Travel insurance for mental health conditions

If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, are currently seeking treatment or taking prescribed medication, your travel insurer will likely consider this a pre-existing mental health condition.

Common mental health issues may include, but are not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders (e.g. anorexia or bulimia)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia.¹

Getting travel insurance for your mental health conditions is possible, but may depend on the insurer, type of mental illness and the severity of the condition. As mental health issues are considered pre-existing medical conditions, you may have to declare it to your insurer and complete an online medical screening.

After you disclose your condition, your insurer will assess whether they can offer any cover as this is usually decided on an individual basis.

Whether you will need to pay an additional premium to get travel insurance for your mental health conditions (and how much) will depend on the travel insurance company, the severity of your condition and if cover can be offered to you.

While you can choose not to pay the extra premium and only pay for the main policy, it’s important to understand that any claims (such as unexpected cancellation or medical expenses) related to your pre-existing medical conditions won’t be covered.

If you want to take your medication from Australia to your overseas destination, you will need to check whether it’s a legal medication in that country. There may be drug restrictions for medications that commonly treat ADHD, depression or anxiety. In some cases, you can apply for permission to take your medication into a restricted country. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist, or contact the embassy or consulate of your destination country for more information.

Even when taking allowed medications, it’s a good idea to keep them in their original packaging and include either the scripts for your prescription or a doctor’s letter describing the medications you’re taking. You may also only be able to take a certain amount (e.g. up to three month’s supply), so research in advance for any specific requirements as they can vary depending on the medication and where you’re travelling to.

It’s not a requirement to declare any pre-existing medical conditions on your insurance, even mental health. However, you typically won’t be covered for any losses related to your conditions, including medical expenses or cancellation costs if your trip cannot be continued.

Disclosing your condition (or conditions) to get travel insurance for mental health (assuming this is approved by your insurer) could give you added peace of mind on your journey.

• Pack medications in your hand luggage. Keep any prescribed medication in your carry-on bag, along with your doctor’s note. That way, even if you checked luggage gets lost, you’ll still have your necessary medication.
• Don’t start with a heavy itinerary. Mental health issues can be heightened by disrupted sleeping caused by jet lag, and feeling overwhelmed from crowds or culture shock.² Give yourself time to settle in so you can start your trip feeling your best.
• Plan ahead. If there are activities or scenarios that may trigger your mental health, plan ahead to avoid these when possible. You may also want to research what mental health facilities are available at your destination so you can access mental health professionals if you need.

If your travel insurance provider agrees to cover your mental health conditions, here are a few benefits that may be included if you have a mental health concern or crisis while you travel overseas:

• Emergency medical assistance
• Cover for hospital and medical treatment
• Cash allowance while in hospital
• Emergency evacuation
• Repatriation
• Cancellation cover for you (and your travel companions) if the trip cannot continue for medical reasons.

You may be interested in getting mental health cover, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only thing your policy will cover. A comprehensive international policy may also cover the following.

• Emergency assistance. Most insurers offer 24/7 emergency assistance for issues such as the access of medical care, needing to pay bill directly to a hospital and coordinate evacuation or repatriation back to Australia in a medical emergency unrelated to your mental health.
• Medical expenses. Aside from your pre-existing conditions, medical cover may also cover the cost of unexpected injuries and illnesses.
• Cancellations/curtailment costs. If an insured event (like a natural disaster) causes you to cancel or pause your trip, cancellation cover may help with financial losses, for example, losses from lost deposits or pre-booked accommodation, tours or activities you can’t attend.
• Theft or damaged luggage. If your personal belongings or travel documents are lost, damaged or stolen, you may be reimbursed if you have luggage cover.

You can find the full details on what’s included in your travel insurance policy in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). For information on whether a policy is right for you, you can read the Target Market Determination (TMD).

Unfortunately, travel insurance can’t cover everything. Every policy will come with exclusions, limits and conditions that may affect whether your claim is approved. By understanding these exclusions, you can try to avoid them and not get caught out unexpectedly if something goes wrong.

Some common travel insurance exclusions may include:

• Leaving belongings unattended. While your luggage is covered for theft, damage or loss, this isn’t the case if you leave your belongings unsupervised in a public place and they are stolen, as this is a loss that could have been avoided.
• Change of mind or poor planning. Unfortunately, if you get nervous about your trip and decide not to go, this won’t be covered by your policy. This also includes if you fail to get your visa or passport in time and aren’t able to travel.
• Routine medical treatment. Travel insurance only covers unforeseen events so regular doctor’s appointments, refilling scripts and other routine treatment won’t be covered by your policy.
• Risky, illegal or intoxicated behaviour. If you suffer a loss while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or doing a risky or illegal activity, you may not be covered. If you have mental health issues, you should also consider how being intoxicated may interact with your prescribed medications or affect any symptoms of your condition.

For further information on the ins and outs of a policy, read the PDS before purchasing.