personal liability | Up to £2m | Up to £2m | Up to £2m |
| Legal protection cover | Up to £50k | Up to £50k | Up to £100k |
* If you buy a policy which includes cancellation cover. / All these figures are per person and per trip.
Which conditions are covered by mental health Travel Insurance?
These include
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Personality disorder
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
Will Travel Insurance cover you if you cancel a trip due to poor mental health?
It depends on whether you have a medical sign-off or are making the decision yourself.
Travel Insurance will generally only cover your costs if the policy includes cancellation cover and you can provide your insurance provider with documentation from a doctor advising that you do not take the trip.
What questions might you be asked about your mental health condition?
Questions can include:
- What diagnoses have you received?
- What is the duration of your condition?
- What medication and treatment have you received?
- What is the impact on your daily activities?
- Whether you’re undergoing any medical investigation
- If you’re waiting for a diagnosis
- If you’ve been referred to or treated by a psychiatrist for your condition
- If your condition has ever caused you to cancel or cut short a trip
- If you’ve had any hospital admissions for the condition in the last two years
- If you’ve had any compulsory hospital admissions for the condition
Dr Anisha Patel gives her 3 top tips if you’re travelling with medication.
- Plan medication schedules around time zones
If you’re crossing time zones, consult your doctor about adjusting your medication schedule. Stick to your normal routine as much as possible, but when time zone changes make this difficult, your healthcare provider can help you adjust doses to avoid missing or doubling up on medication.
2. Pack more medication than you think you’ll need
Always pack extra medication in case of delays or extended stays. Bring at least a week’s worth of extra doses, and store them in your carry-on luggage, not in checked bags, so they’re always accessible.
3. Keep medications in their original packaging
Keep your medications in their original containers to avoid any issues with customs or security. Include a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your need for the medication, especially for controlled substances or injectable medications.
Dr Anisha Patel – NHS General Practitioner
What should you do if you’re on holiday and have a mental health issue?
If you’re finding things difficult while you’re away, you should seek help as soon as possible.
You should contact your Travel Insurance provider as soon as possible. They can help you get the medical support you need and can advise your next steps. See our information about Making a Claim.
You can also contact the British embassy in the country you’re visiting. It can help you find the nearest hospital or medical services and contact your loved ones in an emergency.
Our Travel Insurance: A simple 3 step quote process
Simply complete our quick 3-step screening process to get your quote
Here’s how it works.
1. Get a quote online or by phone
Once you’re ready to start the quote process, the first step is to provide your personal details and information about your holiday plans. This can be completed over the phone with one of our team members or online.
2. Complete our simple medical screening process
Here, you need to declare any medical conditions you have and any medications you and your travel companions are taking.
This way, we can provide the cover that best suits your needs.
3. Get your quote
You can either proceed to buy or save your quote at this stage.
What our Customers Say
Fantastic company
“Fantastic company for people with health conditions. I used AllClear for my holiday to Majorca, as I have mental health diagnoses that make it very difficult to get standard insurance. Great level of coverage for an affordable premium. Will definitely be my first choice for travel insurance when I go away next.”
How should you prepare for your holiday if you have a mental health condition
Organise your medication
- Use the tips provided by Dr Anisha Patel. Always pack enough medication for your trip. You should also consider asking your doctor for extra doses. Store these separately, so you have a backup if your main supply is lost or stolen. Pack medication in your hand luggage and carry a copy of your prescription in case border staff ask to see it.
- Check your medication is legal in the country you are travelling to. Some mental-health medications prescribed in the UK are banned or restricted in other countries.
Keep track of your emergency numbers
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Find out and write down the contact information for:
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Your Travel Insurance
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Local emergency services
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The British consulate in the country you are travelling to
Make sure the people you’re travelling with know how to find your insurance information.
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- If you need support while abroad, your Medical Emergency Assistance Team is available 24 hours a day – 7 days a week.
Check in with your medical team before you go
- Your doctor, therapist and other medical professionals can advise you on travelling abroad with your specific mental health condition.
- Recognise that travel can be stressful – Preparing yourself for some disruption and being mindful that things might not always go to plan can help you to cope during the journey.
Plan ahead
- Research your destination – Find out about the country and places you’ll be visiting to help prepare yourself for the situations and cultural differences you’re likely to experience.
- Book the most direct route – To make your journey as straightforward as possible and minimise stress levels, try to book the most direct route to your destination.
