Covering neurodegenerative diseases with your travel insurance

If you’re travelling with a neurodegenerative disease, you’ll want your holiday insurance to be straight-forward and easy to arrange. Which is why it’s a relief to know that you can speak to our friendly experts based right here in the UK.

With personalised cover, we’re on hand if there’s a problem while you’re away. That way, you can set off feeling protected and ready for a great holiday.

Why letting us know about your health conditions is important

When Richard¹ had to cancel a special cruise holiday, he was glad he’d bought his travel insurance policy from us. Thankfully, we’d covered him against the cost of having to cancel his holiday.

Richard was about to re-book his holiday a few months later when he was diagnosed with a new health condition. Understandably, he worried whether he would still be covered. But all was well – we quickly helped Richard to update his policy to cover him for his new condition.

This meant Richard could relax, safe in the knowledge that if something does go wrong, we’ll always aim to put it right.

What questions will I be asked about my neurodegenerative condition?

You’ll just be asked a few simple questions about your neurodegenerative condition and any other pre-existing health conditions you may have. This is so that we can offer you the best possible cover for your needs – we know that one size doesn’t fit all!

We understand talking about your health may be a sensitive topic. Anything you tell us is treated as strictly confidential, and we’ll never rush you.

Questions may include the following, depending on your personal circumstances:

• Do you require assistance with dressing or eating or washing?
• Do you require more assistance or supervision than you did six months ago?
• When you travel will you always be accompanied by someone you know?
• Do you currently use any mobility aids?
• Has your condition ever caused any problems with breathing?
• Has your condition ever caused any problems with swallowing?
• How many unplanned hospital admissions have you had for this condition in the last 12 months?

What neurodegenerative conditions are covered by travel insurance?

Some of the neurodegenerative conditions we can cover with travel insurance include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Batten’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Motor neurone diseases (including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Spinocerebellar ataxia
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Multiple sclerosis

When should I buy my travel insurance?

You can buy your travel insurance any time between booking your holiday and departure. But you might find it reassuring to know that once your cover starts you’re covered for cancelling your holiday before you even set off. So, you’ll be covered for the cost of having to cancel your holiday.

What do I do if my health condition changes after I’ve bought my travel insurance policy?

If there are any changes to your health, it’s important you let us know as soon as you can, so we can update your travel insurance policy to reflect your new medical conditions.

If you forget to tell us about any changes to your health, this may affect the validity of your travel insurance policy. If your policy isn’t accurate, this may mean any potential claims may not be accepted if you needed us further down the line.