Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
Can you get travel insurance if you have had a stroke or TIA?
Having a stroke should not prevent you from travelling abroad.
And, since there are more than 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, it’s a good job that there are plenty of specialist medical travel insurance providers who can cover people who have had a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke) in the past.
If you’ve had a stroke in the past, stroke travel insurance cover provides you peace of mind - knowing that should you become unwell or face a medical emergency on holiday, you’ll be taken care of. With multiple types of cover including single trip and annual multi trip insurance, you can tailor your insurance to suit you.
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Declaring your condition
Even if you had a stroke a long time ago - it’s still important to declare it with us when comparing travel insurance.
Once you do, it’s likely that you might be asked a few questions, such as:
- How many strokes have you had?
- How long ago was your last stroke?
- Are you awaiting surgery for this condition or for any scans?
- Do you currently use any mobility aids?
- Have you had any transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) since your last stroke?
The answers you provide help insurance providers to determine the more specific nature of your condition, while getting a clearer insight into your medical background.
This helps them to offer you the appropriate insurance for you after a stroke when you start comparing quotes.
Top tips for travelling if you've had a stroke
Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
Having had a stroke or TIA (sometimes called a 'mini stroke') doesn't automatically mean you can't go on holiday. But depending on how long ago your stroke was, and what symptoms you've been left with, you will need to take a few extra precautions to make sure your trip goes smoothly.
- If you've had a stroke in the past few months, check with your doctor whether they think it's safe for you to fly. You certainly shouldn't fly the first two to three weeks after a stroke – this is the time your problems are likely to be most severe and you're most likely to develop other issues related to your stroke. However, if your stroke was caused by a bleed into the brain (rather than the more common clot on the brain) you may need to wait longer.
- If you have mobility problems as a result of your stroke, consider booking with a travel agency that provides a range of activities tailored to your needs. They should also be able to offer options that have step-free access and are wheelchair accessible.
- It's very common to tire more easily if you've had a stroke. Take into account the length of travel involved in getting to your destination and consider booking trips that don't involve early morning or late-night transfers.
- If you've had a stroke, you're at higher risk of a clot on the leg (a deep vein thrombosis or DVT) that could travel to your lungs. Reduce the risk by doing simple exercises to keep your legs moving if you can (most airlines have examples in their in-flight magazines), avoiding alcohol and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Speak to your doctor about whether elastic compression stockings might help.
For more tips check out my full guide here.
What does stroke travel insurance typically cover?
You can expect this type of cover to include the same things that a standard travel insurance policy would include - but you can also claim for stroke-related medical issues (whereas you otherwise wouldn’t be able to).
This will normally include:
- Lost, Stolen or Damaged Personal Belongings - including any medication you need to treat your condition.
- Emergency Medical Expenses and Repatriation - specifically including any stroke-related medical expenses incurred.
- Cancellation and Curtailment - if you suddenly decide to cancel your trip, or end up cutting it short.
- Travel Delay - this won’t always be included, check with your provider.
- Personal Liability - if you cause accidental damage to another person or someone else’s property - cover is provided.
You can compare this type of cover across a range of leading providers, click below to get started.
Get a quoteOptional extras
Also, feel free to add any optional extras that you need - such as gadget cover, cruise cover or winter sports cover.
This may increase your premium, but it’s definitely something to consider when shopping around, especially if you have different types of holidays planned.
Get cheap quotes from specialist stroke travel insurance providers
Comparing quotes will make it much easier to find the right travel insurance policy to cover your pre-existing medical conditions.
We work with plenty of specialist providers, and once you tell us about your trip and medical condition(s) you’ll be able to compare competitive quotes, all in one place - saving you money and precious holiday-planning time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
With us you can compare specialist stroke travel insurance across a range of providers. Get a quote today and start comparing competitive cover before you embark on your trip.
Premiums vary depending on the nature of your condition - but it’s still possible to compare competitive quotes with us, and find a suitable policy for a reasonable cost. Get a quote.
Although not as serious as a stroke, if you have had TIA, you should absolutely purchase travel insurance that covers this particular condition. If you don’t, then any problems caused or lasting symptoms from the TIA whilst you’re on holiday may not be covered by your policy – and you could be left out of pocket should you have to seek medical help on your trip. Get a quote.
A pre-existing condition is a diagnosed medical condition that existed before taking out a policy. We'll ask a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us about the traveller's conditions. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!
* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has declared Stroke and is travelling to France for 7 nights. The price is correct as of October 2023. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.
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If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPs) have launched a new directory listing companies that may be able to assist you. You can find out more information on their website.
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