Off on your next big adventure? The best travel insurance for epilepsy lets you enjoy your trip, knowing you’re fully protected. We can cover all destinations and over 100 different activities. You can take us with you, whatever you’ve got planned.
Can you get travel insurance if you have epilepsy?
Epilepsy can affect anyone at any age. 80 people are diagnosed with the neurological condition every day in the UK. But having epilepsy won’t stop you making the most of your travels at InsureandGo.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get travel insurance. Our epilepsy travel insurance covers medical emergencies related to your condition. It will even cover repatriation back to the UK if you need it.
Whether you have epilepsy or seizures related to a brain injury or stroke, we’ll do our best to find a policy that’s suited to your needs.
Why do you need travel insurance for epilepsy?
Living with epilepsy can make travel more tricky. Tiredness, hot weather, or stress are common seizure triggers. No wonder epilepsy is one of the top four reasons for flight diversion due to medical reasons.
Travel insurance can help you prepare for the unexpected. With the right policy, you can focus on enjoying your trip, knowing you’re supported if something goes wrong. Here’s what makes it a must:
- Covers emergency medical expenses. Our epilepsy travel insurance offers up to unlimited cover for medical expenses. That’s one less thing to worry about.
- Covers repatriation. Off to Europe? Typical medical repatriation costs can be as much as £18,000. Travel insurance that includes epilepsy makes sure you’re not left paying the bill.
- Covers cancellation. No one likes to think of the worst happening. But if you need to cancel your trip due to a seizure, epilepsy travel insurance means you’re protected.
- Protects your belongings. Lost the bag that contains your epilepsy medication? In the US, it can cost £740 for a month’s supply. At InsureandGo, you are covered if you need to buy emergency supplies.
Help when you need it. We know that travelling with a pre-existing condition can be challenging. That’s why we also offer a 24/7 emergency medical helpline.
Make sure the policy you’ve chosen covers you for all the activities you have planned. Our policy wording provides full terms and conditions of what is and isn’t included.
You’ll also need to tell us all your pre-existing medical conditions. We can’t cover any costs related to medical issues that aren’t declared. If your medical history isn’t accurate, you may have to pay for unexpected medical costs.
What types of epilepsy does InsureandGo’s travel insurance cover?
Epilepsy may affect your travel plans. Its impact will vary depending on the type of seizures you experience.
- Absence seizures: These brief lapses in awareness can cause confusion in new places.
- Focal seizures: You might feel confused or tired for some time after a focal seizure. Not great if you need to get from A to B.
- Generalised tonic-clonic seizures: These could significantly disrupt your trip as you may need medical clearance before you take off.
- Photosensitive epilepsy: Triggered by flashing lights, it can be problematic in nightclubs or theme parks.
- Atonic seizures: With falls more likely, you’ll need to take extra care while hiking or climbing.
- Myoclonic seizures: These mild muscle jerks might be a concern in crowded or busy areas.
What does InsureandGo’s epilepsy travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
Our travel insurance for epilepsy includes:
- Our travel insurance for epilepsy includes:
- Medical emergency expenses.
- Cover for cancellation of your trip.
- Our 24-hour emergency assistance team, available to call, day or night, wherever you are
- Over 100 sports and activities covered (see your policy wording for a full list of activities)
- Personal belongings and baggage cover.
- Personal money, passports and travel documents cover.
- Accommodation cover.
- Legal expenses cover.
What’s not covered?
There are some situations travel insurance will not cover. For example:
- You cannot cover events or reasons to claim which took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of the insured’s control
- Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover. For example, you cannot claim a £40 lost item if your baggage excess is £60
- All of our travel insurance policies include cover for cancellation of your trip. But there may be some exclusions. For example, you won’t be covered to cancel if you simply decide not to go
Find out about our optional add-ons for activities like extreme sports, cruises and golf.
We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions. Find out more about medical travel insurance.
The excess and amount of cover available varies depending on the level of travel insurance you buy. Check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.
The best travel insurance for your holiday
From relaxation to exploration, every trip is unique. Our flexible options let you match your policy to your plans. Not sure what you need? Here are a few suggestions:
- Stepping on board? Cruise insurance can make it smooth sailing. Get extra cover for cabin confinement, cruise interruption, itinerary changes and more.
- Doing a few European city breaks? Our European Travel Insurance will protect you, from Berlin to Barcelona.
- Heading further afield? Worldwide travel insurance will cover your globe-trotting in a specific region.
