Tommy Lloyd
Author: Tommy Lloyd, Managing Director

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.

Originally posted: 1st Sep 2022

Disability travel insurance

At Medical Travel Compared we understand that everybody’s circumstances are different.

This is why we compare cover from many specialist providers, to ensure there is a policy to suit everybody's needs. 

To find the disability travel insurance for pre-existing conditions that is right for you, you can use our quick and simple online tool to compare quotes in minutes.

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Do I need disability travel insurance?

If you have a disability or are looking at insurance for people in your care who are disabled, we would highly advise purchasing a policy through one of the many reputable insurance providers we work with.

As much as we all look forward to enjoying our holidays, we cannot always prepare for the unexpected.

By getting a disability travel insurance policy tailored to your personal circumstances, you are not only covering yourself should any potential difficulties arise, but also giving yourself peace of mind and freedom to enjoy your holidays as you should.

For example, if regular treatment of your disability involves taking medication on a daily basis, you can rest in the knowledge that if you lose your medication overseas, you’ll be covered for some, or all of the costs to replace it. You can also rest assured that you are covered in cases of emergency medical treatment.

Many providers will also cover any mobility aids (mobility scooters and wheelchairs) you need to take abroad with you - but it’s always worth checking your policy wording, just to be sure.

What disabilities affect travel insurance?

Disability travel insurance covers a wide range of conditions – spanning physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.

All disabilities affect travel insurance. However, the more serious the condition, the more it will affect your travel insurance.

There are over 3,000 medical conditions that can be covered, so no matter how manageable you feel your disability is, it’s still worth checking if we can help you get covered for it before you travel.

Simply go through our medical screening process and answer all the questions specific to your personal circumstances. It’s a good idea to declare any conditions or disabilities you may have at the start of this process so we can tailor the prices for you accordingly.

Then you can compare quotes from as many as 30 different providers, and get a bespoke policy guaranteed to keep you covered.

What is covered with disabled travel insurance?

It’s important to remember that cover will vary from provider to provider - but on the whole, disability travel insurance is likely to include: 

  • Cancellation
  • Medical expenses & repatriation
  • Theft/loss of belongings
  • Personal accident

Cover will also vary depending on the nature of your disability/disabilities. You can declare your pre-existing conditions before comparing quotes across the different specialist providers we work with. 

You can also add additional cover to your policy if required. 

This includes gadget cover, cruise cover and specialist winter sports cover is available depending on the type of trip/activities you have planned.

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Travel insurance for disabled children

With Medical Travel Compared, you can compare disability travel insurance quotes for under 16s.

When handling the travel arrangements for a child, you should declare disabilities in the same way you would declare your own.

You should also carefully answer the questions asked during the medical screening process as accurately as possible to ensure your child gets the best possible cover while on holiday.

It is also worth bearing in mind that you can get disability travel insurance quotes for policies that cover your whole family for the duration of your holiday.

You can make this selection at the start of the quote process if you feel this is the best option for you and your family based on your collective medical circumstances.

There are a number of benefits to covering your travel companions on the same policy

For example, if you need to cancel your holiday as a result of your child’s condition - the whole family will still be covered for cancellation, potentially saving you a lot of money.

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Flying with a disability

If you intend on flying with a disability, there are a number of things to be aware of.

Passengers with reduced mobility have a legal right to assistance when travelling by air – so if this is the case, you should notify your flight operator at least 48 hours before your departure. However, most airlines ask this at the stage of purchasing your tickets online anyway.

You should also check whether your disability requires medical clearance before flying, which is often the case for many physical disabilities. You will also require a letter from your doctor in order to take certain medication on board as hand luggage

Certain certified assistance dogs for the blind are permitted on most flights, while wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches and other mobility aids are also permitted as long as you notify your flight operator in advance.

And, if you feel like you would benefit from a list of things to consider before boarding the plane - look no further than our top tips when travelling abroad with a disability

Compare quotes from specialist disability travel insurance providers

Comparing disability travel insurance is quick and easy with Medical Travel Compared. 

We will need a few details about you and your planned trip and then you’re good to go. We enable you to compare cover for hundreds of different conditions and various types of disabilities so it’s most important for you to tell us about these so we can find you the right cover.

Then, you can compare quotes from over 30 specialist providers, all in one place. 

Just make sure you fully understand what’s included in each policy before making your final purchase. 

It’s that simple.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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!

Once you've declared all of your relevant pre-existing medical conditions, we'll only show you quotes based on the conditions you have told us about.

It is simple and quick to do! After you've told us about your trip details and answered some medical history questions you can add your pre-existing conditions, one by one, for each traveller. You'll only need to enter your details once, it's all online and there's no need to call, or provide details of your conditions in writing.

Nearly all insurance policies will come with cancellation cover included. Cancellation cover will start as soon as you buy your single trip policy, or your policy start date for an annual trip (so you may want to start this cover as soon as possible). Cancellation cover will help you with the cost of your trip, including flights, accommodation and, in some cases pre-paid excursions. The cover limits will be the amount per person.
Some travel providers may be able to provide some cover, but the value might not be enough to cover the cost of your item - it's always best to check your policy wording, it will usually be found in the baggage or personal belongings section. You may also like to check your home insurance policy - this can sometimes allow cover for your mobility aid whilst away from home but may be limited to within the UK. If your mobility aid cannot be covered in either of these ways, you may like to consider taking out specialist insurance.

* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has declared disability due to a back injury 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 Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.

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