If you suffer from seizures, finding effective and affordable travel insurance may be proving a little bit more difficult. Specialist insurers, like AllClear Insurance, can provide the solution you’re looking for.

Seizures (also known as fits, convulsions or an attack) are most commonly caused by epilepsy, a disorder that affects electrical activity in the brain. When the transmission of electrical signals between the brain’s neurones are disrupted or issue in abnormally intense bursts, this causes seizures. Whilst the physical symptoms – involuntary and jerky movements – are the most apparent to external observers, they are not common to all forms of epileptic seizure with the conditional also able to affect emotions and memory.

Yes. If you have a seizure when you are abroad you’ll want to be sure you can benefit from any emergency medical treatment necessary without having to worry about the bills. If you do not declare you have epilepsy, or that you will be travelling with a child who has had febrile seizures, then should you later need make a claim your insurer may refuse it. If not asked to declare, check the policy covers previously diagnosed medical complaints.

You shouldn’t be refused cover but you might find an insurer will ask you to pay a higher premium than someone with a “clean bill of health” or that restrictions or exclusions are placed on your policy. As many mass market policies are not geared up for people with pre-existing medical conditions it’s worth your while getting a quote from a specialist like AllClear which is experienced in this field. Such specialists may not be on price comparison sites.

The Epilepsy Society publishes an A-Z of epilepsy topics with plenty of information on seizures (including first aid tips) along with loads of useful advice on living with the condition, potential triggers and treatments. The NHS also offers expert coverage of both epilepsy and febrile convulsions.