- On a family adventure? Cover everyone on your trip with family travel insurance.
- Want to live like a local, for longer? Single trip travel insurance lets you travel abroad for up to a year.
- Sports fan? Golf insurance covers everything from green fees to clubs. You could even get travel insurance for more extreme sports.
Choose a cover level to suit your travel needs
| Black | Gold | Silver | |
| Medical expenses and repatriation | Unlimited | £15 million | £10 Million |
| Cancellation and curtailment | £10,000 | £7,500 | £5,000 |
| Travel delay | Up to £650 | Up to £540 | Up to £450 |
| Personal belongings | £5,000 | £2,500 | £2,000 |
| Legal Expenses | £60,000 | £50,000 | £15,000 |
| Standard Excess | Nil | £50 | £60 |
How much does epilepsy travel insurance cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much epilepsy travel insurance will cost. Several factors influence the price you’ll pay, including:
- The type of epilepsy you have. When getting your quote, you’ll complete a brief medical screening. This will give us a better idea of your condition and how it might affect your travel plans.
- Your age and overall health. Age and any other pre-existing medical conditions can affect the cost.
- Trip duration. The longer you’re away, the greater the odds of a claim.
- Chosen destination. Some places have a higher risk than others. Countries like the USA, have more expensive healthcare.
- Additional cover. Consider including extra cover for a cruise or golfing holiday.
Each of these factors will vary from person to person. That means the cost of each epilepsy travel insurance policy will also vary for each individual.
Epilepsy travel insurance with other pre-existing medical conditions
One in every four people newly diagnosed with epilepsy is over the age of 65. As we get older, our chances of having multiple medical conditions increase. 30% of people we surveyed have more than one pre-existing health condition3.
Our travel insurance for medical conditions provides specific cover for pre-existing health conditions, as well as your epilepsy. That’s one less thing to think about when planning your next holiday!
Along with travel insurance to cover epilepsy, we also have policies for:
You must declare all your pre-existing medical conditions when buying your epilepsy travel insurance. Otherwise, you won’t be covered if you have an emergency related to your conditions while away.
To learn more, please read our page about travel insurance for medical conditions. Or take a look at our policy wording documents.
Do I have to declare epilepsy on my travel insurance?
Yes. You’ll need to declare epilepsy when you take out travel insurance with us. That way, we can tailor your quote to you.
If you do not declare your epilepsy, you won’t be able to make any claims relating to your condition. This includes hospital treatment after a seizure, or emergency travel home.
Healthcare costs can quickly mount up in the country you’re visiting. But they can be particularly high somewhere like the USA.
Do I need to declare epilepsy if I no longer have seizures?
Yes, you do. With proper treatment, about 6 out of 10 people diagnosed with epilepsy can become seizure-free within a few years. But even if your last seizure was a long time ago, you will still need to tell us about your epilepsy.
During the medical screening process, we’ll ask some follow-up questions. This helps us understand the severity of your condition. You must tell us if you either no longer have seizures or haven’t had one for a long time.
Common questions we may ask during your epilepsy medical screening
It’s quick and easy to fill out our medical screening online. You’ll do it whenever you get a quote from us. Not sure what to expect? Here are some of the questions we might ask:
- What type of epilepsy do you have?
- When were you first diagnosed?
- How often do you experience seizures?
- When was your most recent seizure?
- Are your seizures controlled with medication?
- What triggers your seizures?
- Have you been hospitalised due to a seizure?
- Can you travel independently?
Tell us as much as you can. It will help us tailor your policy so you’re fully covered.
How to book our epilepsy travel insurance
There’s so much to think about when planning a holiday. At least getting a quote for your epilepsy travel insurance is easy.
1. Let us know about your trip
Tell us where you’re going, who you want to cover and when you want the policy to start. We’ll ask you about your epilepsy, and any other pre-existing medical conditions.
It’s quick and easy to give us this information, online or by phone.
2. Get your quote
After you’ve given us all the details we need, we’ll send you a quote. You can either buy your policy there and then, or save the quote for the future.
Letita Smith – Travel insurance expert
“Timing your medication on a flight. Making sure you’ve got your GHIC. Going on holiday when you have epilepsy can involve a bit of forward planning. Travel insurance with epilepsy cover does more than help you with medical emergencies. It can also cover the activities you love, from hiking to golf. We’ll tailor your policy to give you a quote that suits all your plans.”
