MS Travel Insurance

MS travel insurance covers you if you’re currently living with any stage of MS, and wish to travel with peace of mind. MS travel insurance covers you for medical emergencies, including those related to COVID-19, which is vital to prevent unexpected medical bills and support you if you have any medical issues while you are on holiday.

Find out the benefits to travel insurance with MS

We understand that  (MS) is an unpredictable condition. No-one can tell you at the outset what course your MS will take, and the type and severity of physical problems associated with it vary significantly from person to person. That’s why, it’s important to ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance, which covers your condition, for when you want to go on holiday. At AllClear, we specialise in providing medical travel insurance, including multiple sclerosis travel insurance.

What does MS travel insurance mean for you?

Living with MS can often mean living with a level of uncertainty. You might have natural anxieties about loss of independence or physical pain, so it’s important to try and minimise the financial worries – comprehensive travel insurance can help with this. Multiple sclerosis travel insurance protects you from the risk of large medical bills if you fall ill or have an accident while on holiday. Therefore in order to provide cover, we need to have an accurate picture of your current health and medical history. This means that you need to declare all your existing medical conditions, including your multiple sclerosis.

Our Travel Insurance: A simple 3 step quote process

When you have declared your multiple sclerosis, you will be asked questions like the following:

Has your ability to look after yourself worsened significantly in the last year? Do you currently use any mobility aids? Have you had any acute relapses in the last year? We will not need to know the names of any of your medication.

Has your ability to look after yourself worsened significantly in the last year?

You should answer ‘Yes’ to this question even if your condition has gotten only slightly worse in the last 12 months. If you are unsure if this is correct, please confirm with your GP.

What if you are undergoing investigations for symptoms that could be multiple sclerosis?

Until the condition has been diagnosed sadly we would not be able to offer insurance at this point. As soon as the condition has been diagnosed you can either complete a quote on our website or by calling our contact centre.

What if your multiple sclerosis gets worse between purchasing your policy and your travel date?

You should notify us so that we can update your policy. Please notify us at the earliest opportunity and in particular before you book or commence your trip –  just call our Customer Care Team and they will be happy to make any adjustments. Please note that in some cases an additional premium may be applied to your policy to make these changes.

Will your wheelchair be covered against loss or damage?

It will depend on the details of your policy. With an AllClear Gold or Gold Plus policy, your wheelchair would be covered up to £2500 for value or repair under the personal property section of your policy.  This includes the necessary costs to hire other mobility aids. The wheelchair will be covered if it is your own, or it has been hired, loaned or entrusted to you by the NHS. If your personal baggage is damaged in transit you will need to notify the carrier (e.g. the airline or shipping company) immediately and obtain a Property Irregularity report.

Tips and advice

At AllClear, we believe that everyone deserves the right to travel. That’s why we have put together these tips to help if you are travelling with MS.

Pace yourself

• You know your body better than anyone. And remember, you don’t have to do everything in the guidebooks for your holiday to be amazing. Choose activities wisely and build in recovery time.

• Take advantage of breaks. Seek shade, drink some ice cold drinks, and take a breather when you can.

Dealing with heat

• Some people with MS suffer from heat sensitivity – so if this applies to you consider avoiding countries with a hot or humid climate. Always use a high factor of sun protection when out and about.

• Physical performance can fall significantly with heat. If possible, avoid rapid changes in climate. Everyone does react differently; therefore, your personal experience of your condition will form the basis of the decision on where you travel.

• On road trips, take an ice chest with ice and bottled water, one of the best things to help keep you cool in the heat is to drink lots of water and stay hydrated.

Vaccinations

• Talk to your doctor well ahead of your departure date about any necessary vaccinations. In general, vaccinations should not be given during an acute relapse or steroid treatment.

Flying/transport

• Tell your airline of your needs in advance – airlines can arrange a wheelchair or special transport for use in the airport. Aircraft will often carry standard size wheelchairs free of charge. If you have battery-powered chairs you might need to dismantle this for carriage.

• Some transport providers may require a ‘fitness to travel’ note from your doctor.

• If your schedule permits, you might want to allow a little extra time between connecting flights so you’re not rushed from one gate to the next.

Medication

• If you’re travelling with MS, check that you have enough medication to last for the duration of your trip. If you carry your medication in your hand luggage, have relevant medical certification with it. You’ll need to arrange for your medication to be stored in a refrigerator at the hotel if needed.

• For air travel, medication must be in their original containers provided by your pharmacist.

• Some airports have stringent security standards. So you might want to have a doctor’s note certifying that you are on injectable prescription medication.

Hotel

• Check that your hotel is suitable if you are travelling with MS. Does it have wheelchair access if you need it? Is your room on the ground floor if you have difficulty with stairs and there is no lift? Does it have specially accessible rooms and can you book one of these?

• View your accommodation online before you make reservations. Note stairs, pool access, restrooms, exercise room, etc. Have questions? Email or call in advance.

• What if you get ill? If your condition is exacerbated whilst you are away, you may need to seek medical assistance. It’s important to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover your condition in case you do need any medical care while you are away.

Article References:

National Multiple Sclerosis Society: A Doctor’s Travel Tips MS Society: Going abroad healthline: On the Road: 21 Tips for Traveling with MS