Guide to Travel Insurance After A Stroke
Please note this page promotes an affiliate partnership with Medical Travel Compared
Finding travel insurance after a stroke can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many stroke survivors tell us they worry about whether they’ll be covered properly, how much it will cost, or whether insurers will understand their medical history.
At Different Strokes, we understand those concerns because many of us have experienced them ourselves.
But having a stroke doesn’t mean you have to stop travelling or enjoying holidays. With the right preparation – and the right travel insurance – you can travel with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Can I Get Travel Insurance After My Stroke?
Yes – it is possible to get travel insurance after a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
Many insurers offer specialist travel insurance designed for people with pre-existing medical conditions, including stroke survivors. The important thing is finding a policy that properly reflects your medical history and personal circumstances.
Do I Need to Declare My Stroke on My Travel Insurance?
When obtaining a travel insurance quote, you may be required to declare your previous stroke/TIA. This can vary depending on how long ago your stroke was, or if you are seeing any specialists for treatment or are being prescribed medication.
Although it can sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing your medical history, being open and honest helps make sure you have the right cover in place should you need medical treatment while you’re away.
What Does Stroke Travel Insurance Cover?
Cover can vary between insurers and policies, but a good travel insurance policy for stroke survivors should include:
Emergency Medical Treatment and Hospital Stays
This can help cover the costs of any emergency treatment you may need whilst away on holiday. Some travel insurance policies have a hospital benefit, which can compensate you for each day you are in the hospital.
Emergency Medical Transport and Repatriation Back to the UK
For instance, this benefit can cover the costs of being transported by ambulance or even air ambulance (if medically necessary). Also, should you be unfit to travel by commercial flight, this benefit can help arrange and cover the costs of alternative options to get you back home.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Should a condition you have declared flare up, specialist travel insurance could help cover the costs of emergency medical treatment associated with that condition. Unlike standard travel insurance policies, cover for pre-exisiting medical conditions could be excluded.
Cancellation or Cutting Your Trip Short Due to Illness
Should you need to cancel your holiday due to an unforeseen circumstance, protection can help you recoup any financial loss, such as flights, hotel or pre-paid excursions. Additionally, should you need to unexpectantly cut your trip short (also known as curtailment), your policy can help you recoup any lost expenses and potential additional fees of getting you back home.
Personal Belongings and Baggage Cover
Should your luggage be lost, stolen or damaged, this benefit can step in to help. Additionally, should your medication(s) that are prescribed for your declared medical conditions be in the bags when they are lost or stolen, this benefit can help you obtain a replacements.
Peace of Mind
Having specialist travel insurance in place means you can feel more confident that, if something unexpected happens while you’re away, you’ll have support when you need it most. Before purchasing a policy, always check the policy wording carefully so you understand exactly what is and isn’t included.
Why Specialist Travel Insurance Matters
If you’ve had a stroke, standard travel insurance might not give you the cover you need. For example, policies that come with packaged bank accounts may not be suitable, and some standard policies might not cover pre-existing medical conditions at all.
Unlike standard travel insurance policies, travel insurance from specialist providers takes into account your personal circumstances, allowing you to feel reassured that you are protected should things not go to plan when on holiday.
To help understand the protection you need for your holiday, specialist travel insurance providers may need to know:
- When your stroke happened;
- Whether you have any ongoing symptoms or are taking medication;
- Whether you’ve had multiple strokes or TIAs;
- Any other medical conditions you may have.
It’s really important to answer medical questions honestly and accurately when applying for cover. Many people worry that declaring a medical condition will automatically make insurance unaffordable, but travelling without suitable cover could end up being far more costly.
Being honest about your medical history helps insurers provide cover that properly reflects your needs and gives you greater peace of mind while you travel.
Can I Get Cruise Insurance After a Stroke?
Yes – many stroke survivors are still able to get cruise travel insurance.
Most insurers consider cruises to carry a higher level of medical risk, particularly for travellers with pre-existing conditions. Most cruise providers insist that you have cruise travel insurance in place before boarding too.
For instance, medical treatment on cruise ships can be limited and extremely expensive. In worst-case scenarios, being air-lifted back to land for emergency medical treatment can easily rack up in the tens of thousands of pounds very quickly, and that’s even before any medical treatment is received on land.
It’s important to remember that travel insurance policies do not usually include cruise cover as standard. As such, you will need to actively request this cover to be included. Bear in mind that cruise cover can drive up the price of your policy, but it is imperative that it is included should you be setting sail on a cruise holiday.
Cruise travel insurance also provides cover for risks unique to cruising holidays, such as:
- Missed port departure
- Cabin confinement for medical reasons
- Airlifting from the cruise ship, should you need to be hospitalised
- Cruise interruption
- Change of itinerary
- Cover of unused excursions
- Cruise cancellation
Even with travel insurance in place, without cruise protection included in your policy, any claims relating to your cruise holiday could be rejected.
How Much Does Stroke Travel Insurance Cost?
It’s difficult to say how much a stroke travel insurance policy will cost, as specialist travel insurance providers take into account several factors that are unique and specific to you.
These factors include:
- Your age
- Your holiday destination(s)
- The length of your holiday
- Your declared pre-existing medical conditions
- The type of policy (single trip or annual multi-trip)
- The details of any other travellers included in the policy
- Any additional protections (cruise cover)
Specialist providers, like those available through Medical Travel Compared, understand that every stroke survivor’s situation is different and can help you compare policies suited to your needs.
Compare Stroke Travel Insurance
Searching lots of insurance websites individually can be tiring and frustrating – especially when you’re repeatedly asked the same medical questions.
Medical Travel Compared helps simplify the process by allowing you to compare policies from specialist travel insurance providers in one place. You only need to enter your details once to compare a range of options that may be suitable for your needs.
Their panel includes insurers experienced in covering pre-existing medical conditions, helping stroke survivors find travel insurance more easily and with less stress.
