When we first started travelling, I never considered the travel insurance or holiday protection insurance some agents offered, even within the UK. If we did book abroad, we would agree to the travel agent’s insurance, and sometimes it was £65 each, and we never even checked what was covered! Oh, what it was to be 20 and naive! Here is how to choose travel insurance with a disabled traveller.
Having children and, more importantly, one with special needs means that most standard travel insurance policies don’t offer enough cover, which makes choosing travel insurance for a disabled person complicated. You have to compare the prices of policies, but you also have to ensure that the company offers the necessary cover, especially if things go wrong.
Considering the right policy.
The last thing we want when planning a holiday or a trip away is to worry about what could go wrong but unfortunately, being prepared for all manner of events is something we shouldn’t take lightly—also, make sure that the cover is in place from the time of booking.
Policies should cover things like equipment, medical costs and cancellation. If anything should happen during your trip, like illness or injury, you will have the support and can claim some of the costs.
When we look at travel insurance, we opt for companies that deal with travel insurance for disabled travellers, and we always try and get a policy that covers the most. Due to our son having epilepsy, his costs can be higher in case of medication issues or admission to hospital, so £10 million is what we expect our insurance to cover up to. It does make it slightly more expensive, but we feel it is still reasonable.
It is best to be honest about all your medical history upfront because it can void any claim you later make if you aren’t.
Compare Policies
The first place I go to check out travel insurance is TravelSupermarket; they compare travel insurance through all the major lenders and get you the best deal for your needs; they can even offer pregnancy-related travel insurance. Your health, age and pre-existing medical condition mean you will pay more for insurance and may have to pay a higher excess.
The older you get, the more you will pay, too, as most insurers deem older travellers high-risk. That doesn’t mean that you can’t shop around for the best deals.
We’ve been to Disneyland Paris twice and taken insurance out with Insureandgo. They are a specialist travel insurance provider, and I was very impressed with their travel insurance for children with medical conditions. They have excellent policies features as standard, including:
- Holiday cancellation cover
- Passport, money and documents cover
- Delayed departure cover
- Personal accident cover
- Accommodation cover
- Medical and hospital expenses cover (including costs related to any medical conditions you have declared).
A few other insurance providers to consider are Staysure, Blue Badge Motability Insurance, Free Spirit, Avanti Travel Insurance, and All Clear Travel Insurance offers Disability Travel Insurance for travellers that don’t necessarily have a medical condition. It is designed to cover you if you have a disability and wish to travel.
These are just a few insurers to consider. We’ve never had to claim, so I can’t confirm how each company handles this, but when we needed to move our holiday insurance with Insure and Go, they couldn’t have been more helpful.
Top tips for Travelling with a Disability
- Before you book anything, please make a list of your individual needs – Ensure you research your possible destinations and accommodation fully to make sure they are suitable.
- See your doctor four to six weeks before you travel – It’s helpful to discuss your condition and whether you need any medical letters or prescriptions before you leave.
- Organise car hire before you go – You can rent an adapted car in many countries – make sure you discuss your needs and the insurance offered by the car hire company well in advance. Enterprise Rent a Car UK offer vehicle solutions for customers with disabilities but remember to familiarise yourself with the laws of the road and licence requirements in your destination.
- Carry medication in your hand luggage – Bring enough for your trip, allowing for delays, and keep medicines in the original packaging. It’s also worth finding out the names of your medication in the country you’re visiting and how you can get medical help while you’re away.
Tips for Choosing the Best Travel Insurance
- Decide on the cover you need before looking on comparison websites like TravelSupermarket. We also make sure it covers at least £10 million for medical expenses, £3000 for cancellation and £2000 for luggage and belongings.
2. Be careful who you purchase from – Never buy from a travel agent, tour operator or airline; you will pay more.
3. Consider the excess – you may feel paying £600 excess is great to save you a few pennies; however that is what you will pay before the insurer will payout. I usually aim for a £150 excess; this can differ for different situations.
4. Consider annual cover – If you travel three times or more a year, getting a yearly policy covering the entire year’s travel for one fee will likely cost you less than buying separate single-trip policies. But note that annual policies usually cover trips up to a maximum of 31 days.
5. Look out for age limits and medical exclusions – Many policies, particularly the cheapest, will not insure anyone aged over 65, however, fit and active. Tell your insurer about any ongoing medical conditions and answer questions honestly. Some insurers may then agree to cover certain conditions for a small extra premium or refer you to a specialist insurer if your condition warrants it.
6. Get an EHIC or GHIC card – The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. GHIC and EHIC do not replace travel insurance.
The easiest way to apply for or renew an EHIC/GHIC – valid for up to five years – is at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/.
Other things worth thinking about before travelling
The Government website offers up to date information for supporting disabled travellers, and Tourism For All is the place to find accessible destinations and places to stay. They even suggest things to do for people with autism. Whatever your taste and budget, you can find something that suits you and your needs. There are many options, whether accommodation or something to fill the hours with during your holiday or a day trip.
It’s against the law for a company to refuse to insure you or offer worse terms because you’re disabled. But they can charge you more or apply special conditions if they believe you’re at higher risk of making a claim.
I hope you have found this post about travel insurance with a disabled traveller helpful, and it has made you consider your arrangements for your next trip. If I’ve missed one you would highly recommend, please mention them in the comments below.
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