- Learn relaxation techniques – like breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness, which you can use on your trip.
- Embrace your travel experience! Many studies have confirmed travel can benefit our mental health. A study by Cornell University even discovered that we get more happiness from anticipating a travel experience than buying a new possession.
- Get mental health Travel Insurance – so that you have the right financial protection when you’re away.
How can you take care of your mental health while you’re away
- Be aware of time zones – Changes to time zones can disrupt your sleep patterns, so try to adjust to the local time and go to bed and get up at the times you usually would.
- Create a routine – Structure can help us feel in control, but going on holiday can disrupt our normal daily patterns. So it’s a good idea to create a basic routine that you can follow, like making sure you’re back in your hotel for a mid-afternoon nap each day.
- Know your triggers – Take time to think about what’s likely to trigger feelings of stress, panic and anxiety for you. It could be a situation like finding yourself in a crowded place or getting over-tired because of jet lag.
- Prepare for stressful situations – Once you understand what your likely triggers are, you can make a plan to help manage them. For example, if you get very anxious thinking that you might miss your flight, you can arrange to get to the airport an hour or two early.
- Pack a mental health tool kit – From prescription medication to your favourite films or music, put together some things that can help you to relax. Items that you’ll find comforting to have with you can help you feel more at ease during your trip.
- Keep in touch with home – Think about how you can catch up with those at home and how to reach people if you’re experiencing problems. It can be a good idea to prearrange times to call or Facetime with friends and family.
- Make time for your well-being – You might be planning a whirlwind of sightseeing, but it’s important to take some time out for self-care too. Eat and drink regularly and plan some time for any activities, like yoga or meditation, that you usually like to do.
Frequently asked questions on Mental Health Travel Insurance
Do you need to declare your mental illness? What if your mental illness condition is undiagnosed?
Yes. If you do not fully declare all your mental health conditions, then any claim you make that arises from that condition may not be covered. If you have an undiagnosed condition you’ll need to wait until your GP has provided you with a diagnosis (Source: NHS). Once you have a diagnosis, you’ll be able to run through our quote process.
What mental health conditions do you cover?
We know that mental illness spans a very broad number of conditions and we’re able to offer specialist mental health Travel Insurance cover for any mental illness you may have. You may wish to visit our Travel Insurance for those with anxiety page for further information on these conditions.
What happens if your medical situation changes after you get your insurance?
Please let us know at the earliest opportunity – but before you book or start your holiday, or pay the balance for any further amounts towards your trip. To change your original medical declaration please call our Customer Care Team on 01708 339029 and they will be happy to make the adjustments. You should note that in some instances an additional premium may be applied to your policy to keep your cover in place.
How is your premium determined?
Your destination, trip duration, age and any pre-existing medical conditions you may have are the main factors used to calculate the cost of your premium. Our AllClear policies for Travel Insurance for mental health patients are continually reviewed and analysed to ensure that the premiums we offer are fair and accurate.
Annual multi-trip or single trip?
An annual multi-trip policy lets you travel multiple times within a year⇞. Each trip is typically covered for up to 45 days, and you may be able to extend this to 50 or 55 days depending on your policy level. However, if you’re aged 71 or over and travelling to the USA, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, your maximum trip length is 35 days, and extensions aren’t available. If you’re planning a longer holiday or just one trip this year, a Single Trip Travel Insurance policy might be the best fit for you.
What will affect the price of your policy?
We calculate your premium using multiple factors.
The cost of Travel Insurance will depend on the severity of your mental health condition, how stable it is, and whether you’re receiving ongoing treatment or are undergoing any medical investigation.
Other factors that will also impact the cost include any physical health problems you might have, your age, where you’re travelling to, and how long your trip will last.
Do you need to declare anxiety on your Travel Insurance?
If you have a diagnosis or are receiving treatment for anxiety you’ll need to declare it as a pre-existing condition when you buy Travel Insurance.
This applies whether you have generalised anxiety, for which you might be receiving counselling or if you’ve been diagnosed with a specific anxiety disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Do you need to declare depression on your Travel Insurance?
Depression affects around one in six adults in the UK. If you’ve been diagnosed with the condition, you’ll need to declare it.
You’ll need to tell the insurance provider about your depression, even if it’s now stable and you’re on anti-depressant medication or if there’s no need for you to take medication at all.
