Travel Insurance following a stroke
Remember
- Tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions to make sure you’re fully covered
- Consider covering everyone travelling in your party in case you have to cancel
- Take a copy of your travel insurance documents with you
If you’ve had a stroke and are planning to journey overseas it’s important you have proper travel insurance protection – but finding it may not be easy. AllClear Insurance is well versed in dealing with those with pre-existing medical conditions.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is caused when the brain is deprived of blood, either when a blood vessel bursts (haemorrhagic stroke) or, more commonly, when a clot forms (ischaemic stroke) in a main artery which supplies the brain. Symptoms vary and include facial drooping, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, loss of balance and weakness or numbness of the arms. People can also suffer transient ischaemic attacks – sometimes called “mini strokes” – which whilst less severe can indicate risk of a full stroke.
Do I need to declare if I have had a stroke as a pre-existing medical condition when buying travel insurance?
Yes, you must. If you do not disclose your diagnosis then should you have a stroke whilst abroad then your insurer might refuse to settle any claim for emergency medical treatment and other costs such as holiday curtailment or medical repatriation to the UK. If you have a medical emergency that is not a stroke you may still find your insurer regards your non-disclosure as a reason to invalidate your cover eg. if that emergency is related to hypertension.
Will having a stroke prevent me from getting travel insurance?
Whilst having any pre-existing medical condition can make it more difficult to find cheap travel insurance, you should not be refused cover. If you’ve had a stroke an insurer might regard you as being a higher risk and ask you to pay a higher premium or put specific restriction on the cover they offer you. A specialist broker like AllClear Insurance should be able to help you find insurance appropriate to you and at a competitive price.
Information and support for people who have had a stroke
The Stroke Association publishes an extensive library of publications which detail what strokes are, how to recognise their symptoms and what to do, the physical and emotional impact of strokes and much more. It also offers local support services, forums and runs a Life After Stroke Centre. You’ll also find details of the FACT (Face-Arms-Speech-Time) protocol detailing how to recognise symptoms and react, plus more about causes and treatments on the NHS website.
AllClear take care of everything
Here at Fish Insurance, we’re proud to be working with travel experts AllClear Travel to provide you with cover for your next trip. AllClear’s team of experts will help find the cover you need at a price you’re comfy with. So if you’re planning your next break, all you have to do is decide where to visit first.
To get a quote or manage your policy call
Key benefits of AllClear’s cover*
- No age limits
- 1300+ conditions covered
- ‘Superior’ Covid cover** (includes return flight costs if you’re forced to stay due to Covid-19)
- Up to £15m medical emergency expenses cover
- 24/7 English-speaking medical emergency helpline
- Up to £25,000 for cancellation and cutting your trip short
- Up to £3,000 for your baggage
- Up to £500 travel delay cover
- Up to £1,000 optional cover for travel disruption
- Up to £2m personal liability cover
*All figures are per person and per trip
**Covid cover rated ‘Superior’ by a leading independent UK Consumer Champion in 2021
AllClear cover a range of pre-existing conditions
See what our customers are saying about Fish’s service
And we don’t stop there…
We’ve answered some of the questions you may have about Travel Insurance
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QHow soon can I fly after a stroke?
AThere’s no formal guidance on how long to wait before you fly after a stoke. It’s best to speak to your GP and also your airline to see if they have any specific guidance they can give you. Some airlines will advice to wait 3 weeks before flying after a stroke, where’s others will recommend anything up to 6 weeks, so it’s always advisable to check.
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QIf I am travelling after a stroke, will travel insurance cover me if I have another?
AYes, if you’ve declared your stroke when purchasing travel insurance this will ensure any medication you may be taking will be covered, as well as any emergency stroke-related treatment you may need while you’re away.
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QWill travel insurance be expensive if I’ve had a stroke?
AThe cost of travel insurance takes into account any pre-existing conditions you may have, along with how severe they are and any treatment you may be receiving. If you have had a stroke, your travel insurance will probably cost more than someone of the same age with no pre-existing conditions, but it doesn’t mean the cost will be huge. It’s always worth contacting a specialist insurer such as AllClear that can help you to get the right cover at the right price.
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QDo I need to declare if I’ve had a stroke to travel insurance companies if it was over 20 years ago?
AYes, it’s always best to declare any conditions you’ve been diagnosed with when applying for travel insurance, including if you’ve had a stroke. When completing the screening process, you’ll be asked how long ago the stroke was. If it was over 20 years ago, it’s unlikely that it will affect the price of your insurance, but it’s important that you declare it to ensure you are properly protected while on your holiday.
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QDo I need to declare if I’ve had a stroke when getting travel insurance?
AYes. It’s always best to declare any conditions you’ve been diagnosed with when applying for travel insurance, including if you’ve had a stroke. This ensures any medication you may be taking will be covered, as well as any emergency medical treatment for a stroke you may need while you’re away.
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QCan I travel abroad following a stroke?
AYes, many people that have had strokes are perfectly okay to travel abroad. We’d recommend consulting your GP before booking your holiday ensure you’re fit to fly. It’s important to ensure you’re covered by suitable travel insurance and that you declare your stroke as a pre-existing medical condition. This ensures that any medication you take will be covered, as well as any emergency medical treatment for a stroke you require while abroad.
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