Our reviews speak for themselves
Excellent Site
“Very easy to get a quote, and quick and easy from the quote to the payment, very good prices for pre existing medical conditions, it was cheaper to insure me and my husband with Insure and Go than it was just for me on other sites with my epilepsy, we would definitely use them again.”
– Tracey Sully
– Date of experience: 16 April 2023
There’s a reason 99.7% of our customers would consider buying from InsureandGo again4. Here’s what they have to say about us.
Travelling with epilepsy: Tips and recommendations
Before you travel, make sure you:
- See your GP. Ask for a doctor’s letter outlining your condition and medication. Discuss vaccinations and antimalarial tablets – some may not be safe for you to take.
- Get your GHIC. Off to Europe? It’s free to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It lets you access state healthcare, but you’ll still need epilepsy travel insurance.
- Manage your medication. Pack them in your hand luggage and carry extra in case of delays. Some types of epilepsy medication are classed as controlled drugs. You’ll need to show your prescription or a letter from your doctor if you’re taking them out of the UK.
- Contact your airline. If you have lots of seizures, tell the airline when booking. They’ll inform the cabin crew; something that may help ease any travel anxiety.
- Research your destination. Check if there is a time difference to work out when you need to take your medication. If you plan to drive abroad, check local regulations. Some countries have strict rules about epilepsy and driving.
Frequently asked questions on epilepsy travel insurance
Can I travel abroad with epilepsy?
Yes, you can. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, it’s best to plan ahead, before you set off.
- Don’t run short of meds: If you take medication, make sure you have enough for the entire trip. Take extra to act as a buffer for any delays. Consider splitting doses between different bags in case a suitcase gets lost or stolen.
- Research your destination: Flying somewhere with a malaria risk? Some anti-malaria medicines are not suitable if you have epilepsy. Talk to your GP or healthcare team for advice.
- Check your medication: Some epilepsy medicines are considered controlled drugs in the UK. This means you may need to carry a prescription letter from your doctor to prove it’s yours. Read more information about taking medicine abroad.
- Prepare for the unexpected: No one likes to think about having a seizure abroad. But carrying a letter from your doctor can be helpful in an emergency. Ideally, this should outline your diagnosis and any medications you take.
- Get the right epilepsy travel insurance: The best policy will cover lost medication and hospital stays.
Is there an age limit for epilepsy travel insurance?
Not at InsureandGo. We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get travel insurance. That’s why our medical travel insurance for epilepsy doesn’t have an upper age limit.
Is epilepsy considered a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, epilepsy is considered a pre-existing medical condition at InsureandGo. When you get a quote for travel insurance with us, you’ll need to declare it.
We’ll then ask you a few more follow-up questions about your condition. You’ll usually need to tell us about:
- The frequency of your seizures
- When you last had a seizure
- The severity of your seizures
- Any known cause of your epilepsy – for example, a brain injury or stroke
- The number of unplanned hospital admissions you’ve had for epilepsy
- Any medications you take
Will the GHIC cover issues relating to epilepsy?
Yes. A GHIC will cover emergency epilepsy-related treatment in countries where it’s recognised. It’s valid in the European Union and other countries like Australia. You can use your card to get state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you return to the UK.
But the GHIC isn’t the same as having proper travel insurance for epilepsy. It can provide basic cover in emergencies. But it won’t cover the costs if you need to be flown back to the UK. And it won’t cover treatment in a private clinic.
Can I get travel insurance if my doctor has advised me not to travel?
If you’ve been advised not to travel by your doctor, we won’t be able to cover you.
Along with travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner, your insurance could also be invalidated if:
- Your state of health is significantly worse than you told us
- You know you will need medical treatment during your trip
- You are not fit to travel on your journey
- You have been placed on a waiting list that could cause you to cancel or curtail your trip
In some cases, we may request a letter from your medical practitioner. This is to confirm that your condition has not changed or worsened, along with agreeing that you are fit to travel.
Want to know more? Talk to us. Or read our policy wording.
Who can buy an InsureandGo epilepsy travel insurance policy?
All our epilepsy travel insurance policies are available to UK residents. This means:
- Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
- They must be in the UK at the time of purchase
- All trips must start and end in the UK
Get a quote online or browse our policy documents for more information.
Travel insurance guides
Frequently asked questions
If you’ve got more questions about how our travel insurance for people with epilepsy, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs.
Travel advice
Our travel advice section offers handy tips and guides to specific countries, from what documents you need to what you might visit while you’re there.
Travel insurance reviews
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