Stroke Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is especially important after a stroke, to protect you if you were to suffer a medical emergency abroad. These policies will also prevent financial loss in a range of circumstances including flight delays or cancellations, lost luggage and more.
Travel insurance after you’ve had a stroke can sometimes seem daunting and confusing. It’s important to remember that some insurance companies are more capable to help you and better equipped in terms of experience. Specialist stroke travel insurance cover can be more affordable and offer you better coverage than a standard travel insurance policy.
More about MEDICAL CONDITIONS TRAVEL INSURANCE.
Can you get travel insurance after a stroke?
You should be able to get travel insurance post stroke. It will usually be better and cheaper for you to speak to a medical travel insurance specialist. An insurer who specialises in stroke travel insurance will be able to offer you a higher level of cover, at a more affordable price.
Standard travel insurance companies may also be warier of offering cover to someone who has had a stroke. If you have had one stroke you have a higher risk of experiencing another. This could make you more likely to claim on your policy if this happens while you are away.
There are a few other things to be aware of if you are booking a holiday after a stroke. Many airlines won’t allow passengers to fly who have had a stroke within the previous month due to increased medical risk.
Even if your stroke happened several months ago, it is still worth checking with your doctor if you are fit to fly. Some travel insurance companies will request a note from your doctor or GP as proof you are well enough to travel.
Can you get travel insurance after a mini stroke?
You might have suffered what is known as a ‘mini stroke’ or TIA (transient ischemic attack). This is similar to a full stroke, but the symptoms are not as long lasting.
Having a TIA can also make you more likely to suffer a stroke in the future, which could make some insurers wary of offering travel cover. You could also be offered cover but at a higher price.
Specialist mini stroke travel insurance will be fairer priced and more accessible. It will also offer you a higher level of cover to protect you if you suffer a stroke or other medical emergency on holiday.
How does stroke travel insurance work?
It’s very important to make sure that you disclose your medical history when applying for travel insurance. If you’ve had a stroke, then you’ll be asked questions about your condition and your current health. This may include questions such as:
- When you had a stroke
- How many strokes you have had (if more than one)
- Have you had any transient ischemic attacks (TIA or mini stroke)?
- Are you on medication (e.g. blood thinners) and what dosage?
- Are you waiting on surgery or test results because of your stroke?
You should also be aware that you may need to provide some evidence before you travel as proof that you are fit to fly. If you fail to disclose facts about your medical history then you might not be covered, which could be expensive if you need treatment abroad.
One other outcome could be that you are offer cover that excludes you from claiming for anything relating to your stroke. There are lots of different companies advertising travel insurance and lots of options available, but a specialist will usually be best in terms of cover and pricing.
Does travel insurance cover strokes?
If you were to have a stroke while overseas, travel insurance will help prevent expensive medical bills. It will also protect you against financial loss if you need to return home early due to your health or cancel your holiday completely.
If you have already had a stroke, this can leave you at a higher risk for further medical issues. Pre-existing conditions like stroke won’t be covered as standard with traditional travel insurance.
It is always best to declare your stroke when applying for travel insurance, so you get the right level of cover for what you need. If you don’t disclose your stroke and need medical treatment on holiday, your travel insurance claim could be denied.
What does stroke travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance will cover you in a range of unexpected situations that could happen while you are away.
If you have suffered a stroke recently or changed you have changed your medication, you could be advised against flying for a while. Before applying for travel insurance for someone who has had a stroke, you should check with your GP if you are fit to travel.
When you buy stroke travel insurance you are protected against:
- Emergency medical treatment or repatriation (up to £15million)
- Replacing lost or stolen medication
- 24/7 medical assistance
- Cancellation cover
- Personal liability
- Lost or stolen items of valuable
A medical travel insurance policy will cover important items needed while away e.g. blood thinning medication or mobility aids. This can provide some peace of mind that these items can be replaced if needed, without paying out a large amount of money.
How much is travel insurance after a stroke UK?
If you apply to a standard life insurance company, you may find the average cost of travel insurance after a stroke to be more than you can afford.
