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: 16th Feb 2023

Why do I need travel insurance for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms vary from person to person, but symptoms often gradually worsen over time, or can flare up in different phases, including on your holidays. This all depends on the type of MS you have.

With MS being such a complex condition, you may find it tricky to find standard travel insurance. But don’t worry, you can use our online comparison tool to compare your travel insurance quotes for your MS within minutes, to make sure you get the right insurance for your specific needs. It’s simple and easy.

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Do I have to declare MS on my travel insurance policy?

If you’ve been prescribed medication or seen a medical professional (such as a GP) in the last 2 years for your MS, then you will need to tell us about your condition. Remember to also include any relevant health conditions of your travelling companions, if you’re getting a group policy.

When you’re telling us about your pre-existing medical conditions, it’s likely that we’ll ask a few questions about your health condition. The answers you provide will help travel insurance providers get a better understanding of your condition and general medical background.

These questions could include:

  • Do you require more assistance than you did 12 months ago?
  • Do you currently use any mobility aids?
  • Have you had any acute relapses in the last 12 months?

It’s really easy to then compare specialist quotes from up to 30 different providers to find a policy to suit you. No paperwork, no phone calls, no hassle.

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What will travel insurance for MS cover?

Alongside providing cover for your MS, you can expect your travel insurance to include the same things that a standard travel insurance policy would include, such as: 

  • Emergency medical expenses and repatriation - if you’re hospitalised, or even need to be brought back to the UK for treatment as a result of your condition. 
  • Lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings - this could include any medication that you’re taking with you to treat your anxiety.  
  • 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, so check your cover
  • 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 specialist travel insurance providers, so why not get started?

Finding travel insurance cover for MS

Due to the often debilitating and progressive nature of MS, it is highly advised that you shop around for the right type of specialist travel insurance in order to give you peace of mind that any issues that could arise due to your condition are covered on your travels.

MS patients can still travel and enjoy themselves provided they have the right precautions in place to manage their condition while they are on the move. This includes having all the right medication and support required from other people/mobility aids.

If you suffer with MS and are considering booking a holiday – you may wish to consult your GP beforehand, just to get a second opinion.

They may well be best placed to advise you on what you should and shouldn’t do to ensure your trip is memorable for all the right reasons. It is also wise to inform your airline if they need to make any special considerations on your behalf in terms of individual assistance.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, MBE

Top tips for travelling with multiple sclerosis

Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.

Every person with multiple sclerosis, or MS, experiences it differently. You may feel almost entirely well between flare-ups, or you may face significant ongoing physical challenges. But regardless of your symptoms, there’s no reason you shouldn’t go on holiday.

However, there are certain considerations if you have a physical disability, and several MS-specific factors to consider.

1. If you have MS, you probably know all about feeling tired – it’s one of the most common features of MS. You’ll also know that if you overdo things, you may end up exhausted no matter how much rest you get over the next few days. So don’t plan too much and factor in regular rest periods.

2. Talk to your specialist well in advance about any travel plans. For instance, you may be having treatment with regular infusions. This shouldn’t stop you from travelling, but you may want to schedule your holiday around these infusions.

3. Some people with MS find their symptoms become worse in hot or humid climates. You should avoid too much sunshine and consider visiting during the cooler months at your destination.

4. If you do opt for a trip to a hot destination, factor in a period after you arrive with no plans to acclimatise. Make sure there’s air conditioning at your destination and pack loose, lightweight clothes made of breathable fabric.

5. Getting a serious infectious disease can worsen MS symptoms. Take extra care to avoid tummy bugs: wash your hands regularly; carry hand sanitizer in case washing facilities aren’t easily available; opt for freshly cooked, piping hot food; avoid food from street vendors; steer clear of salads in areas where water may be contaminated; always peel fruit and vegetables.

6. Where fluid is concerned, stick to boiled or bottled drinks. Tea and coffee, beer and wine, and fizzy drinks from sealed bottles and cans are all safe. However, don’t add ice – which could have been made from contaminated water – to your drinks.

7. If you’re considering a venue where travel vaccinations are required or recommended, you may need to start planning further in advance. While the benefits of vaccination outweigh and risks of vaccines for most people with MS, you may need to take precautions if you’re taking some disease-modifying treatments, if you’ve recently had a relapse, or if you’ve taken steroid tablets in the recent past. Check with your specialist nurse well in advance.

8. Do some research on the internet for sights you’re interested in visiting, to see if they’re wheelchair accessible. Your travel company may also be able to advise.

9. If you have a Blue Badge as a result of disability, you can use it in some EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Do remember that rules and concessions will vary between countries, so check the details for the country you’re visiting.

10. Order repeat supplies of your medications well in advance and if possible, take enough to last twice the length of your trip in case of delays.

11. Pack medication in your hand luggage and if possible, spread your medicines between you and a travel partner, just in case your luggage is lost.

12. Keep all your medicines in their original packaging, and keep a copy of your repeat prescription. You may need a letter from your GP (they may charge for this as it’s not an NHS service).

13. If you have liquid medications that need refrigerating, speak to your pharmacist about a thermos flask or other equipment to keep them at the right temperature. And do check in advance that your accommodation has a fridge.

14. If you’re taking controlled medication, it’s essential to check the regulations on bringing medicines into the country you’re visiting. For instance, gabapentin and pregabalin (commonly prescribed for nerve pain in MS) have been classed as Schedule 3 controlled drugs in the UK since just before the pandemic in 2019. That means that if you were bringing them into the UK, you would need to get a personal licence and carry a letter confirming the medication was prescribed for you. However, regulations in different countries vary, so you need to check with the foreign embassy of the country you’re going to before you travel.

15. Some medicines that aren’t controlled drugs in the UK have restrictions on them in other countries. You can find out more from our article on taking medication abroad. You’ll need to check a few weeks before you go because sometimes you’ll need to get an export licence to take medicines out of the UK (usually if you’re going abroad for 3 months or more).

16. If you use a wheelchair, check this wheelchair-accessible travel guide for advice on how to make travelling smoother for you and your companion(s).

17. Always make sure you have specialist travel insurance. If you’re travelling in some European countries, you’re eligible to some medical care using a Global Health Insurance Card – the replacement of the old EHIC. However, this doesn’t always mean free care and doesn’t cover all medical care, so it’s still essential to have separate insurance.

Optional 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.

Gadget cover

Cruise cover

Winter sports cover

Get cheap quotes from specialist MS travel insurance providers

Use our straightforward quote comparison tool to find the cover you need. It literally takes minutes. You can compare MS cover across a range of specialist insurance providers, all in one place - so there should be plenty of choices. 

Once you’ve got everything sorted - so you can get on with the good stuff and start planning your trip.

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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!

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.

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.

No, we are unable to provide cover with any of your pre-existing medical conditions excluded.
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 Multiple Sclerosis 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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