Mental illness travel insurance
Travelling can be rewarding and enjoyable, but the preparation and the journey itself can sometimes prove to be a little stressful.
Many people with pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions are able to fly without difficulty. However, if you do have a prior history of mental illness, then travel stress, mood changes, anxiety and other mental health concerns could potentially upset your trip.
It’s important for those travelling with a mental illness to ensure they have specialist medical travel insurance, in case they require medical treatment while on holiday.
Travel Insurance for depression and other mental illnesses
At AllClear, we are specialists in providing medical travel insurance for mental health illnesses and we can cover both mild and severe conditions.
We use a medical screening process to determine the risk factor of providing cover for mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar affective disorder, anxiety or schizophrenia. The screening process only takes a few minutes and you could have your quote within just a couple of clicks.
Tips for travelling with mental illness
Medicine and your prescribed medication in other countries
If you require prescribed medication, make sure you have a sufficient supply to last the duration of your travels plus some extra in case of any delays.
You may want to check before you travel that your prescribed medication is not unavailable or available in a different name in the country you’re travelling to.
Keep your medication in your hand luggage so you have access to it whenever necessary. You should always check specific airline restrictions beforehand.
Take a list of all of your mental illness medications and their doses so you have all the relevant details if you lose or run out of your supplies.
Find out whether any travel health vaccinations you may require will interfere with any medication you’re currently taking. Your GP will be able to advise you on this.
Do not reduce or stop taking your medication just because you’re on holiday and your routine has changed. If you think you may struggle to take your medication routinely and consistently, seek advice from your doctor before your trip.
Speak to a medical professional
Speak to your doctor before you travel to ensure they believe you are fit to go abroad.
When travelling, carry a copy of your medical history with you as well as contact details of your doctor and family members. If you are going to a country where English is not widely spoken, get any important medical documents translated so the people there can understand them if necessary.
Ask your doctor for their recommendations on how to adjust your medication dosage to cater for different time zones.
Flying and anxiety
Give yourself plenty of time by arriving at the airport early to help eliminate any feelings of stress which could be caused by rushing.
It’s important to carefully consider the nature of your trip. You may want to go on holiday to somewhere specialising in wellness breaks.
When planning a trip abroad, we often visualise our trip. However, this can create preconceived notions about how a holiday should unfold and this can lead to unrealistic expectations. If these expectations are not then met, psychological stress may be caused.
Assess your holiday plans and change them if needed to minimise your stress levels.
Coping with a culture shock
You may want to prepare yourself for culture change. Temporary psychological stress can occur when you’re overwhelmed by a new culture.
Prepare yourself before you travel by researching the culture in the country you will be visiting.
Learning basic words and phrases will help you to get around and communicate better with the locals.