It is better to apply to a provider with the right experience in medical travel insurance. This allows you to get the right level of cover, at a fair price. The cost of travel insurance will always vary due to:
- Destination (Europe or Worldwide)
- Type of holiday
- Length of trip
- Type of travel insurance (single trip or annual)
- How much cover you need (sum assured £s)
The cost of travel insurance after a stroke will differ depending on factors such as:
- Age
- How long ago you experienced a stroke
- If your doctor has confirmed that you are fit to travel
- If you have had multiple strokes
- Your medication and dosage
- If you are awaiting surgery or test results
- Any other health conditions or complications
Cheapest travel insurance for stroke survivors
When looking for affordable travel insurance following a stroke, it is a good idea to speak to an experienced travel insurance expert. A medical travel insurance specialist will know which insurers work best for someone who has had a stroke.
Standard travel insurance companies can charge much higher prices for people with pre-existing conditions. It is important to get proper advice before you apply, so you don’t end up paying far more than you need to.
Which is the best travel insurance for stroke victims?
There are a few options available when getting travel insurance after a stroke. The one that works best will vary depending on each person. Your main choices for travel cover are:
- Single trip cover: will protect you for one specific holiday stated when you apply.
- Annual travel insurance: will cover multiple trips within a one-year period and is a popular option for those who travel often.
Will a stroke affect where I can travel to?
There shouldn’t be any limits on where you can travel to after a stroke. If you are fit and well enough to travel, a stroke shouldn’t prevent you from going on holiday.
Stroke travel insurance won’t include any restrictions on destinations, due to the specialist nature of these policies. It is best to make sure you have enough medical cover in place though. The cost of medical treatment can be very expensive overseas and will vary in each country.
You should always ensure you have a suitable amount of cover in place, in the event you need medical treatment while away. This could save you hundreds or even thousands of £s in expensive medical bills.
Is there an age limit for stroke travel insurance?
Our excellent travel partners can find great stroke travel insurance policies with NO AGE LIMIT. This allows you to get the cover you need, even if you would struggle with more mainstream providers. You simply fill in a few simple details about your health and trip to receive your personalised quotes.
CLICK HERE to receive your over 50s stroke travel insurance quotes
Compare travel insurance for stroke patients
Someone will experience a stroke every 5 minutes, with 1.3 million stroke survivors living in the UK currently.
If you need travel insurance after having a stroke, here is what you can do to get the cover you need at a fair price.
1. Call and speak to a stroke travel insurance expert (or get an online quote)
It is wise to think about getting travel insurance once you have a trip booked, so you can fully benefit from your policy.
CLICK HERE to get your quotes online
2. Answer some simple questions about your trip
You will need to answer some easy questions about your trip (destination, length of trip etc) and about your health (medical screening process). This allows our travel partners to find you the best and most cost-effective options for your cover.
3. Receive tailored stroke travel insurance quotes
You will receive personalised stroke travel insurance quotes from our carefully chosen travel partners.
Other insurance products for stroke survivors
Here are more useful insurance products our team of insurance experts can help with:
More about strokes
Frequently asked questions about strokes
| What is a stroke? | A stroke is a serious life threatening condition that happens when the supply of blood to part of the brain is cut off. |
| What is stroke caused by? | Strokes are caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain or sudden brain bleeding (haemorrhage). |
| What are the warning signs of a stroke? | The NHS recommends using ‘FAST’ to recognise the signs of a stroke. Face – Is their face, mouth or eye drooping on one side? Arms – Can they lift both arms and hold them there? Speech – Is their speech slurred? Can they understand what you are saying? Time – Get medical help immediately. |
| How many days after a stroke can you fly? | The Stroke Association suggest waiting at least 2 weeks to fly following a stroke. All airlines will have slightly different rules about this. It is best to check with the airline if you have recently had a stroke and are planning to fly soon. |
| Is it safe to travel after a stroke? | Having a stroke shouldn’t mean you can never go on holiday again. You are however more likely to have another stroke if you have had one before. Travel insurance can protect you in this situation with cover for medical treatment and repatriation up to £15million. |
Useful resources
Stroke Association – Going on holiday after a stroke
