Travelling with epilepsy?

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Rachellabella1995

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So at the end of August I'm going on an overseas trip to Singapore with my family. I have my passport set and money put aside, everything is paid for.
I'm having trouble with travel insurance. As in no one will insure me because of my epilepsy. Does anyone know of any insurance places that would cover me? I don't really care how much it costs me. How do I organise my meds to take over? Do I need a letter or anything from the neuro? Any help or tips would be much appreciated guys, I've never really travelled before. Thank you.
 
Hello Rachel,
Did you book thru agency or privately? Agency could help you. Make sure all of your meds are on you in their original bottles. You don't want to pack them in bags and have them lost. I've never traveled to Singapore but to Europe. I've never taken a letter from dr. but it can't hurt.
I'm leaving for Birmingham with my grandson on Tues. Just have a list of meds and my bottles with me.
Good Luck!
M
 
Rachellabella1995 said:
So at the end of August I'm going on an overseas trip to Singapore with my family. I have my passport set and money put aside, everything is paid for.
I'm having trouble with travel insurance. As in no one will insure me because of my epilepsy. Does anyone know of any insurance places that would cover me? I don't really care how much it costs me. How do I organise my meds to take over? Do I need a letter or anything from the neuro? Any help or tips would be much appreciated guys, I've never really travelled before. Thank you.
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Hello Rachellabella,
I suggest seeing your GP, which I always did and got a confirmed letter which used to cost £7-50 here in the UK and I was always given one month supply of meds to take with me, as we never know what could occur.
I always packed my meds in a travelling vanity case and made sure a small padlock was attached for going through security and I made sure the key and letter was with me while going through the security system.

Wishing you all the very best with your holiday and I hope my advice as helped :)
 
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marika853 said:
Hello Rachel,
Did you book thru agency or privately? Agency could help you. Make sure all of your meds are on you in their original bottles. You don't want to pack them in bags and have them lost. I've never traveled to Singapore but to Europe. I've never taken a letter from dr. but it can't hurt.
I'm leaving for Birmingham with my grandson on Tues. Just have a list of meds and my bottles with me.
Good Luck!
M
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Marika have a nice time also, as Birmingham is only 27mins up the road from me :)
 
I've traveled overseas several times as I used to be married to a pilot. I definitely got a letter from my neurologist and my endocrinologist (I also have Diabetes) stating the meds I take and the needles and insulin, etc. I always carried them in a small separate carry on bag, in their original containers. Plus I use a weekly pill box for my meds that I take everywhere I go. I also made sure I had enough meds to last, took extra to be on the safe side.

As for travel insurance, here in the U.S., if you already have health insurance, one doesn't need travel insurance. I don't know how it works in Australia, but check out this website: http://www.epilepsy.org.au/living_with_epilepsy/lifestyle_issues/travel
 
Travel insurance is always a good idea because
1) depending on your plan your health insurance may or may not work overseas
2) even if it does, many overseas hospitals will require payment in cash upfront before treating you - travel insurance eliminates that requirement; and
3) travel insurance covers other travel-related issues such as plane delays, lost luggage, etc.

Generally the way travel insurance works, you need to book within a set period of time (generally 21 days after making your travel plans) to cover pre-existing conditions, which would include epilepsy. I am a travel agent, and I have never heard of anyone not being covered because of a specific medical issue, but I'm not sure how things work in Australia.
 
We didn't use an agency, we've booked it all ourselves. Mum and I were talking and we were each going to take a supply of my meds so if anything went wrong we would still have a back-up in place.
I don't have insurance as Medicare (government) covers almost everything. From what I've managed to find so far most travel insurance places will cover epilepsy as a pre-existing medical condition ONLY if you haven't had a seizure in the last year, only on one medication and haven't been admitted to hospital within the last 2 years, and I've done all three. Most places ask a questionnaire, but whenever I fill one out it says I wouldn't be covered. Bleh.
 
Kgartner said:
Generally the way travel insurance works, you need to book within a set period of time (generally 21 days after making your travel plans) to cover pre-existing conditions, which would include epilepsy. I am a travel agent, and I have never heard of anyone not being covered because of a specific medical issue, but I'm not sure how things work in Australia.
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The insurance policies I've come across so far only accept epilepsy as a pre-existing medical condition under special circumstances. You need to be seizure free for a year, no hospital visits for 2 years and only on one medication. Some have questionnaires (do you lose consciousness, how oftener your seizures, what type. But no one will cover me then either.
 
This is a great thread; thank you. I am planning travel in the future. I wear my medical alert bracelet and, at the recommendation of my doc. in the wallet a list of meds i take and when.
 
Janus said:
This is a great thread; thank you. I am planning travel in the future. I wear my medical alert bracelet and, at the recommendation of my doc. in the wallet a list of meds i take and when.
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Will definitely be wearing my bracelet, the only time it leaves my wrist is when it's getting fixed or replaced. Those wallet ID cards, I have one in my phone case, one in my bag and another in my actual wallet so hopefully I've got that covered :paperbag:
 
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